Sheena Wilkinson is a Northern Irish author known for her compelling novels for young people and adults. She writes in contemporary and historical genres, and her work has won several prestigious awards, including the 2013 Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year for Grounded.
She has also been shortlisted three times for the Astrid Lindgren Award, one of the world's most prestigious prizes for children's literature. Wilkinson's latest book, First Term at Fernside (2024), is her debut with O'Brien Press.
Sheena Wilkinson was born in Belfast in the 1970s and grew up during the turbulent period known as the Troubles. Her upbringing was marked by a love of books instilled in her by her mother, who returned to education to become a teacher. In her youth, Wilkinson found solace in libraries and developed a passion for reading, particularly girls' stories such as Malory Towers and The Chalet School. She even did a doctorate in the genre, which later influenced her writing.
Sheena Wilkinson studied English, French and Italian at University College, Durham, before beginning the PhD work that would result in her book, Friends in the Fourth.
Wilkinson began her career as an English teacher, helping others to write, but her passion for storytelling remained strong. In reflecting on this period, Sheena said: "I began to worry that I would always be the cheerleader rather than the player".
She decided to publish her work after her father's death in her late thirties.
Her debut novel, Taking Flight (2010), resulted from years of honing her craft through rejection and perseverance. It won several awards and established her as a writer of substance.
In 2013, following the success of her second novel, Grounded (2012), which won the Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year, Wilkinson left teaching to pursue writing full-time.
Her works, including Name upon Name (2015), Star by Star (2017), and Hope against Hope (2018), reflect her love of history and often feature young women navigating the complex social landscapes of early 20th-century Ireland.
Wilkinson's first adult novel, Mrs Hart's Marriage Bureau (2023), continued her foray into historical fiction, exploring themes of love and personal agency in 1930s Britain. Her latest book, First Term at Fernside (2024), draws on her love of girls' school stories and introduces a new generation of readers to a world of friendship and adventure.
Sheena Wilkinson now lives in County Derry with her husband, stepson, and two dogs.
Photo credit: sheenawilkinson.com
