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.
She has written several books. Some of her novels are Óendaliga vera (2016) and Marta, Marta (2024). She also has three collections of poems: Karmageitin (2022), Rót Tripp (2012), and Opna (2016).
Marjun has also written plays. Her plays Gentukamarið (2022) and Tóm Rúm (2014) were shown on the national stage in the Faroe Islands. Tóm Rúm was even chosen for a special Nordic drama event in 2016.
One of her popular books for young adults is Skriva í sandin. This story takes place in Marjun's hometown of Tórshavn.
Marjun also writes song lyrics. She worked with the singer Eivør Pálsdóttir and the DR Big Band on a musical piece called At the Heart of a Selkie in 2016. She wrote many lyrics for Eivør's songs, like "Jarðartrá" and "Upp úr øskuni."
In 2017, the film Dreams by the sea was released. Marjun wrote the script for this movie, which was directed by Sakaris Stórá.
In 2020, she published another young adult novel called Sum rótskot. This book is about four young people from Tórshavn who care deeply about the environment. They decide to organize a School strike for climate in front of the Faroese parliament, called Løgtingið. The story is told from the point of view of two girls, Fríða and Miriam. They take action to make a difference, but their actions lead to unexpected results.
Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs has been recognized with many awards, both in the Faroe Islands and internationally. Some of her books have been translated into other Nordic languages, as well as into English, German, and French.
Awards and Recognition
Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs has received many awards for her writing:
- 2000: Won an award in the Dimmalætting short story competition.
- 2001: Received 2nd prize at Listastevna Føroya.
- 2002: Received 1st prize at Listastevna Føroya.
- 2008: Won the Barnabókaheiðursløn Tórshavnar býráðs (Tórshavn City Council's Children's Book Prize).
- 2011: Her book Skriva í sandin was recognized by the White Raven Deutsche Jugendbibliothek.
- 2011: Her book Skriva í sandin also won the Nordic Children's Book Prize from the Nordic School Librarian Association.
- 2015: Received Tann føroyska bókhandlaravirðislønin (The Faroese Book Shop Award).
- 2017: Won a Faroese Music Award (FMA) for best lyrics.
- 2020: Won Barnamentanarheiðursløn Tórshavnar Býráðs (Tórshavn City Council's Children's Culture Prize).
- 2012, 2013, 2021: Nominated for the West Nordic Council's Children and Youth Literature Prize and the Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize.
