Deirdre Sullivan – författare

A powerful and poetic novel from the multi-award-winning author of Tangleweed and BrineCes longs to be a tattoo artist and embroider skin with beautiful images. But for now she’s just trying to reach adulthood without falling apart.Powerful, poetic and disturbing, Needlework is a girl’s meditation on her efforts to maintain her bodily and spiritual integrity in the face of abuse, violation and neglect.‘Reading Needlework is similar to getting your first tattoo – it’s searing, often painful, but it is an experience you’ll never forget.’ – Louise O’Neill, author of The Surface Breaks and Asking For It‘Needlework is a powerful novel that deserves to be read.’ – Sarah Crossan, author of One and We Come Apart‘I loved Deirdre Sullivan’s Needlework, a novel that is just as sharp and precise as its title suggests.’ – Doireann Ní Ghríofa, poet‘A modern, broken fairy tale that gets under your skin.’ – Tara Flynn, author and comedian

Little Passenger. I have made space for you inside my heart. It will always be a little bigger than you are. To give you room to grow.A stunning love letter to mothers and babies. With a bookplate for personalization, this is an ideal Mother's Day gift for any new or expectant mother as well as a keepsake and go-to baby shower, naming ceremony or christening gift. Mother and baby are growing together and getting ready to greet the world. Through simple, deeply moving words and truly stunning illustrations, we share an intimate journey through pregnancy and watch a baby develop from a little pea to pumpkin-sized to ... a baby, in their mother's arms.This picture book journey embodies all the vulnerability, hope and tenderness of a new pregnancy and the deep connection between a mother and her unborn child. It also includes a sensitively worded dedication to all the little passengers who never made it, acknowledging that many pregnancy journeys are not always straightforward.The debut picture book from Deirdre Sullivan is perfectly matched with Jessica Love, the illustrator of Julian Is a Mermaid, who illustrates this language of movement and light and love, using colour and space like never seen before on a picture book page.

'Sullivan has an eye for the uncanny, a taste for the macabre, and a gift for beautiful prose. Perfectly Preventable Deaths is her best book yet.' Louise O'Neill'This is the novel the recent Sabrina reboot wishes it could be - a thrilling, eerie exploration of sisterhood, first love and dark powers hiding out of sight.' Dave RuddenSixteen-year-old twins Madeline and Catlin move to a new life in Ballyfrann, a strange isolated Irish town, a place where the earth is littered with small corpses and unspoken truths. A place where, for generations, teenage girls have gone missing in the surrounding mountains. As distance grows between the twins - as Catlin falls in love, and Madeline begins to understand her own nascent witchcraft - Madeline discovers that Ballyfrann is a place full of predators. And when Catlin falls into the gravest danger of all, Madeline must ask herself who she really is, and who she wants to be - or rather, who she might have to become to save her sister.

''Sullivan has an eye for the uncanny, a taste for the macabre, and a gift for beautiful prose. Perfectly Preventable Deaths is her best book yet.'' Louise O''Neill''This is the novel the recent Sabrina reboot wishes it could be - a thrilling, eerie exploration of sisterhood, first love and dark powers hiding out of sight.'' Dave RuddenSixteen-year-old twins Madeline and Catlin move to a new life in Ballyfrann, a strange isolated Irish town, a place where the earth is littered with small corpses and unspoken truths. A place where, for generations, teenage girls have gone missing in the surrounding mountains. As distance grows between the twins - as Catlin falls in love, and Madeline begins to understand her own nascent witchcraft - Madeline discovers that Ballyfrann is a place full of predators. And when Catlin falls into the gravest danger of all, Madeline must ask herself who she really is, and who she wants to be - or rather, who she might have to become to save her sister.

The utterly compelling and darkly magical sequel to award-winning author Deirdre Sullivan's PERFECTLY PREVENTABLE DEATHSLook. Madeline. You've lost your soul. You've lost your freedom. You've lost a bit of your sister. What else could go wrong?Catlin and Madeline are extraordinary sisters, living extraordinary lives - in a place that seems entirely ordinary, but which in fact seethes with secrets, both sacred and sinister. Ballyfran is a village where, for centuries, people who are not quite human have gathered. Catlin has already fallen foul of one such creature - a dark, vicious predator who almost killed her - and only Madeline giving up a part of her own soul was able to bring Catlin back from the brink of death.Now, the girls are making their strange new lives: Catlin, haunted by what happened to her, is isolated and bereft; Madeline is learning ancient magics under the tutelage of local wise woman Mamó. Learning that magic isn't mindfulness and hats. It's work - hard work. And Madeline knows she has to keep watch. On her sister. On the things that happen. Notice things before they start to happen. And before long, they do ...

