Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs

Name: Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs
Born: 1974, Tórshavn
Selected work: Marta, Marta (nominated for Nordic Council Literature Prize 2026)

Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs is a versatile award-winning author and the 2026 nominee for the Nordic Council Literature Prize for the novel Marta, Marta. She holds a master’s degree in Faroese language and literature and is also a trained nurse. Kjelnæs works full-time as a writer. She has published poetry collections, short stories, novels, song lyrics and children’s and YA books, and has also written manuscripts for film and theatre. Her work has seen multiple awards and nominations, including two nominations for the Nordic Council Literature Prize respectively in 2023 and 2026 and two nominations for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize in 2013 and 2021 respectively. Kjelnæs'’ literature has been translated into various languages, such as English, French, German, Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic.

Works
2024 Marta, Marta, novel, Ungu Føroyar (Product sheet PDF)
2022 Karmageitin, poetry, Ungu Føroyar
2022 Gentukamarið, drama, Ungu Føroyar
2020 Sum rótskot, YA novel, BFL
2017 Dreymar við havið, film manuscript
2016 Óendaliga vera, novel, BFL
2016 At the Heart of a Selkie, song lyrics cycle
2016 Opna, poetry collection, Sprotin
2013 Tóm rúm, theatre play, Sprotin
2012 Rót Tripp – Orð en route, poetry collection, Sprotin
2010 Skriva í sandin, YA novel, BFL
2009 Hvør fjalir seg í smúkkuskríninum?, children book, BFL
2008 Hvør fjalir seg í ferðataskuni?, children book, BFL
2007 Hvør fjalir seg í postkassanum?, children book, BFL
2004 Ein farri av kolvetni , short stories, BFL
2001 “Kópakona“ , short story published in anthology Mjørki í heilum, BFL

Translations
2025 Marta, Marta, Ugla útgáfa
2024 A Girl’s Room, IPI Press
2024 Karma Goat, IPI Press
2023 Jenterommet, Orkana
2022 Rodskud, Vild Maskine
2015 Rót trip - ord en route, Bokbyen Forlaget
2015 Skrifa í sandinn, Bókaormurin bókaútgáfa
2013 Skriv i sandet, Det norske samlaget
2013 Poem from Rót Tripp published in Reception – tidsskrift for nordisk litteratur Vol. 71
2012 Skriv i sandet, Forlaget Torgard (transl. Hugin Eide)
2012 Title story of Skriva ísandin,“Ecrire dans le sable”, published in short story anthology Nouvelles Pays Nordiques
2010 Title story of Skriva í sandin published in a Nordic short story anthology, Elskar – elskar ikki, published in 8 languages

Awards and recognition
2026  Nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize for novel marta marta
2025 Received the 2025 M. A. Jacobsen's Literature Prize of Tórshavn City Council for novel marta marta
2023 Nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize for the dual work Karmageitin and Gentukamarið
2017 Won best song lyrics at the Faroese Music Awards for Verð mín, performed by Eivør
2015 Won the first Faroese novel competition for the novel Óendaliga vera
2013 Nominated for the Nordic Council’s Children and Young People’s Literature Prize for YA-novel Skriva í sandin
2011 Nordic Children’s Book Prize YA-novel Skriva í sandin
2011 White Raven Special Mention for YA-novel Skriva í sandin
2008 Tórshavn City Council Children’s Cultural Award
2008 1st prize in Faroese short story competition
2004 Received grant from the foundation of Thorvald Poulsen av Steinum
2002 1st prize at Listastevna Føroya
2001 2nd prize in short story competition from Faroese newspaper, Dimmalætting
2000 1st prize in short story competition from Faroese newspaper, Dimmalætting