Oisín McGann
- County
- Meath
- Genre
- Teen Fiction Writer, Children's Writer
- Sessions
- Reading and Q&A, Discussion with Writer, Creative Writing Workshop
- Age Group
- 5 - 6, 7 - 10, 11-15, 16 - 18
- Level
- Primary, Post Primary
- Languages
- Works in English ONLY
- Availability
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Mornings, Afternoons - Travel
- Yes
Publications/Repertoire/Productions & Background Experience
A Short Guide To Oisín McGann
Born in Dublin in 1973, Oisín spent his childhood there and in Drogheda, County Louth. He started writing and illustrating stories in copybooks when he was about six or seven, setting himself on a path that would steer him well clear of ever obtaining of a proper job.
Despite his writing habit, he spent most of school convinced he was going to become a zoologist, an aspiration he lost after taking his first art exam in third year at St. Olivers Community College. Unable to conceive of a way to make a living from writing fiction after his Leaving Cert. he decided to fund his dreams of being an author by working as an illustrator. He signed up for a design and print foundation course in Ballyfermot Senior College, Dublin, in 1990 and then studied animation at Dun Laoghaire School of Art and Design.
In 1992 he dropped out of college to set himself up as a freelance illustrator/artist, serving the publishing and design industries. In 1997, he took up a position as Background Layout Designer for Fred Wolf films, working on the animated series of Zorro. After completing his contract, he decided to expand his horizons and left for London in February 1998 to seek his fortune. He found gainful employment as a security guard, watching over trains and then hospitals.
In January 1999, he joined the M&M Consultancy, a small advertising and design firm, as art director and soon expanded into copy writing. After three and a half years of working in advertising he became increasingly concerned for his immortal soul. He returned to Ireland in the summer of 2002 much as he had left – with no job, no home and some meagre savings. Ever the optimist, he now works once more as a freelance illustrator and mercenary artist by day and escapist writer by night.
O'Brien Press
Books for 5+:
The Baby Giant - 2008
Books for 6+:
Mad Grandad’s Flying Saucer – 2003
Mad Grandad’s Robot Garden – 2003
Mad Grandad And The Mutant River – 2005
Mad Grandad And The Kleptoes – 2005
Mad Grandad’s Wicked Pictures – 2007
Books for 8+:
The Evil Hairdo – 2006
The Poison Factory – 2006
Wired Teeth - 2008
Novels:
The Gods And Their Machines – 2004
The Harvest Tide Project – 2004
Under Fragile Stone – 2005
Random House
Small-Minded Giants – 2006
Ancient Appetites – 2007
The Wisdom of Dead Men - 2009
Barrington Stoke
The Goblin of Tara – 2007
The Evil Eye - 2009
Awards and Recognition
In 2005, The Gods and Their Machines won a Bisto Book of the Year Merit Award.
In 2005, The Gods and Their Machines and The Harvest Tide Project were both shortlisted for the Reading Association of Ireland Award, the first time an author has had two books on the same shortlist for this award.
In 2006, The Gods and Their Machines, published by Tor in the United States, was shortlisted for Locus Magazine's Best First Novel Award.
In 2006, Under Fragile Stone was shortlisted for the Bisto Book of the Year Award.
In May 2007, Small-Minded Giants was recommended by the Education Secretary, Alan Johnson and the School Library Assoication in the UK on a one-off list of Top 160 Books For Boys (No. 44)
In 2007, Ancient Appetites was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.
In 2008, Small-Minded Giants was shortlisted for the Coventry Inspiration Awards, for a category of the award open to any book, rather than just those published in the relevant year.
In 2009, Strangled Silence was shortlisted for Falkirk Council's 2010 RED Book Award.
Session Details
I do a variety of sessions. There is the standard 45 minutes to an hour for a promotional session, with speaking, reading, drawing and Q&A. I also do longer workshops for creative writing and illustration, as well as part-time residencies. You can find more details on my website.
Availability Details
Depends on my schedule
- Telephone
- 01 678 9022
- .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Website
- http://www.oisinmcgann.com