O. R. Melling
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Geraldine Valerie Whelan (born 2 December 1952), known by the pen name O. R. Melling, is a writer of fantasy novels, mostly for children and young adults. Melling's novels focus on Irish and Celtic folklore. She writes reviews and film scripts as G. V. Whelan.<ref name="Indep_2006"/> She is sometimes published as Orla Melling.<ref name="BP_1992">Template:Cite news</ref>
Early life and education
Melling was born in Ireland, but moved with her family to Toronto, Ontario when she was four.<ref name="Bhroin 2021"/> Her father was a musician and she had nine brothers and sisters.<ref name="BP_1995_Whelan">Template:Cite news</ref>
Melling was educated at Loretto College School in Toronto.<ref name="Loretto">Template:Cite news</ref> She studied philosophy, Celtic Studies and mediaeval history at Trinity College, University of Toronto.<ref name="Bhroin 2021"/>
Career
Melling has said that she started writing after dropping out of studying law: "Writing gave me the excuse I needed to leave my law studies".<ref name="BP_1992"/>
Melling has been awarded the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award for The Druid's Tale, and the Ruth Schwartz Award for Children's Literature.<ref name="Ketterer 1992 p. 65">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Indep_2006"/> The Druid's Tale has been translated into Czech and Japanese.<ref name="BP_1998">Template:Cite news</ref>
Her influences include Patricia Lynch.<ref name="Bhroin 2021"/><ref name="BP_1998"/>
Melling has also worked as a teacher of Irish dance and been an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy.<ref name="BP_1993">Template:Cite news</ref>
Critical response
The critic Ciara Ní Bhroin has described Melling's novels as "weaving ... modern Canadian protagonists into ancient myth". She identifies a "nostalgic, regressive strain" in The Druid's Tale, and writes that "Melling both confirms and denies traditional portrayals of Ireland and the feminine". Ní Bhroin positions Melling's work within Anglo-Irish literature.<ref name="Bhroin 2021"/>
Personal life
Melling lives in Bray, County Wicklow. She has a daughter.<ref name="Indep_2006">Template:Cite news</ref>
Books
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- The Chronicles of Faerie series (1993–2003)
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References
External links
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- Biography at Mythic Imagination Institute (mythicjourneys.org)
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- Alumna Spotlight, Geraldine Valerie Whelan, LCS 1970