O. R. Melling, born G. V. Whelan, is an author of several fantasy novels. Melling's novels are read by both adults and young adults and contain stories mostly written around Irish and Celtic folklore, faeries in particular. Melling was born in Ireland and was brought up in Toronto, Ontario with seven sisters and two brothers. She attended Loretto College School. With a B.A. in philosophy and Celtic Studies from Trinity College in the University of Toronto and an M.A. in Mediaeval History, Melling has written film scripts and papers and is a literary critic under her actual name, G. V. Whelan.