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Tamora Pierce

Tamora Pierce is an American author.[1] Tamora Pierce mainly writes fantasy and science fiction books, but sometimes historical books as well.[2] She got the Edwards Award in 2013 for Song of the Lioness and The Protector of the Small.[3] Pierce was also a finalist for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award twice in 2000 and 2012 (Briar's Book, Daja's Book, and Bloodhound), and a finalist for the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature in 2013 (Alanna: The First Adventure).[1] She enjoys writing series because of how the reader gets to live along with the characters.[2] Pierce also really likes to write stories with female main characters who do great things.[4] She shows that girls can be strong too, capable of doing what boys can do.[5] She likes writing books for teenagers.[1] Many of her books have been changed into German, Danish, and Spanish.[1]

Early Life

Tamora Pierce was born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania on December 13th, 1954.[6] Pierce is the daughter of Wayne Pierce and Jacqueline Pierce.[7] She grew up in a poor family, and reading books and writing stories was an escape for her.[8] They moved from Pennsylvania to California many times.[7] Pierce loved reading books as a child, and she started writing stories when she was in 6th grade.[6] Her first short story sold in her junior year.[6] When she was a teenager, she stopped writing.[7] One of her teachers encouraged her to continue writing, and she started writing again as an adult.[6]

Personal life

Pierce lives in New York, New York with her husband, 4 cats, parakeet, and sometimes animals she saved.[9] She is interested in many topics which sometimes are included in her writing.[7] Some topics she is interested in are our culture, crime, wildlife, nature, historical events, and more.[10]

Books

Song of the Lioness

  • Alanna: The First Adventure (1983)
  • In the Hands of the Goddess (1984)
  • The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (1986)
  • Lioness Rampant (1988)

Circle of Magic

  • Wolf-Speaker (1994)
  • The Emperor Mage (1995)
  • The Realms of the Gods (1996)

The Immortals

  • Sandry’s Book (1996)
  • Tris’s Book (1998)
  • Daja’s Book (1998)
  • Briar’s Book (1999)

Beka Cooper

  • Terrier (2006)
  • Bloodhound (2009)
  • Mastiff (2011)

Protector of the Small

  • First Test (1999)
  • Page (2000)
  • Squire (2001)
  • Lady Knight (2002)

Circle Opens

  • Magic Steps (2000)
  • Street Magic (2001)
  • Cold Fire (2002)
  • Shatterglass (2003)
  • The Will of the Empress: The Circle Reforged (2005)
  • Melting Stones (2008)
  • Battle Magic (2013)

Awards

Alanna: The First Adventure

  • Author's Citation, Alumni Association of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, 1984

In the Hand of the Goddess

Wolf Speaker

  • Children's Paperbacks Bestseller, Australian Bookseller and Publisher, 1995

The Emperor Mage

The Realms of the Gods

  • Best Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror list, Voice of Youth Advocates, 1996
  • Best Books for the Teen Age list, New York Public Library

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 TeachingBooks | Tamora Pierce (in en-US). school.teachingbooks.net. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://88cupsoftea.com/tamora-pierce/
  3. ↑ Edwards Award 2013 | Young Adult Library Services Association (in en). www.ala.org. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  4. ↑ Rosenberg, Alyssa. Tamora Pierce on 'Twilight,' Girl Heroes, and Fantasy Birth Control (in en). The Atlantic (2011-06-03). Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  5. ↑ Sign In. school.teachingbooks.net. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 N; P; R (2016-08-06). "Wisdom From YA Authors on Leaving Home: Tamora Pierce" (in en). NPR. https://www.npr.org/2016/08/06/488969915/wisdom-from-young-adult-authors-tamora-pierce. Retrieved 2026-04-26. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Francis, Madeleine. Tamora Pierce Biography (in en-US). Tamora Pierce. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
  8. ↑ Simon, Scott (2018-02-03). "Tamora Pierce Writes One For The Boys (But Just One) In 'Tempests And Slaughter'" (in en). NPR. https://www.npr.org/2018/02/03/582785250/tamora-pierce-writes-one-for-the-boys-but-just-one-in-tempests-and-slaughter. Retrieved 2026-04-26. 
  9. ↑ Tamora Pierce | Penguin Random House (in en-US). PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  10. ↑ https://www.proquest.com/docview/347975779/8D90C14D409B4F4EPQ/1?accountid=601&sourcetype=Newspapers
  • "Tamora Pierce." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Biography in Context. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
  • "Tamora Pierce." Authors and Artists for Young Adults. Vol. 26. Detroit: Gale, 1999. Biography in Context. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
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