Tamora Pierce
Photo © 2004 Stephen Mosher
author spotlight
Tamora Pierce is a bestselling author of fantasy books for teenagers. Her books, known for their teenaged girl warriors and wizards, have received critical acclaim and a strong fanbase.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tamora Pierce was drawn to books from a young age. Raised in rural Pennsylvania, the child of a “long, proud line of hillbillies,” her family never had much. “We were poor, but I didn’t know it then. We had a garden where my folks grew fruit and vegetables and our water came from a well,” she explains. But one thing they did have was plenty of books. So Tamora read.
A self-proclaimed “geek,” she devoured fantasy and science fiction novels, and by the age of 12 was mimicking her literary idols and writing her own action-packed stories. It was thanks to her father that Tamora began writing. “He heard me telling myself stories as I did dishes, and he suggested that I try to write some of them down,” Pierce says.
But Tamora’s novels had one major difference: unlike the books she was reading, her stories featured teenaged girl warriors. “I couldn’t understand this lapse of attention on the part of the writers I loved, so until I could talk them into correcting this small problem, I wrote about those girls, the fearless, bold, athletic creatures that I was not, but wanted so badly to be.”
Seventeen years later, after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, a brief career in teen social work and some time spent writing for radio, Tamora Pierce held true to her childhood crusade, and published Alanna: The First Adventure, the first in a quartet about a valiant, young, female warrior. Pierce’s heroine struck a chord with readers across the country and quickly earned her a loyal following.
Pierce is now a #1 New York Times bestselling author and has written twenty-five books, including her newest, BEKA COOPER #2: Bloodhound. “It’s a pretty good life, if I do say so myself. Struggling along as a kid and even through my twenties, it’s the kind of life I dreamed of but never believed I would get. Yet here I am, after a lot of work, a lot of worry, a lot of care for details, and a massive chunk of luck, the kind that brought me such strong friends and readers. Pretty good for a hillbilly, yes? And I never take it for granted,” she says.
Pierce lives in upstate New York with her husband Tim and their three cats and two birds.
PRAISE
“[Tamora Pierce’s heroines] faithfully reiterate an ideal–of feminine power that relies on brains, not beauty; of feminine attractiveness that relies on competence, not helplessness; and of feminine alliances that grow stronger, not weaker, in the face of conflicts.”–The New York Times
BEKA COOPER #1: TERRIER
"With its rollicking adventures [and] appealing characters . . . Terrier will be in strong demand by Pierce's fans. It will keep readers on the edge of their seats."–School Library Journal, Starred
YOUNG WARRIORS
“Memorable characters and well-drawn settings. . . . This timely and appealing anthology will surely help swell the ranks of teenage fantasy readers.”–School Library Journal
TRICKSTER’S QUEEN
“The plot sweeps readers along in a whirlwind of court intrigue, deception, murder, and romance. The humor is wicked, and the plot twists will keep the pages turning to the supremely satisfying end. Teens will be inspired by Aly’s determination, her resourcefulness, and her heart.”–School Library Journal
TRICKSTER’S CHOICE
“Aly arrives fully formed, a snarky, talented uber-heroine. Cameos of old favorites complement a rich cast of new characters. Aly’s difficulty with the complexity of colonialism adds surprising, welcome depth.”–Kirkus Reviews
LADY KNIGHT
“Unrelentingly realistic in its depiction of the horrors of war, this novel draws the reader into a complete and believable fantasy world. Pierce provides exquisite details of the weaponry, topography, and culture of her world, and her control of a voluminous cast of characters is masterful.”–Voice of Youth Advocates
author bookshelf
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Alanna: The First Adventure
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Trini Alvarado
- Format: Unabridged Compact Disc
- On Sale: November 11, 2008
- Price: $30.00
Becoming a legend is not easy, as young Alanna of Trebond discovers when she disguises herself as a boy and begins training to be a knight. Alanna's skills and stubbornness help her befriend Prince Jonathan but alienate his evil uncle, Duke Roger. Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good... Read more »
Song of the Lioness Quartet #1: Alanna: The First Adventure
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Tamora Pierce
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook Download
- On Sale: September 23, 2003
- Price: $10.95
Becoming a legend is not easy, as young Alanna of Trebond discovers when she disguises herself as a boy and begins training to be a knight. Alanna's skills and stubborness help her befriend Prince Jonathan and alienate his evil uncle, Duke Roger. Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good... Read more »
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Terrier
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Susan Denaker
- Format: Unabridged Compact Disc
- On Sale: October 24, 2006
- Price: $54.00
Hundreds of years before Alanna first drew her sword in Tamora Pierce’s memorable debut, Alanna: The First Adventure, Tortall had a heroine named Beka Cooper–a fierce young woman who fights crime in a world of magic. This is the beginning of her story, her legend, and her legacy. . . .
