The deepest breath is exceptionally unique and progressive in the current irish literary scene. Meg grehans debut novel offers an honest and tender chronicle of new love between two. Meg, who is originally from dundalk but now living in donegal, won the eilis dillon award for a first childrens book from childrens books ireland in 2018 for her first novel, the space between. She writes almost fulltime, but also works as a stage manager and theatre technician in productions around ireland. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The space between by irish author meg grehan is a tender story about the life of a girl called beth as she deals with the shattering consequences of mental illness. She has written for online newspapers and journals such as the arcade, but this is her first book.
She said she hopes this movement will continue to gain ground in the years to come. Little island sells grehan novel to houghton mifflin. She is battling mental illness and depression and she is terrified of the world. Winner of the eilis dillon award at the childrens books ireland book of the year awards 2018. The space between meg grehan little island march 2017 ya beth has decided to take a year of solitude. Write what you need an interview with meg grehan cinders. Young adult fiction used availability for meg grehan s the space between. Author who has agoraphobia but its chill dont worry. Little island sells grehan novel to houghton mifflin harcourt.
Jul 21, 2017 today we have another exciting interview. Above all, the book breaks new ground in children and young adult literature, capturing as it does the first steps towards coming out for a child. Read on for more about verse novels, lgbtqia ya, meg s writing process and her experiences as a debut writer. A tender and delicate love story in verse, the space between is a tale of how warmth, support and friendship can overcome mental anguish.
Above all, the book breaks new ground in children and young adult literature, capturing as it does the first steps towards coming out for a child the skill and the kindness with which grehan addresses challenging issues in this book is astounding. Meg grehans debut novel offers an honest and tender chronicle of new love between two young women and explores the complexities of sustaining mental. Mar 30, 2017 the space between by meg grehan, 9781910411599, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. A fantastic book that just needs a bit more editing to correct the mistakes that are still within it. A wonderful new voice on the irish literary scene, meg s work focuses on people and issues that are often left on the sidelines. The eilis dillon award for a first childrens book at the childrens books ireland book of the year awards. All of my writing energy for the last two years has gone straight to books which, while definitely worth it, has left this. Jan 31, 2019 hi meg many congratulations on having your first book the space between little island win the eilis dillon award for debut book at the cbi childrens book of the year award last summer. Its new comic book day, the weekend is coming into view and ive generally settled into whatever routine changes ive made. Little island, 2017 il ya isbn 19104115901910411590. How meg grehan wrote queer issues into irish childrens. The deepest breath is a beautifully written, poetic, lyrical and insightful story of one girls coming into full awareness of who she is, and who she might want to love.
Is there any particular reason you decided to write the space between in verse. The space between by meg grehan, 9781910411599, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Just send us an email and well put the best up on the site. Mar 28, 2017 the space between meg grehan little island march 2017 ya beth has decided to take a year of solitude.
The space between is a beautiful poetry novel written by irish author meg grehan, reading it was definitely one of the highlights of our month, a gorgeous love story and a beautiful examination of mental illness, we couldnt put it down. She has her own little world, and everything is under control there. That book won the childrens books ireland eilis dillon award. The space between is unlike anything ive previously read and grehan is a talented author.
Its such a lovely and tender story about coming to. She has written for online newspapers and journals such as the arcade. Meg grehan is a young writer originally from county louth but now hiding away in donegal in the northwest of ireland, with a very ginger girlfriend, an even more ginger dog and an undisclosed number of cats none of whom is ginger. Radio short waves course facilitator tara mckevitt with its youngest participant fergal lonergan.
Did the space between start out in poetry or in prose. And by the time new years eve comes round again who knows. Sep, 2012 the space between is filled with exceptional creativity. Shortlisted for the great reads award 2018 meg grehan has written a fearlessly honest account of love. Meg grehans book the space between, which is written in verse, is about cute queer girls slowly falling in love and was lauded by the judges. As beths year of solitude rolls out, alice gently steals her way first into beths house and later into her heart. This month editor meabh mcdonnell was delighted to talk to meg about her writing inspiration, mental health and poetry.
Meg grehan is a 26yearold writer from louth who now lives in donegal, and in 2018 won the eilis dillon award from childrens books ireland for her first novel, the space between. But mostly, i want to be happy, and be able to do the things i couldnt do before. Its freeverse form may seem initially intimidating to the reader, more often used by homer than by contemporary authors, but it doesnt take long to become sucked into the story nonetheless. We saw it with last years highly successful one by sarah crossan and meg grehans the space between uses the same format. Grehan s work asks us to consider not only the space between words, but also the spaces between people. If youve been around a little while you may have seen me mention a project called mouse. Sign up for librarything to find out whether youll like this book. The sweetness and sensitivity of the love that grows between daphne and truman was a delight to read.