The utterly compelling and darkly magical sequel to award-winning author Deirdre Sullivan''s PERFECTLY PREVENTABLE DEATHSLook. Madeline. You''ve lost your soul. You''ve lost your freedom. You''ve lost a bit of your sister. What else could go wrong? Catlin and Madeline are extraordinary sisters, living extraordinary lives - in a place that seems entirely ordinary, but which in fact seethes with secrets, both sacred and sinister. Ballyfran is a village where, for centuries, people who are not quite human have gathered. Catlin has already fallen foul of one such creature - a dark, vicious predator who almost killed her - and only Madeline giving up a part of her own soul was able to bring Catlin back from the brink of death.Now, the girls are making their strange new lives: Catlin, haunted by what happened to her, is isolated and bereft; Madeline is learning ancient magics under the tutelage of local wise woman Mamó. Learning that magic isn''t mindfulness and hats. It''s work - hard work. And Madeline knows she has to keep watch. On her sister. On the things that happen. Notice things before they start to happen. And before long, they do ...

SHORTLISTED FOR THE AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2023'When it comes to writing YA fiction as beautiful, eerie and utterly chilling as WISE CREATURES, Deirdre Sullivan is in a league of her own' - Louise O'Neill, author of ONLY EVER YOURSI always thought that hauntings began with houses. They don't, of course.It's people, isn't it? They begin with people.If anyone knows what it is to be haunted, it's Daisy. The ghosts of her troubled past are ever present. Daisy has always done her best to shut the ghosts away. To shut away the wise creatures who used to whisper to her from the walls of the house. To live a normal life.But now, something is humming in the house. Something dark, and unknown. And it's targeting Nina, her beloved sister. Daisy knows that something is up. And that the wise creatures, locked away for so long, are back. And this time, who knows what they want?SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2023

A darkly thrilling psychological horror novel from award-winning author Deirdre SullivanI always thought that hauntings began with houses. They don''t, of course.It''s people, isn''t it? It begins with people. If anyone knows what it is to be haunted, it''s Daisy. The ghosts of her troubled past are ever present. Daisy has always done her best to shut the ghosts away. To shut away the wise creatures, who used to whisper to her from the walls of the house. To live a normal life.But now, something is humming in the house. Something dark, and unknown. And it''s targeting Nina, her beloved sister. Daisy knows that something is up. And that the wise creatures, locked away for so long, are back. And this time, who knows what they want?

“This beautiful tale with gentle illustrations is an ode to the milestone of attending school for the first time and all it entails.”—School Library Journal. “A cozy portrait of the everyday discoveries and accomplishments that school can bring.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred ReviewMing goes to school, where she learns to say hello and good-bye. She meets new friends and introduces them to old friends (including her favorite teddy). She builds sandcastles and makes snow angels; she traces, glitters, and glues. She is so fearless that when held at sword point, she even walks the plank! And when she’s playing in the mud, she reaches out and touches the worms with her bare hands. But despite those brave deeds, she isn’t quite ready for the big red slide—not yet.This is a very sweet story with soft, evocative watercolor illustrations that will help kids to grow comfortable with the idea of starting preschool. Ming is curious and playful and ready for adventure, but even she gets scared of new things sometimes. Kids will relate to her desires and fears and will be excited to see Ming at the top of the slide by the story’s end.A quiet and reassuring picture book for preschoolers (3-5), this is a wonderful going-to-school story that can be read both at home and in the classroom or childcare center. The illustrations provide a lot of diversity of characters, making this feel like any classroom in any school in the country.

Ming goes to school, where she learns to say hello and good-bye. She meets new friends and introduces them to old friends (including her favorite teddy). She builds sandcastles and makes snow angels; she traces, glitters, and glues. She is so fearless that when held at sword point, she even walks the plank! And when she’s playing in the mud, she reaches out and touches the worms with her bare hands. But despite those brave deeds, she isn’t quite ready for the big red slide—not yet.This is a very sweet story with soft, evocative watercolor illustrations that will help kids to grow comfortable with the idea of starting preschool. Ming is curious and playful and ready for adventure, but even she gets scared of new things sometimes. Kids will relate to her desires and fears and will be excited to see Ming at the top of the slide by the story’s end.A quiet and reassuring picture book for preschoolers (3-5), this is a wonderful going-to-school story that can be read both at home and in the classroom or childcare center. The illustrations provide a lot of diversity of characters, making this feel like any classroom in any school in the country.

