Brian Keaney
Writer for young adults
About
Brian Keaney is an award-winning children’s author. He has written 20 novels for young people, which have been translated into 19 languages. His book Jacob’s Ladder (Orchard Books, 2005) won the Havering best of the best award. Other titles have been shortlisted for the North-east book award, the South Lanarkshire children’s book award, the Calderdale book of the year award, the Warwickshire children’s book award and the National Association for Special Educational Needs children’s book award. He has also written a number of plays for theatre-in-education companies and more than 40 textbooks for school students.
He has lectured in creative writing at St Mary’s College, Strawberry Hill and is currently the programme director for creative writing on the summer programme for international students run by King’s College and Pembroke College, Cambridge. For the last 12 years he has worked extensively with developing writers, acting as a mentor on the Apprenticeships in Fiction scheme, funded by the Arts Council and run by Adventures in Fiction. He also teaches an online course in writing for children for the Writers’ Workshop.
He lives in south London and enjoys spending time with his grandchildren. He is currently researching an historical novel for adults and is setting up an ebook publishing venture with another former RLF Fellow.
More from Brian Keaney
Brian Keaney – The Writer And Technology
‘What is it?’ asked Ron, my editor. ‘It’s a manuscript written on a computer,’ his colleague told him. ‘I’ve just…
What’s Your Favourite Children’s Book?
Writers discuss their favourite children’s book. Millie Murray, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Brian Keaney, Mirza Waheed, Rukhsana Ahmad, Mahendra Solanki and…
Brian Keaney – Getting Published: What No One Tells You
The idea of being a writer is essentially a fabrication, and never is that more obvious than just after publication…
Brian Keaney – The Perfect Place To Write
The inside of my head; that’s where I do my writing, and I really recommend it. It’s rent-free, you can…
What’s Your Favourite Book In Translation?
Writers discuss their favourite book in translation. Mahendra Solanki, Rukhsana Ahmad, Millie Murray, Mirza Waheed, Brian Keaney, Ade Solanke and…
What’s Your Desert Island Book?
Writers discuss their desert island book. Ade Solanke, Mahendra Solanki, Mirza Waheed, Nii Ayikwei Parkes, Rukhsana Ahmad and Brian Keaney…
What Book Are You Reading At The Moment?
Writers discuss the book they are currently reading. Mahendra Solanki, Rukhsana Ahmad, Millie Murray, Mirza Waheed, Brian Keaney, Ade Solanke…
Brian Keaney – The Classic Book I’d Like To Re-write
In my version of Brideshead Revisited Cordelia would be the narrator, not Charles; he would be seen for what he…
Brian Keaney – Marketing And Me
The sweaters with worn-out elbows were on their way out; writers were starting to look fashionable, even sexy. The sweaters…
Brian Keaney – The Future Of Literature
Maybe, at some point, people will be given implants that will allow words and images to be sent directly to…
Brian Keaney – Writer’s Block
If Jasper represented writer’s block, then what I needed was a bigger, meaner cat that represented inspiration. I decided to…
Brian Keaney – Why I Write
I carried around in my head a whole pantheon of dead family members, to each of whom a story was…
Brian Keaney – Writers Who Inspire Me
I immediately understood how I could write a similar story, and I promised myself when I returned to England I…
Brian Keaney – Letter To My Younger Self
Getting angry is bad for you. Incidentally, getting angry with editors is more than just bad, it’s stupid; they always…
Brian Keaney
Brian Keaney speaks with Robin Blake about being London Irish, leaving his teaching career and solving a mystery. Brian Keaney…
The Ladies’ Excuse Me
Brian Keaney on a family story that changed his life. When Brian Keaney’s father and uncle became estranged after both…
Brian Keaney – How Writing Changes The Writer
Sooner or later you’ll trip over tree root or stumble up against a stone then you’ll look down and see,…
Brian Keaney – Life-changing Literature
He is going to become a writer, or in Joyce’s lofty phrase “a priest of the eternal imagination”. Those words…
Location And The Writer, part 5
In Location And The Writer, we visit a struggling seaside town, a childhood corner of Ireland, and London’s winding Thames.…
Brian Keaney
Writer for young adults
Website
Posts
- Goldsmiths, University of London, 2011–2012
- Goldsmiths, University of London, 2007–2008
- City & Guilds of London School of Art, 2005–2007
- London College of Fashion, 2002–2003
- Goldsmiths, University of London, 2001–2002