13 Quotes by Celine Kiernan

(on teaching writing) So many writers come to class with one question dominant in their mind, 'How do I make a living from this?' It's a fair enough question and one I always try to answer well - but it saddens me that it so often overshadows the more relevant questions of 'why am I writing' and 'what am I saying' and 'how do I keep it honest.

It is as though the human race is always only waiting for permission to hate.

When we’ve decided to tell the truth in a story, we should tell good, strong versions of it, proper versions that kids can do something with.

Reading helps you understand another person's truth, and gives you the tools to share your own truth with people you may never even meet

My life had become one long cliffhanger

It is possible for YA heroines to go an entire book without discussing their love lives.

A female character can: Like babies, Be devoted to her lover, Cry, Be gentle, Be scared, Be uncertain, Take advice, and still be a YA heroine

A YA heroine does not have to pick up a weapon nor wear men's clothing to be equal to her male counterparts.

YA heroines can have romances that are subplots: can have goals other than getting/keeping a man: can put their lovers second. JUST LIKE YAheroes DO!