The stunning companion story to Ming Goes to School. Ming and Poppy’s journey takes them over sidewalk cracks and dancing shadows, past honking horns and crowded crosswalks. They greet old friends and make new ones, while sharing stories, secrets, and the sting of painful words. And sometimes, a sweet treat, too. In this companion story to Ming Goes to School, Deirdre Sullivan’s gentle text paired with Maja Löfdahl’s soft, rich water color illustrations explores the special bond between family members as Poppy and Ming slow down and appreciate life’s simple moments.

Little Passenger. I have made space for you inside my heart. It will always be a little bigger than you are. To give you room to grow.A stunning love letter to mothers and babies. With a bookplate for personalization, this is an ideal Mother's Day gift for any new or expectant mother as well as a keepsake and go-to baby shower, naming ceremony or christening gift. Mother and baby are growing together and getting ready to greet the world. Through simple, deeply moving words and truly stunning illustrations, we share an intimate journey through pregnancy and watch a baby develop from a little pea to pumpkin-sized to ... a baby, in their mother's arms.This picture book journey embodies all the vulnerability, hope and tenderness of a new pregnancy and the deep connection between a mother and her unborn child. It also includes a sensitively worded dedication to all the little passengers who never made it, acknowledging that many pregnancy journeys are not always straightforward.The debut picture book from Deirdre Sullivan is perfectly matched with Jessica Love, the illustrator of Julian Is a Mermaid, who illustrates this language of movement and light and love, using colour and space like never seen before on a picture book page.

A collection of thirteen dark, feminist retellings of traditional fairytales for a teen audience from one of Ireland’s leading writers for young people. In the tradition of Angela Carter, stories such as Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin are given a witchy makeover, not for the fainthearted. Intricately illustrated with black and white line drawings, in the style of Aubrey Beardsley, by a new Irish illustrator.

A collection of thirteen dark, feminist retellings of traditional fairytales for a teen audience from one of Ireland’s leading writers for young people. In the tradition of Angela Carter, stories such as Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin are given a witchy makeover, not for the fainthearted. Intricately illustrated with black and white line drawings, in the style of Aubrey Beardsley, by a new Irish illustrator.

Bewitched retellings of classic fairy-tales with brave and resilient heroines.WINNER: Book of the Year 2018 (CBI Awards)WINNER: YA Book of the Year 2017 (Irish Book Awards)WINNER: Reader's Choice Award for YA Fiction 2017 (Irish Times Ticket Awards)A multi-award winning collection of twelve dark, feminist retellings of traditional fairytales from one of Ireland’s leading writers for young people. In the tradition of Angela Carter, stories such as Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin are given a witchy makeover. Intricately illustrated with black and white line drawings.‘Exquisitely written and powerful – I’m enchanted by it.’ — Marian Keyes‘Deirdre Sullivan’s writing is beguiling, bewitching and poetic. Her prose is almost dreamlike, reminiscent of Angela Carter.’ – Juno Dawson, author of The Gender Games‘Sullivan’s prose is delicate and masterful.’ – Dave Rudden, author of Knights of the Borrowed Dark‘Witchy, eerie and beautiful. These thirteen fairytale retellings already feel like feminist classics.’ – Claire Hennessy, author of Like Other GirlsDark, feminist retellings of traditional fairytales for a teen audience – not for the faint-hearted

A dark and witchy feminist retelling of the Irish fairytale, The Children of Lir – from the author of the multi-award-winning Tangleweed and Brine.Aífe is a witch, a stepmother, and a woman pushed to the edge. When she marries Lir, a powerful chieftain, she finds herself living in the shadow of his four beloved children – and of the wife he lost. Consumed by jealousy, grief and rage, Aífe commits an unforgivable act, transforming the children into swans cursed to wander for nine hundred years.But this is not the story you think you know.Told in Aífe’s own voice, Savage Her Reply is unsettling and lyrical, brutal and beautiful – a story about female anger, motherhood, guilt and the cost of being silenced. As Aífe reckons with the consequences of her magic, she forces us to confront an uncomfortable truth: monsters are often made, not born.Perfect for fans of dark fairy-tale retellings, Irish mythology and feminist YA fantasy, this is a spellbinding novel that will linger long after the final page.‘No-one else writes like Deirdre Sullivan. She is lyrical, poetic and thoroughly intoxicating.’ – Juno Dawson‘Unsettling, haunting, and darkly lyrical’ Louise O’Neill

Did you ever hear that telling a nightmare makes it fade away? It doesn’t. Not here anyway. Welcome to the Nightmare Club’s Halloween Sleepover. You might not last till morning. This is the story Jack told. His older brother Stephen was a great friend … until he started to change. His smell. His face. His friends. His diet.

