739 ratings | 297 reviews | avg rating:4.03

Stephen P. Kiernan’s Followers (974)

Stephen’s Bookshelves

read (736)
currently-reading (0)
to-read (9)

Stephen’s Friends (571)

Maryann

1,239 books | 102 friends

Annette

4,920 books | 77 friends

Literary Redhead

3,405 books | 5,860 friends

Michele

29,596 books | 5,136 friends

Teresa

17,291 books | 257 friends

Anne

781 books | 177 friends

Lisa Bisbee

1,637 books | 86 friends

Barbara Burdick

251 books | 17 friends

More friends…

Stephen P. Kiernan

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://www.stephenpkiernan.com

Genre

Fiction, Nonfiction

Member Since

January 2012

edit data

Stephen P. Kiernan's latest novel is THE GLASS CHATEAU, out June 20 and available for pre-order now.

Stephen's most recent book is UNIVERSE OF TWO, a love story set in 1944, amid the development of the atomic bomb. Charlie is a young math whiz drafted into the Manhattan Project, where his duty tests his morals. His sweetheart Brenda, prohibited for security reasons from knowing what he's doing, sees these ethical hesitations as weakness, and urges him to be a soldier, be a man. After the war, Charlie feels culpable for thousands of deaths, while Brenda feels guilty for making him contradict his conscience. Together they spend the rest of their lives seeking redemption -- and they find it.

Stephen also wrote THE BAKER'S SECRET, the story of ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Stephen P. Kiernan questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

I really liked "The Baker's Secret" but there were some scathing reviews that the setting wasn't authentic, i.e. French bakeries would never make cinnamon rolls, and by default, you didn't do the necessary research for a historical novel. How would you respond to those complaints?

Stephen P. Kiernan Hi Linda. Thanks for the question. I might have noticed those reviews (kaff kaff).
Here's what I can tell you: I perform hundreds of hours of research…moreHi Linda. Thanks for the question. I might have noticed those reviews (kaff kaff).
Here's what I can tell you: I perform hundreds of hours of research when I write a historical novel. Of course I'll make mistakes, as any human would, but I do my utmost to avoid them.
In the case of The Baker's Secret, I read a dozen or more books, I listened to oral histories, I interviewed an Omaha Beach veteran, I went to France and with an expert guide I had the privilege of visiting the beaches, villages and cemeteries.
I also spoke with bakers, and consulted cookbooks. From the sources I used, my novel was correct -- including in the kitchen. Several people took umbrage at a sentence about starting popovers in a cold oven, which they said was wrong and impossible. All I know is that there are three recipes for popovers in this house, I've made each of them many times, and all three start in a cold oven.
Historical accuracy was a real challenge in the book I have coming out Aug 4 (Universe of Two), because it is a love story set amid the development of the atomic bomb. If I hewed to every scientific detail in describing the bomb's components, the book would be a hundred pages longer (and no longer a novel but a text book). I may be accused of oversimplifying the physics. All I can plead in my defense is that I am trying to tell a story, and that it is a work of fiction.
In the end, I respect readers' right to have any opinion they like about my work. I'm honored that they took the time to read it.(less)

flag

like
Comment

I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy your stories. I read The Baker's Secret upon recommendation from another book lover and when I finished it, I immediately went to the bookstore looking for your other novels. You are amongst the best storytellers today. Reading The Hummingbird now. What can we look forward to with your stories?

Stephen P. Kiernan Thank you for your kind words. My thanks, too, to the book lover who put me in your path.
I hope you enjoy The Hummingbird -- and if that leaves you h…moreThank you for your kind words. My thanks, too, to the book lover who put me in your path.
I hope you enjoy The Hummingbird -- and if that leaves you hungry for more, you might try The Curiosity.
At the moment I'm roughly a third of the way along in a new novel, which is going slowly because it requires a ton of research. After the Pacific Theater of World War II (in The Hummingbird) and the European Theater (in The Baker's Secret), I found myself compelled to write a story about the home front during that time. This new book follows a mathematician who considers himself a pacifist (a rarity in 1943) yet he winds up working for the Manhattan Project. The story is told by his wife, who helps him after the war to find a fulfilling life that adds enormously to the world's peace.
"The Late Great Charlie Fisk" is based on a true story. My hope is to have it in bookstores in late 2019 or early 2020. Fingers Xd.
Thanks for your question, and especially for reading my books.
(less)

