Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs (born 1974) is a Faroese poet, playwright and novelist. She is the author of several works in different genres. Among these are her two novels ''Óendaliga'' ''vera'' (2016) and ''Marta, Marta'' (2024) as well as her three collections of poems: ''Karmageitin'' (2022) ''Rót Tripp'' (2012) and ''Opna'' (2016). Her two stage plays ''Gentukamarið'' (2022) and ''Tóm'' ''Rúm'' (2014) both premiered on the Faroese national scene. In 2016 the play ''Tóm'' ''rúm'' was chosen to be a part of the Nordic Drama Train. Her novel ''Skriva í sandin'' is a contemporary book for young adults, taking place in Kjelnæs's hometown of

Tórshavn Tórshavn (; ; Danish language, Danish: ''Thorshavn''), usually locally referred to as simply Havn, is the capital and largest city of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the northwest of th ...

. She wrote lyrics and cooperated with singer Eivør Pálsdóttir and DR Big Band on the musical composition ''At the Heart of a Selkie.'' (2016) Lyrics for Eivør include among others: Jarðartrá, Upp úr øskuni, Purpurhjarta, Enn, Gaia, Ein klóta, Verð mín, Salt, Slør, Elskaði, Mánasegl, Gullspunnin, Stirdur saknur, The Swing. Recent work includes the novel ''Óendaliga vera'', published in 2016, and the script for the film ''Dreams by the sea'', directed by Sakaris Stórá and released in 2017. In 2020 she published the contemporary novel ''Sum rótskot'', which is a novel for young adults. It is about four young people from Tórshavn, who are environmental activists. They arrange a

School strike for climate Fridays for Future (FFF), also known as the School Strike for Climate ( ), is an international movement of school students who skip Friday classes to participate in demonstrations to demand climate change mitigation, action from political le ...

in front of the Faroese parliament, Løgtingið. The story is told by the two girls Fríða and Miriam. They take the matter into their own hands, but it has unforeseen consequences. Kjelnæs has been nominated for and has received both national and international awards, and some of her work has been translated into the other Nordic languages, as well as into English, German and French.

Bibliography

*2000 ''Russiskur dansur'', short story in the anthology ''Russiskur dansur'' *2001 ''Kópakona,'' short story in the anthology ''Mjørki í heilum'' *2002 ''Trongd,'' radio drama *2004 ''Ein farri av kolvetni'', collection of short stories **2006 ''Die Kette (Ketan)'' in German translation in the short story anthology ''Von Inseln weiss ich…,'' published by Unionsverlag *2006 ''Tað svarta portrið,'' short story published in ''Mín jólabók'' *2007 ''Og tú fert rennandi'', poem, published in the Faroese magazine Vencil Vol. 2 *2007 ''Hvør fjalir seg í postkassanum,'' children's book, published by BFL *2008 ''Hvør fjalir seg í ferðataskuni,'' children's book, published by BFL *2009 ''Hvør fjalir seg í smúkkuskríninum,'' children's book, published by BFL *2010 ''Skriva í sandin'', YA novel, published by Bókadeild Føroya Lærarafelags **2010 ''Skriva í sandin'' published in the Nordic short story anthology ''Elskar - elskar ikki'' **2012 ''Ecrire dans le sable'' (Skriva í sandin) in French translation in the short story anthology ''Nouvelles Pays Nordiques'', which means ''Short Stories from the Nordic Countries''. **2012 ''Skriv i sandet'', in Danish translation by Hugin Eide, Torgard (Publishing House) **2014 ''Skriv i sanden'', in Norwegian translation by Lars Moa, Samlaget **2015 ''Skrifa i sandinn'', in Icelandic translation, Bókaormurin *2012 ''Eg undrist'', ''At týða týdningin'', ''Allar línur spennast'', ''Vit hava hits áður''. Poems published in the Faroese literature magazine Vencil, vol. 11 *2012 ''Rót Trip'' - poems, Sprotin. **2014 Root Trip, in English translation by Marita Thomsen **2015 Rot Trip, in Norwegian translation by Lars Moa, Bokbyen forlag *2014 ''Tóm rúm'' (Empty rooms), play, Sprotin, 978-99972-1-041-8 The play opened in February 2014 in Tórshavn on Tjóðpallur Føroya. *2016 ''At the heart of a Selkie'', CD, poems written for musical work by Eivør Pálsdóttir and composer Peter Jensen. *2016 ''Opna'' - poems, Sprotin *2016 ''Óendaliga vera'', novel, Bókadeild Føroya Lærarafelags *2017 ''Dreams by the sea''. Film, directed by Sakaris Stórá *2020 ''Sum rótskot'', YA novel, Bókadeild Føroya Lærarafelags *2022 "Karmageitin" poems. Ungu Føroyar *2022 "Gentukamarið" play. Ungu Føroyar

Recognition

*2000 Award in Dimmalætting short story competition *2001 Listastevna Føroya, 2. prize *2002 Listastevna Føroya, 1. prize *2004 Grant from the Faroese fond Grunnur Thorvalds Poulsen av Steinum *2008 Barnabókaheiðursløn Tórshavnar býráðs *2008 Award in a YA short story competition *2011 White Raven Deutsche Jugendbibliothek for her book ''Skriva í sandin'' *2011 Nordic Children's Book Prize from the Nordic School Librarian Association for her book ''Skriva í sandin''EMU.dk
Nordisk Skolebibliotekarforening, Nordisk Børnebogspris 2011, Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs Færøerne *2012 West Nordic Council's Children and Youth Literature Prize ''(nominated)'' *2013 Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize ''(nominated)'' *2015 Tann føroyska bókhandlaravirðislønin (The Faroese Book Shop Award) * 2017 FMA, The Faroese Music Award for best lyrics. *2020 Barnamentanarheiðursløn Tórshavnar Býráðs *2021 Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize ''(nominated)''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kjelnaes, Marjun Syderboe 1974 births Faroese women writers Living people People from Tórshavn Faroese children's writers Faroese Children's Literature Prize recipients Danish women short story writers Faroese women children's writers 21st-century Faroese poets Faroese songwriters Faroese women poets 21st-century Danish short story writers Faroese short story writers 21st-century Danish women writers