In this dark, glittering collection of short stories, Deirdre Sullivan explores the trauma and power that reside in women's bodies. A teenage girl tries to fit in at a party held in a haunted house, with unexpected and disastrous consequences. A mother and daughter run a thriving online business selling antique dolls, while their customers get more than they bargained for. And after a stillbirth, a young woman discovers that there is something bizarre and wondrous growing inside of her. With empathy and invention, Sullivan effortlessly blends genres in stories that are by turns strange and exquisite. Already established as an award-winning writer for children and young adults, I Want to Know That I Will Be Okay marks her arrival as a captivating new voice in literary fiction.

The first book in the Primrose Leary trilogy from the multi-awarding author of Tangleweed and Brine.Primrose Leary has just started secondary school.Likes: her pet rat, Roderick; her best friend, Joel; being a little bit different (but not in the weird different sense – she wouldn’t like to be the only bald girl in her class or the only girl who always smelled of ham, or anything).Dislikes: living with Fintan (her moustachioed dad); the boy-school that Joel’s toddled off to without her; not having her mum around any more. Hilariously and cleverly written, Prim Improper is the debut novel from Deirdre Sullivan.‘Hilariously written, very clever and an original, addictive read.’ — Mary Esther Judy, bookseller‘So original … It had a sort of addictive quality to it – like you couldn’t put it down!’ Bríd, 14

The second installment of the Primrose Leary trilogy from the multi-awarding author of Tangleweed and Brine.It’s all most improper. Ciara has stopped eating her hair and is practically married to Syzmon. Even Ella has fallen for someone who is not a cat or a ferret. And Joel and Kevin are going for coffee after Mixed Martial Arts, but it isn’t like a date or anything, but wouldn’t it be great if it were?Eh … no, actually, that wouldn’t be great at all.Can Prim defeat the evil Karen, find True Love (and cake) but without losing her best friend – and get to be a cruciverbalist? And how come the dog is called Wayne Rooney?‘Deirdre Sullivan is my favourite Irish children’s writer, and Primrose’s second outing is just as funny, sad and convincing as her first. More, please!’ – Anna Carey, author‘Primrose Leary is a smart, funny and beautifully drawn character and her teen escapades will charm the socks off any Louise Rennison or Anna Carey fan.’ — Sarah Webb

‘I loved this book. It’s funny and touching and smart and sharp. Buy it!’ — Louise O’Neill, author of Asking for It and The Surface BreaksThe third installment of the Primrose Leary trilogy from the multi-awarding author of Tangleweed and Brine.In the event of my untimely death, please burn this unread.  No, don’t DO it! Prim’s alive (though the dashing Roderick is, alas, no more). She’s sixteen. She’s trying to make sense of her mum’s diaries. She is trying desperately to make Joel be friends with her again, but he’s all friends with Karen (aka the devil) now, and Prim’s found a boy called Robb-with-two-bees, and then there’s Steve the Goblin, and her dad’s getting together with you’ll-never-guess-who, and as for what’s going on with Ciara and Syzmon … Everything’s a little imperfect.‘Funny and sad and smart and true – this is a great book and a brilliant ending to a truly wonderful series.’ – Karina Clifford, Goodreads review

A collection of thirteen dark, feminist retellings of traditional fairytales from one of Ireland's leading writers for young people. In the tradition of Angela Carter, stories such as Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin are given a witchy makeover, not for the faint-hearted.Intricately illustrated with black and white line drawings, in the style of Aubrey Beardsley, by a new Irish illustrator.

Winner: YA Book of the Year, Irish Book Awards 2020Winner: Book of the Year, KPMG-Children's Books Ireland Awards 2021A dark, feminist retelling of The Children of Lir by the author of the multi-award-winning Tangleweed and Brine'Breathes new life into the Irish legend of the Children of Lir.' The Obrsever'Saturated with the power of Sullivan’s lyrical prose.’ The GuardianA retelling of the favourite Irish fairytale The Children of Lir. Aife marries Lir, a chieftain with four children by his previous wife. Jealous of his affection for his children, the witch Aife turns them into swans for 900 years.Retold through the voice of Aife, Savage Her Reply is unsettling and dark, feminist and fierce, yet nuanced in its exploration of the guilt of a complex character.A dark & witchy feminist retelling from the author of Tangleweed and Brine