Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs facts for kids

Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs (born in 1974) is a talented writer from the Faroe Islands. She writes many different kinds of stories, including poems, plays for the stage, and novels. Her books and plays are often about young people and their lives. Marjun's work has won awards and has been translated into several languages, like English and German, so people all over the world can read her stories.

Marjun's Books and Plays

Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs has written many interesting works. She has written two novels for adults, Óendaliga vera (published in 2016) and Marta, Marta (published in 2024). She also has three collections of poems: Karmageitin (2022), Rót Tripp (2012), and Opna (2016).

Plays for the Stage

Marjun has also written plays that have been performed in the Faroe Islands. Her plays Gentukamarið (2022) and Tóm Rúm (2014) were both shown for the first time on the Faroese national stage. In 2016, her play Tóm Rúm was even chosen to be part of a special event called the Nordic Drama Train, which shares plays from different Nordic countries.

Stories for Young Adults

Marjun is well-known for her books written especially for young adults. Her novel Skriva í sandin is a modern story for teens. It takes place in her hometown of Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands.

Another important novel for young adults is Sum rótskot, which she published in 2020. This book is about four young people from Tórshavn who care deeply about the environment. They become environmental activists and organize a School strike for climate right in front of the Faroese parliament, called Løgtingið. The story is told from the point of view of two girls, Fríða and Miriam. They decide to take action themselves, but their actions lead to unexpected results.

Music and Film

Marjun also writes lyrics for songs. She worked with the famous singer Eivør Pálsdóttir and the DR Big Band on a musical piece called At the Heart of a Selkie in 2016. She wrote lyrics for many of Eivør's songs, including "Jarðartrá," "Upp úr øskuni," and "Salt."

In addition to her books and plays, Marjun wrote the script for a film called Dreams by the sea. This movie was directed by Sakaris Stórá and was released in 2017.

Awards and Recognition

Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs has received many awards and honors for her writing, both in the Faroe Islands and internationally. Some of her works have been translated into other Nordic languages, as well as into English, German, and French.

Here are some of the awards she has received:

• 2000: Award in the Dimmalætting short story competition.
• 2001: 2nd prize at Listastevna Føroya.
• 2002: 1st prize at Listastevna Føroya.
• 2008: Barnabókaheiðursløn Tórshavnar býráðs (Tórshavn City Council's Children's Book Prize).
• 2011: White Raven Deutsche Jugendbibliothek for her book Skriva í sandin.
• 2011: Nordic Children's Book Prize from the Nordic School Librarian Association for Skriva í sandin.
• 2015: Tann føroyska bókhandlaravirðislønin (The Faroese Book Shop Award).
• 2017: FMA, The Faroese Music Award for best lyrics.
• 2020: Barnamentanarheiðursløn Tórshavnar Býráðs (Tórshavn City Council's Children's Culture Prize).

She has also been nominated for several important awards, including the West Nordic Council's Children and Youth Literature Prize in 2012 and the Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize in 2013 and 2021.