Tamora Pierce facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tamora Pierce
Pierce at the Boskone science fiction convention in Boston, February 2008
Born	(1954-12-13) December 13, 1954 (age 70) South Connellsville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Writer
Genre	Children's and young adult fantasy
Notable works	The Song of the Lioness
Notable awards	Margaret A. Edwards Award 2013

Tamora Pierce was born on December 13, 1954. She is an American writer who creates exciting fantasy fiction stories. Her books are especially for teenagers. She is famous for writing about brave young heroines.

She became well-known with her first book series, The Song of the Lioness. This series was published between 1983 and 1988. It tells the story of a main character named Alanna. Alanna faces many challenges and triumphs while training to become a knight.

In 2013, Tamora Pierce received the Margaret A. Edwards Award. This award is given by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). It honors writers who have made a big and lasting impact on young adult literature. Her book series Song of the Lioness and Protector of the Small (1999–2002) were specifically mentioned for this award.

Her books are very popular around the world. They have been translated into twenty different languages.

Tamora Pierce's Early Life and School

Tamora Pierce was born in South Connellsville, Pennsylvania. This was on December 13, 1954. Her parents were Wayne and Mary Lou Pierce. Her mother wanted to name her "Tamara." But the nurse accidentally spelled it "Tamora" on her birth certificate.

She started reading at a very young age. She also began writing stories when she was in the sixth grade. Her love for fantasy and science fiction began when she discovered J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. After reading these books, she started writing similar fantasy stories.

Her family moved several times when she was growing up. She lived in different towns in Pennsylvania and California. Later, she attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Her Journey as a Writer

While studying at the University of Pennsylvania, Tamora Pierce wrote the books that became The Song of the Lioness series. The first book in this series was Alanna: The First Adventure. It was published in 1983.

Tamora Pierce lived in New York City for a long time. She lived there with her husband, Tim Liebe, and their many pets. Later, they moved to Syracuse, New York.

In 2008, she gave her collection of writings and papers to Northern Illinois University. These are now kept in their Rare Books and Special Collections department.

How Tamora Pierce Creates Her Stories

Tamora Pierce often finds ideas for her stories from everyday things. For example, her idea of magic as a "tapestry of threads" came from her experience with crocheting. She also says that all the mages (magic users) in her books are inspired by the British naturalist David Attenborough. She watched his nature documentaries.

When she was a girl, fantasy novels and Arthurian legend helped her imagine new worlds. Later, she added real-world problems to her stories. These included things like youth crime and diseases. She advises other writers to "listen to and encourage your obsessions." This means to pay attention to what you are really interested in.

Pierce also uses people and animals around her for inspiration. The character Alanna is partly based on Pierce's own sister. The look of the character Thayet came from one of Pierce's friends. Even the pigeon friends in her Provost's Dog series are based on real pigeons she knew.

Tamora Pierce first started writing to help her cope with her parents' divorce. She wrote stories based on her favorite books. She decided to write about strong female characters because she noticed there were not many in the books she read as a child.

Awards and Special Mentions

Tamora Pierce has received many awards and honors for her writing.

Books on "Best Of" Lists

Her books have also been recognized on many important "best of" lists.

Tamora Pierce's Books

Merchandise and Collectibles

In November 2018, the first official merchandise for Tamora Pierce's books was released. This included pins, clothing, and accessories. These items were made in partnership with Dual Wield Studio. They worked with fans of Tamora Pierce to create the designs. In 2020, the collection grew to include a map of Tortall, which is a world from her books.

At the end of 2023, Dual Wield Studio announced a new collection. This collection celebrated the 40th anniversary of Alanna: The First Adventure.