flag

like
Comment

See all 19 answers from Stephen P. Kiernan…

Combine Editions
Stephen P. Kiernan’s books

Average rating: 3.97 · 32,251 ratings · 4,448 reviews · 8 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Baker's Secret 4.01 avg rating — 20,450 ratings — published 2017 — 23 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Curiosity 3.59 avg rating — 5,138 ratings — published 2013 — 29 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Hummingbird 4.10 avg rating — 2,953 ratings — published 2015 — 14 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Universe of Two 4.13 avg rating — 2,390 ratings — published 2020 — 17 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Glass Château 4.08 avg rating — 1,155 ratings — published 2023 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Last Rights: Rescuing the End of Life from the Medical System 4.29 avg rating — 118 ratings — published 2006 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Authentic Patriotism: Restoring America's Founding Ideals Through Selfless Action 4.02 avg rating — 46 ratings — published 2010 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Final Acts: Death, Dying, and the Choices We Make by Nan Bauer-Maglin (editor), Donna Perry (Editor), June Bingham (Contributor) 3.83 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2009 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Stephen P. Kiernan…

3 posts
Stephen P. Kiernan's Blog: Kiernan's Bookshelf

HOT LUCNH SPECIAL

Hi friends. This month's specials are:

In fiction, & SONS by David Gilbert. I'm not sure this book ís a novel, in the traditional sense. And he uses a strange third person voice that is somehow omniscient to tell the story too. But the pop of language, the tragicomic pace, the intelligent insight, striking detail and free-spirited embellishment are absolutely worth the ride.

In poetry, ASK ME by Wi Read more of this blog post »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 12, 2014 07:07

View all 3 posts »

rss
Stephen’s Recent Updates

Stephen Kiernan made a comment on his review of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store " I hope you all love it. There's a ton of story in that book, all of it good. ...more "
Jul 28, 2024 09:07AM · see review
Stephen Kiernan rated a book it was amazing The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Every sentence is masterful and compelling. Every character comes to life. A unique time and place becomes a collection of textures, sights and smells that are vivid and full of vitality. And the struggles of two groups of people to rise and thrive i ...more
Jul 26, 2024 09:37AM · 7 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Stephen Kiernan rated a book really liked it Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Arguably the most banned book in the country, this tale of a person trying to sort out his/her gender and sexuality is a courageous document of personal struggle -- amid cultural upheaval on the same questions. To my relief, it is not a polemic. It's ...more
Jul 19, 2024 07:13AM · 9 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
Stephen Kiernan made a comment on his review of Jackie " Daria wrote: "Couldn't agree more! What an astute and beautifully worded review. This has quickly become my favourite novel of the year." Hooray! I und ...more "
Jul 15, 2024 05:49AM · see review
Stephen Kiernan rated a book really liked it Bunyan and Henry: Or, the Beautiful Destiny by Mark Cecil (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Fascinating debut novel: part fable, part satire, and sometimes creative fireworks that are pure delight. At face value, this is a retelling of the American myths about Paul Bunyan and John Henry, legends who step out of the mist of the 1800s into a ...more
Jul 12, 2024 05:19AM · 3 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Bunyan and Henry by Mark Cecil. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Bunyan and Henry by Mark Cecil
Stephen Kiernan made a comment on his review of The Road Washes Out in Spring: A Poet's Memoir of Living Off the Grid " You and the author would have lots to talk about. "
Jul 12, 2024 05:18AM · see review
Stephen Kiernan rated a book really liked it The Road Washes Out in Spring: A Poet's Memoir of Living Off the Grid by Baron Wormser	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This life-off-the-grid memoir is much more than your usual sodbuster. It has more in common with Thoreau's time at Walden Pond -- with the benefit of speaking directly to our time. Wormser and his family lived in rural Maine, without electricity or r ...more
Jul 05, 2024 06:54AM · 5 likes · like · see review
Stephen Kiernan rated a book it was amazing Jackie by Dawn Tripp (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
NOVEL OF THE YEAR. Every page is smart, touching, and rich with history and humanity. Highest recommendation. My favorite historical fiction of the year, this novel contains not one line of celebrity worship or appetite for scandal. On the contrary, i ...more
Jun 21, 2024 11:31AM · 15 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Jackie by Dawn Tripp. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Jackie by Dawn Tripp
Stephen Kiernan rated a book it was amazing Mad Love by Wendy Walker (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
My first Audible original, and if they are all this good I'll be listening to more of them. It's a dark, twisty and clever story, a whodunit in which I was certain who the killer was --and was wrong all five times. One master con artist, with a highl ...more
Jun 14, 2024 02:15PM · 2 likes · like · see review
Stephen Kiernan rated a book it was amazing In the Cathedral of My Undoing by Kellam Ayres (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
If James Dickey and Sharon Olds had a daughter, these are the poems she would write: muscular, frank about difficult matters, rich for the senses, written with a courage that is half heartbreak and half steel. All this, no less, in a debut book. I con ...more
May 31, 2024 08:17AM · 3 likes · like · see review

