Kieran Doherty (1945-) Biography

Born 1945, in Chicago, IL; Politics: Democrat. Religion: Episcopal.

Career

Writer. Formerly worked as a journalist. American Writers and Artists Institute, Delray Beach, FL, copywriter and mentor, 1998–.

Member

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Honors Awards

Voice of Youth Advocate Award for teen fiction, 2004.

Writings

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients, Enslow Publishers (Springfield, NJ), 1998.

William Penn: Quaker Colonist, Millbrook Press (Brookfield, CT), 1998.

Puritans, Pilgrims, and Merchants: Founders of the Northeastern Colonies, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1999.

Soldiers, Cavaliers, and Planters: Settlers of the Southeastern Colonies, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1999.

William Bradford: Rock of Plymouth, Twenty-first Century Books (Brookfield, CT), 1999.

Explorers, Missionaries, and Trappers: Trailblazers of the West, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.

Ranchers, Homesteaders, and Traders: Frontiersmen of the South-Central States, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

To Conquer Is to Live: The Life of Captain John Smith of Jamestown, Twenty-first Century Books (Brookfield, CT), 2001.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas: Guardian of the 'Glades, Twenty-first Century Books (Brookfield, CT), 2002.

Andrew Jackson: America's Seventh President, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2003.

Voyageurs, Lumberjacks, and Farmers: Pioneers of the Midwest, Oliver Press (Minneapolis, MN), 2004.

William Howard Taft: America's 27th President, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2004.

Ronald Reagan: America's 40th President, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2005.

John F. Kennedy: America's 35th President, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2005.

Contributor to periodicals; author of scripts for travel documentaries.

Work in Progress

Sea Venture Saga: A Story of Shipwreck, Murder, and Survival in Bermuda and Jamestown Virginia (adult nonfiction), 2007.

Sidelights

Writer Kieran Doherty is the author of both biographies and nonfiction books suitable for children and young-adult readers. A former journalist, Doherty moved into Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients includes the biographies of Vice Admiral John Bulkeley and ten other notable Americans who have served in the nation's military. (Photograph courtesy of National Archives.)writing books after a career as a freelance writer, inspired by his interest in American history. Among the titles to his credit are the biography Marjory Stoneman Douglas: Guardian of the 'Glades as well as the histories Voyageurs, Lumberjacks, and Farmers: Pioneers of the Midwest and Ranchers, Homesteaders, and Traders: Frontiersmen of the South-Central States, both part of Oliver Publisher's "Shaping America" series.

Voyageurs, Lumberjacks, and Farmers provides readers with a general history of the European exploration of North America, was well as noting the importance that eight core individuals played in settling the Midwest: Antoine Cadillac in founding Detroit, Michigan; Charles Langlade in Wisconsin; Jean du Sable in Chicago; George Rogers Clark in Indiana; Rufus Putnam in Ohio; Julien Dubuque in Iowa; and Josiah and Abigail Snelling in Minnesota. Doherty delves into each founder's background as well as the inspiration that motivated these individuals' explorations. In addition, the author discusses the effects these European settlers had on Native American inhabitants and the relationships that were subsequently fostered between the two groups. A combination of black-and-white illustrations and photographs serve to depict the tough terrains of America's unsettled middle west and the harsh, day-to-day realities faced by westward-bound settlers. Lana Miles wrote in School Library Journal that, "Written in a lively manner, this volume offers readers good information and good reading."

Ranchers, Homesteaders, and Traders follows a similar format in describing the lives of seven colorful individuals who helped settle the south-central United States and in some cases have become part of the fabric of American legend: Stephen Austin and Sam Houston, both of Texas; Jenry de Tonty of Arkansas; Auguste Chouteau of Missouri; Daniel Boone of Kentucky; John Sevier of Tennessee; and Eli Thayer of Kansas. Each of these men "come alive" through Doherty's use of quotes, either from the subjects themselves or from the men and women who knew them, noted Miles in another School Library Journal review. Roger Leslie, writing in Booklist, dubbed Ranchers, Homesteaders, and Traders "an excellent resource."