Kelly Creighton is an award-winning Northern Irish author, poet and editor based in County Down. Her multifaceted literary career encompasses novels, short stories, poetry and editorial work, often delving into themes of violence and justice. Her narratives are known for their depth, dark humour, and social commentary.

Kelly is best known for her eight critically acclaimed novels, including the DI Harriet Sloane series, State of Fear, Bright Eggs, Souls Wax Fair and The Bones of It – the latter recognised as the San Diego Book Review’s 2015 Book of the Year, and studied at university level.

She has published two short story collections: Everybody’s Happy and Bank Holiday Hurricane, with the latter shortlisted for the Saboteur Award and longlisted for the Edge Hill Prize. Her short fiction has earned accolades such as runner-up for the Michael McLaverty Short Story Award and has been featured in journals like Southword, The Stinging Fly, and Litro, as well as anthologies including Salt’s Best British Short Stories and Alternative Ulster Noir. In 2014, she founded The Incubator, a literary journal showcasing contemporary Irish short stories.

Kelly is also a poet; her pamphlet Unbecoming explores the true crime story of Polly Bodine. Her poetry has been shortlisted for the inaugural Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing and highly commended for the Gregory O’ Donoghue Poetry Prize, appearing in publications such as Poetry Ireland Review, The North, and Under the Radar. Kelly holds an MA in Poetry from Queen’s University, Belfast.

She has presented at literary festivals, including Aspects, Boston Book Festival (USA), Belfast Book Festival, Cork International Short Story Festival, Cuirt, Dublin Book Festival, and Feile an Phobail.

Kelly lives with her husband, two daughters, two sons and three dogs.