More of Stephen's books…

Quotes by Stephen P. Kiernan (?)

“And what is life but a little row in a small boat, every moment leaving what we know, every stroke unable to see where we are headed?”
― Stephen P. Kiernan, The Curiosity

9 likes

“After all, what is love but the desire to know another person as thoroughly and deeply as possible? Every quirk and passion, each response to the changes of time, every possible inch of skin? Also perhaps to be ourselves known, with all our flaws, yet somehow miraculously still be desired?”
― Stephen P. Kiernan, The Curiosity

6 likes

“We all have times when life intervenes and we get little done. But when our days are numbered, it feels like a kind of thievery. If there is ever a chapter in life with no time to waste, it is the last one.”
― Stephen P. Kiernan, The Hummingbird

6 likes

See all Stephen P. Kiernan's quotes »

Polls

January 2014 -- Science Fiction

This poll decided which two books will go on to the second round of voting for the Beyond Reality Science Fiction Book of the Month for January 2014.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

21 votes, 22.8%

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin

19 votes, 20.7%

The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M. Banks

13 votes, 14.1%

The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas

11 votes, 12.0%

Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds

11 votes, 12.0%

Fallen Dragon by Peter F. Hamilton

10 votes, 10.9%

Blue Remembered Earth by Alastair Reynolds

5 votes, 5.4%

The Curiosity by Stephen P. Kiernan

2 votes, 2.2%

92 total votes

comments and details

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Beyond Reality: Nominations for January 2014	21	51	Oct 26, 2013 07:23AM
Challenge: 50 Books: Susan & Henry's 2013 Reading List (RIP my sweet Raven)	104	112	Jan 03, 2014 03:34PM
The Perks Of Bein...: A-Z of Authors!	544	790	Apr 03, 2016 09:56PM
Pick-a-Shelf: LynnB's ScatterShelves	14	19	Nov 10, 2017 10:28PM
2024 Reading Chal...: Dana's 50 in 2017	84	142	Dec 31, 2017 11:50PM
Pick-a-Shelf: * Bragging Rights (reporting your completed card)	559	103	Jan 27, 2018 03:10PM

More…

Stephen’s Quotes

“But history does matter. There is a line connecting the Armenians and the Jews and the Cambodians and the Bosnians and the Rwandans. There are obviously more, but, really, how much genocide can one sentence handle?”
― Chris Bohjalian, The Sandcastle Girls

54 likes

“Everything about [chance] scares the bejesus out of so many people; it's the this thing they try to avoid at all costs. Don't travel to the Middle East these days - there's a chance something could happen. Don't get involved with that new fellow on Creamery Street - I hear a lot of mud was scraped off his floor after the divorce. Don't have your baby at home - there's a a chance something could go wrong. Don't don't don't... Well, you can't live your life like that! You can't spend your entire life avoiding chance. It's out there, it's inescapable, it's a part of the soul of the world. There are no sure things in this universe, and it's absolutely ridiculous to try and live like there are!”
― Chris Bohjalian, Midwives

18 likes

“And what is life but a little row in a small boat, every moment leaving what we know, every stroke unable to see where we are headed?”
― Stephen P. Kiernan, The Curiosity

9 likes