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Hazel Gaynor

Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning New York Times, USA Today, Globe and Mail and Irish Times bestselling historical novelist. Her debut novel, THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME, was awarded the 2015 RNA Historical Novel of the Year, and her novels have been shortlisted for the 2016 and 2020 Irish Book Awards, the 2019 HWA Gold Crown Award, the 2020 RNA Historical Novel of the Year and the 2021 Grand Prix du Roman Historique. Her latest novel, WHEN WE WERE YOUNG & BRAVE/THE BIRD IN THE BAMBOO CAGE was a national bestseller in the USA and an Irish Times bestseller.

Hazel’s co-written novels with Heather Webb - LAST CHRISTMAS IN PARIS, MEET ME IN MONACE and THREE WORDS FOR GOODBYE have all been published to critical acclaim, winning and being shortlisted for several international awards.

Hazel was selected as a 2015 WHSmith Fresh Talent pick, and by Library Journal as one of Ten Big Breakout Authors. She is published in twenty-five territories and her books have been translated into eighteen languages. Originally from Yorkshire, England, she now lives in Ireland with her husband and two children and is represented by Michelle Brower of Trellis Literary Management, USA.

For more information, visit www.hazelgaynor.com

where you can also sign up for her newsletter.


“To live in the hearts of those we love is never to die.”
Hazel Gaynor
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“you can always find a reason to begin again, whatever life has in store for you.”
Hazel Gaynor
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“Life is fragile, she heard Maggie saying, we never know what’s waiting around the corner.”
Hazel Gaynor
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“Good news comes in large packages”
Hazel Gaynor
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“Never leave yourself open to regret Grace. We can only make a decision when we know the choices we are faced with. If we shy away, turn our backs and hide, we will simply never know. And that is when you end up old and wondering and regretting. Live a life of hope. Don’t live a life of regret.”
Hazel Gaynor
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“Life is fragile Grace – it is no more than a petal of cherry blossom; thriving and in full bloom one minute and blown to the ground by a sudden gust of wind the next. We shouldn’t take our life for granted and we should do whatever we can to make ourselves happy.”
Hazel Gaynor
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“The girl who had left Ireland was gone to the bottom of the ocean with the rest of them.”
Hazel Gaynor
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“Now you look here. All your father ever dreamed of for you was to do something you loved in life. He didn't care about fancy qualifications or fancy clothes or cars, just that you were both happy and fulfilled. He was so excited about your dreams for a career.”
Hazel Gaynor
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