I much prefer being the second meg, but im so grateful that the first meg worked so hard to make this possible. I have it on my own personal tbr and im very excited. Speaking to the university times, meg grehan says the book is part of a wave of change. Its new years eve, and beth plans to spend a whole year alone. A tender and delicate love story in verse, the space between is a tale of how warmth. Oliver jeffers, sarah crossan and sheena wilkinson on cbi. Who am i kidding, they are all exciting i have heard so much about meg grehan. The space between by meg grehan the books, the art.
Jan 01, 2017 meg grehan is a 24yearold writer from louth who now lives in donegal. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Jun 05, 2017 delicate, elegant and straightforward, the space between is a notable addition to the recent trend for verse novels in ya. Its new years eve, and beth plans to spend a whole year alone, in her snug, safe house. Queer irish author meg grehan wins award for her book the space between meg grehan s book the space between, which is written in verse, is about cute queer girls slowly falling in love and was lauded by the judges for exploring the complexities of sustaining mental health in contemporary society. But she has reckoned without floppyeared, tailwagging mouse, who comes nosing to her window. Grehan s turn of phrase makes beths voice believable and easy to relate to. Her first book the space between won the eilis dillon award at the 2017 childrens books ireland awards. Meg grehan is a 24yearold writer from louth who now lives in donegal. Thanks so much for talking to me today about what the past year has been like both leading up to being published and your experiences as a debut author. Ok, here is everything you need to know about my book, the space between.
She is currently studying film and likes cake and rain. A year in the life of a debut author by olivia hope. Queer irish author meg grehan wins award for her book the. I took on the space between as my book for our second readathon and ive already finished it and adored it. The space between is a beautiful poetry novel written by irish author meg grehan, reading it was definitely one of the highlights of our month, a gorgeous love story and a beautiful examination of mental illness, we couldnt put.
Hidden away in her house, she lives according to a schedule, it makes her feel safe and secure. Meg grehan is the awardwinning author of the space between. Cbi are so excited to have meg grehan speaking at our. March 2, 2016 march 2, 2016 meg grehan leave a comment wednesday is my favourite day of the week. She works as a stage manager and theatre technician in productions around ireland. Posted in life, personal, writing tagged author, books, meg grehan, queer books, the space between, writing. Just being shortlisted was wild enough to send me spinning but winning was one of the best moments of my life. Click to read more about the space between by meg grehan. The deepest breath, in turn, has been praised by awardwinning author deirdre sullivan as incredibly artful, incredibly tender.
Local author meg grehan has been nominated for childrens books ireland cbi book of the year awards, which celebrates titles by authors and illustrators who were either born in ireland or reside. As sorrowful as it is sweet, it tells the story of beth, a teenager whose life has been slowly whittled away by agoraphobia, anxiety and depression, and alice, the girl who opens up her world and her window as if by chance. The space between is a beautiful book completely written in verse about a young woman. Meg s first book the space between will be published in 2017 by little island. Aug 18, 2018 before being published agoraphobia felt like my main descriptor, meg grehan.
Its such an original book and id love to read more about these characters in the future, though it is a stand alone. But she never counted on fate or floppyeared, tailwagging mouse, who comes. A thoroughly enjoyable verse novel, the deepest breath follows elevenyearold stevie who realises she starts to like girls in the way shes always been told she should like boys. A tender and delicate love story in verse, the space between is a tale of how warmth, support and friendship can overcome mental. She writes almost fulltime, but is also currently studying digital film and video in donegal. The space between by meg grehan a delicate debut you. If you enjoy, or even just tolerate, free verse then you should definitely give this beautiful book a try. Shortlisted for the waterstones childrens book prize 2020 shortlisted for the kpmg childrens books ireland awards 2020.
The space between by grehan, meg 9781910411599 brownsbfs. The space between by meg grehan little island books meg grehans debut novel offers an honest and tender chronicle of new love between two young women and explores the complexities of. Posted in books and authors tagged author interview, books, little island books, meg grehan, mental health, new irish writing, the space between, writer, writing author. In 2017, i read a verse novel called the space between by an irish debut writer called meg grahn and i havent forgotten it since this was no different. Which is why im super excited today to welcome meg grehan, a fellow irish writer, to my blog for an. Little island, 2017 il ya isbn 1910411590 new years day. The space between by meg grehan a delicate debut you may. Meg grehan is a young writer originally from county louth but now hiding away in donegal in the northwest of ireland, with a very ginger girlfriend, an even more. Dec 06, 2019 grehan is the author of one previous book, the space between little island, a novel for older teens that won the eilis dillon award for a debut at the childrens book ireland awards in 2018. In the final interview from our series on irish debut childrens authors, olivia hope of our down the rabbit hole blog talks to meg grehan. Meg grehan s book the space between, which is written in verse, is about cute queer girls slowly falling in love and was lauded by the judges for exploring the complexities of sustaining mental health in contemporary society. May 23, 2018 queer irish author meg grehan wins award for her book the space between meg grehan s book the space between, which is written in verse, is about cute queer girls slowly falling in love and was lauded by the judges for exploring the complexities of sustaining mental health in contemporary society.