Caitli N R Kiernan

Born in Ireland in 1964, Caitlín R. Kiernan moved to the United States as a child. Their early interests spanned herpetology, paleontology, and writing, leading to academic pursuits in geology and vertebrate paleontology. Kiernan has had a significant career in paleontology, contributing to the description of new species and holding research positions at various institutions. Simultaneously, Kiernan developed a prolific writing career, producing novels, numerous short stories, novellas, and comic books, earning accolades such as the World Fantasy and Bram Stoker awards. Their literary work often explores themes of dark fantasy and science fiction, with a distinctive stylistic focus on atmosphere and language over conventional plot structures. Kiernan has also been involved in music and screenwriting, with film adaptations of their novels in development.

Caitlín R. Kiernan possesses a dual career as a paleontologist, beginning with co-founding the Birmingham Paleontological Society in 1984. Their scientific contributions include co-authoring papers describing new fossil species, such as the mosasaur *Selmasaurus russelli* in 1988, and more recent work on Cretaceous turtles and mosasaurs. Kiernan has held research associate positions at the McWane Science Center and the University of Alabama Museum, focusing on vertebrate paleontology. They have been instrumental in describing several new fossil species, including *Asmodochelys parhami* and *Appalachemys ebersolei*, as well as new species of *Ectenosaurus*. Kiernan is an active member of several professional paleontological and scientific societies.

Kiernan's writing career encompasses ten novels, comic book series, and over 250 published short stories, novellas, and vignettes, earning them multiple World Fantasy and Bram Stoker awards. Their debut novel, *Silk*, was published in 1998, following their first published short story, "Persephone," in 1995. Kiernan's work has been translated into numerous languages and featured in prominent genre anthologies. While often categorized as a horror writer, Kiernan has expressed a preference for broader classifications, viewing horror as an emotion rather than a genre, and emphasizing psychological depth, awe, atmosphere, mood, language, and theme over plot. This stylistic focus has led critics to compare their unique voice in "weird fiction" to authors like Edgar Allan Poe and Lord Dunsany.

Beyond writing and paleontology, Kiernan has explored other creative avenues, including fronting the goth-folk-blues band Death's Little Sister and scripting comic book series for Vertigo and Dark Horse Comics. Their novels, *The Red Tree* and *The Drowning Girl*, have been optioned for film adaptations, with Kiernan involved in the screenwriting process. Kiernan's personal identity has evolved; they have identified as transgender and lesbian, later describing their gender identity as fluid. They prefer the use of they/them pronouns. Kiernan resides in Birmingham, Alabama, and identifies as an atheist and a classical liberal.

“I'm getting tired of telling people that I'm not a 'horror' writer. I'm getting tired of them not listening, or not believing. Most of them seem suspicious of my motives.”

“I've never tried to fool anyone. I've said I don't write genre 'horror.' A million, billion times have I said that.”

“It's not that there are not strong elements of horror present in a lot of my writing. It's that horror never predominates those works. You may as well call it psychological fiction or awe fiction. I don't think of horror as a genre. I think of it – to paraphrase Doug Winter – as an emotion, and no one emotion will ever characterize my fiction.”

“anyone can come up with the artifice/conceit of a 'good story.' Story bores me. Which is why critics complain it's the weakest aspect of my work. Because that's essentially purposeful. I have no real interest in plot. Atmosphere, mood, language, character, theme, etc., that's the stuff that fascinates me. Ulysses should have freed writers from plot.”

“A few people have asked questions about the films and preserving the queerness of the novels. This is something you do not have to worry about. Also, though no details can be released yet and nothing is certain, the hope is that we can cast a transgender actress as Abalyn Armitage.”