“I don't have ugly ducklings turning into swans in my stories. I have ugly ducklings turning into confident ducks.”


The literary world was saddened to hear about the passing of beloved storyteller, Maeve Binchy. Born in 1940 in County Dublin, Ireland, Binchy's enthusiasm for new experiences started her on the path to writing. Her first novel, Light a Penny Candle, was rejected five times before finally being published in 1982. She then went on to become one of Ireland's most popular author, selling over 40 million books.

Although she traveled a lot in her youth, most of her novels centred around small-town life in Ireland, featuring characters that charmed and delighted readers worldwide. Her fifth novel, Circle of Friends, caught the attention of Hollywood, and was adapted into a movie starring Chris O'Donnell and Minnie Driver.

Binchy suffered from arthritis later in her life, but still loved to hear from her readers. On her website she had the following message: "My health isn't so good these days and I can't travel around to meet people the way I used to. But I'm always delighted to hear from readers, even if it takes me a while to reply."

Her wit, her warmth, and her zest for life will be missed.