Tamora Pierce

Fantasyfestival's first Guest of Honour in 2015 was the American bestselling author Tamora Pierce, who visited Denmark for the first time. She returned to the festival digitally in 2020, where she participated in an Ask Me Anything session.

Tamora Pierce was born on December 13, 1954, in South Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Tamora began telling stories to herself at an early age, and in 6th grade, her father encouraged her to write them down. A teacher at her school introduced her to J.R.R. Tolkien's books, sparking her love for the fantasy genre.

In 10th grade, she stopped writing, but during her second year of college, she managed to start again when she wrote the short story Demon Chariot, which she had published a year later.

In 1976, she wrote Alanna: The Lioness of Tortall (known as Løvindens Sang in Danish). Originally intended as an adult book, it was transformed into four teenage novels through editing. It was published in 1983, and in 1991, it was first published in Danish by Tellerup.

Since 1992, Tamora has been a full-time author, and she has written numerous books set in her two fantasy universes, the Tortall and Circle series. In Danish, nearly 40 books have been published so far, with more on the way.

Tamora Pierce was interviewed on video during her visit, in collaboration with pallesgavebod.dk and ereolen.dk.

The visit was arranged in collaboration with the publisher Tellerup and Statens Kunstfond.

"I still think fondly (and wistfully!) of my time there. Everyone was so welcoming (and so fluent in English!). It was a pleasure to talk with old fans and new ones, and to discuss work by our favorite writers as well. All of us, including me, made notes of new writers to try! I saw wonderful pieces of art and costuming at the festival, both favorite things of mine, and I bought plenty of toys and ornaments to take home. I hope to return someday, and I wish you all kinds of fun and magic this year. Please tell the fans I said hello!"