A little bit about me
…but not too much.
I tell stories.
Sometimes they’re my own, sometimes they’re not. Sometimes they’re true, sometimes they’re not. Sometimes I write them alone, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I use words, sometimes I use images. Some of the projects mentioned on this site are works for hire, others are labors of love.
This site is not comprehensive. It is intended as an amuse bouche—not an entrée.
There are authors and journalists who focus on one particular topic or style of writing. I am not one of them.
I am building a life, not a platform.
I tell stories.
a work in progress
Credit: Beowulf Sheehan
Nota bene: For a more formal, official-type bio, headshots, etc., please scroll down and peruse my Media Kit.
Me, aged 2, getting a Rheingold beer.
bios I prefer you use
…pretty please, do use these.
short and sweet
Bestselling author Denise Kiernan is an award‑winning writer with three decades of storytelling experience whose books have been translated into numerous languages. Her latest narrative nonfiction title, Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution, arrived June 23, 2026. She is also the author of We Gather Together and the instant New York Times bestsellers The Last Castle and The Girls of Atomic City. Kiernan has also co-authored several popular history titles including Signing Their Lives Away, Signing Their Rights Away, and Stuff Every American Should Know. She has been published in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Time, Ms. Magazine, and many more publications. Throughout her career, Kiernan’s engaging personality and expertise has made her a featured guest on many radio and television shows, including NPR's “Weekend Edition,” “PBS NewsHour,” “MSNBC Morning Joe,” and “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart. Kiernan is the creator and host of “CRAFT: Authors in Conversation,” works with nonprofits WriteGirl and Equal Playing Field, and serves on the Board of Governors of the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She lives in North Carolina.
long-ish
Bestselling author Denise Kiernan is an award‑winning writer with three decades of storytelling experience whose books have been translated into numerous languages. Her latest narrative nonfiction title, Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution, arrived June 23, 2026. Her titles The Last Castle and The Girls of Atomic City were both instant New York Times bestsellers in both hardcover and paperback. The Last Castle was also a Wall Street Journal bestseller, a finalist for the 2018 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. The Girls of Atomic City was also a Los Angeles Times and NPR bestseller, was named one of Amazon's “Top 100 Best Books of 2013,” and is now available in multiple languages. It was also awarded the 2014 American Political Science Association's Woodrow Wilson Foundation Award for the best book published in the United States on government, politics, or international affairs. She is also the author of a popular trio of books for the whole family dedicated to gratitude and Thanksgiving: We Gather Together: The True Story of Thanksgiving and the Woman Who Fought to Make It an American Holiday, the young reader’s book, We Gather Together: Stories of Thanksgiving from then to now, and the children’s picture book, Giving Thanks.
Kiernan has also co-authored several popular history titles including Signing Their Lives Away, Signing Their Rights Away, and Stuff Every American Should Know. She has been published in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Time, Ms. Magazine, Saveur, Reader's Digest, Discover and many more publications. She has also worked in television, serving as head writer for ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" during its Emmy award-winning first season and has produced for media outlets such as ESPN and MSNBC. Throughout her career, Kiernan has been a featured guest on many radio and television shows, including NPR's "Weekend Edition," PBS NewsHour, MSNBCMorning Joe and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Kiernan is the creator and host of “CRAFT: Authors in Conversation,” works with nonprofits WriteGirl and Equal Playing Field, and serves on the Board of Governors of the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She lives in North Carolina.
Awards, Kudos
Finalist, 2018 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award
Finalist, 2018 Southern Book Prize
Winner, 2014 American Political Science Association Woodrow Wilson Foundation Award for the best book published in the United States on government, politics, or international affairs.
Winner, 2013 Colonial Dames of America Annual Citation
Winner, Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award from General Federation of Woman’s Clubs of North Carolina
Winner, Women of Achievement Award from General Federation of Woman’s Clubs of North Carolina
Finalist, SIBA Book of the Year 2014
Runner-up, GoodReads Choice Awards: Best History and Biography of 2013
Invited Scholar, Manhattan Project National Historic Park Scholar's Forum
Selected as 2014 Common reading selection for the University of Mississippi
Education, Other
BA from New York University
MA from New York University
Certificate of Leader Development in National Security and Strategy, U.S. Army War College
Board Member, William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Mentor, WriteGirl
Volunteer, Equal Playing Field
Board Member, American Museum of Science and Energy
National Park Service Scholars’ Forum, Manhattan Project National Historic Park
Former Board President, Atomic Heritage Foundation
Educational Press Association Award for original children's magazine writing
Credit: Beowulf Sheehan