Amy Crider

Literary event with my poet sister Joan Baranow! See here.

Novels:

Kells, a novel of the eighth century, is now available  from your favorite book outlets, from the University of New Orleans Press.

The sweeping tale of a monk who longs to create the beautiful text that would become known as The Book of Kells, this book took years of research, including trips to the remote island of Iona, and a medieval ink-making session with members of the Society for Creative Anachronisms.

Though their stories have been lost to history, many of the named characters actually existed. The monks Connachtach and Cellach, the Abbot Bresal, Alcuin the tutor of Charlemagne, the merchant Isaac, and the wives of Charlemagne, all come to life in this epic novel.

Newcity gave it a wonderful review.  One quote:

"(T)here are some books that drop you like a stone into a lake. They change your atmosphere and make the non-book world seem murky. After fifty or so pages of steady reading, it’s hard to readjust to reality. All you want to do is talk about the book, and you wish that the characters were real." 

Third Coast Review had kind words.

The Historical Novel Society was also enthusiastic.

I had a lovely interview with Jack Duncan on the Celtic History Podcast.

I will be speaking about the art and materials of The Book of Kells at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago, on May 18,  2024, at 2:00.

Plays: 

Please visit the "Plays" page for a complete list of works.

Our ensemble will be producing Wells and Welles in the summer of 2024 in Chicago, starring Pete Blatchford and Gerrit Wilford. 

We're establishing a new identity for our stage productions,  Lucid Theater. 

Our drama podcast is still Continuous Dream, here:  or if you prefer Apple Podcasts, here.  

Our YouTube channel is here.

"The priest doesn't save you by his sermon.  He saves you because water is turned into wine and wine is turned into blood.  You are saved through wonder.  Theater is that kind of wonder."