Kelsey Ó Ciardha is an author and illustrator of children’s books.

Her debut picture book, Euphemia and the Nowhere Spring, will publish in spring 2028 with Knopf Books for Young Readers.

She strives to create enduring stories and illustrations that are elegantly offbeat — celebrating the particular poignancy, strangeness, and enchantment of childhood.

A self-taught traditional artist, Kelsey spent over a decade as an art director and graphic designer in the marketing world helping companies find their voice, before deciding that what she really wanted to do was use her own. That, and a bona fide business reason to frequent the art supply store.

She lives on the teensy coast of New Hampshire with her husband, two daughters, and two kitty-cats. (Her last name is pronounced Oh Keer-ah.)

Kelsey is represented by Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio.