I’m Colleen Snyder, a writer, researcher, and speaker, passionate about uncovering compelling stories that connect science and human experience. That passion became deeply personal when I discovered during the pandemic that I carried a rare genetic mutation that caused my gigantism. I had no idea how that experience would shape my life. What began with genetic testing results grew into a journey—one that connected me with others who share this genetic legacy and the researchers who study this rare disease.

My debut book, In Search of Giants: The Quest to Find the Genetic Giants of Northern Ireland is a story about the land of Irish giants—both living and legendary–and how I found my place among those giants. This collaborative book project combined my storytelling as the writer of this book with my co-author and fellow Irish giant Brendan Holland’s deep knowledge as an historian and resident of the land of the giants found between the Sperrin Mountains and Lough Neagh in Counties Tyrone and Derry.

Along the way, I reconnected with my Irish roots in ways I could never have imagined. My journey led me into the world of Irish speakers–a vibrant online Gaeltacht stretching from Poland to New Zealand—all bound by a shared love of the Irish language and heritage.

Thank you for visiting my website! Whether you’re here to learn more about my work or simply looking for connection, I hope you’ll find something that inspires and informs. Most of all, I hope that you’ll remember that no matter the challenge you face, you are not alone when you can find a connection to others.

Contact me: csnyder123@comcast.net or colleen@colleensnyder.net; +1 540 305 4944