Beka Cooper is a... Read more »
Terrier
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Susan Denaker
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook Download
- On Sale: October 24, 2006
- Price: $27.00
Hundreds of years before Alanna first drew her sword in Tamora Pierce’s memorable debut, Alanna: The First Adventure, Tortall had a heroine named Beka Cooper–a fierce young woman who fights crime in a world of magic. This is the beginning of her story, her legend, and her legacy. . . .
Beka Cooper is a... Read more »
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Bloodhound
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Susan Denaker
- Format: Unabridged Compact Disc
- On Sale: April 14, 2009
- Price: $63.00
Beka Cooper is finally a Dog—a full-fledged member of the Provost’s Guard, dedicated to keeping peace in Corus’s streets. But there’s unrest in Tortall’s capital. Counterfeit coins are turning up in shops all over the city, and merchants are raising prices to cover their losses. The Dogs discover that gamblers are... Read more »
Bloodhound
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Susan Denaker
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook Download
- On Sale: April 14, 2009
- Price: $31.50
Beka Cooper is finally a Dog—a full-fledged member of the Provost’s Guard, dedicated to keeping peace in Corus’s streets. But there’s unrest in Tortall’s capital. Counterfeit coins are turning up in shops all over the city, and merchants are raising prices to cover their losses. The Dogs discover that gamblers are... Read more »
Song of the Lioness #2: In the Hand of the Goddess
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Trini Alvarado
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook Download
- On Sale: November 27, 2001
- Price: $12.50
Disguised as a boy, Alanna of Trebond becomes a squire -- to none other than the prince of the realm. But Prince Jonathan is much more to Alanna; he is her ally, her best friend, and one of the few who knows that she's really a girl. Now it will take... Read more »
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In the Hand of the Goddess
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Trini Alvarado
- Format: Unabridged Compact Disc
- On Sale: May 12, 2009
- Price: $30.00
Disguised as a boy, Alanna of Trebond becomes a squire -- to none other than the prince of the realm. But Prince Jonathan is much more to Alanna; he is her ally, her best friend, and one of the few who knows that she's really a girl. Now it will take... Read more »
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Lady Knight
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Bernadette Dunne
- Format: Unabridged Compact Disc
- On Sale: September 8, 2009
- Price: $44.00
Kel has finally achieved her lifelong dream of being a knight. But it’s not turning out as she imagined at all. She is torn between a duty she has sworn to uphold and a quest that she feels could turn the tide of war. . . .
“Unrelentingly realistic in its depiction... Read more »
Lady Knight
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Bernadette Dunne
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook Download
- On Sale: September 8, 2009
- Price: $22.00
Kel has finally achieved her lifelong dream of being a knight. But it’s not turning out as she imagined at all. She is torn between a duty she has sworn to uphold and a quest that she feels could turn the tide of war. . . .
“Unrelentingly realistic in its depiction... Read more »
Song of the Lioness #4: Lioness Rampant
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Trini Alvarado
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook Download
- On Sale: August 27, 2002
- Price: $13.00
At last, Alanna of Trebond has become the first female knight errant in Tortall. She sets out on an impossible quest to find the Dominion Jewel, a legendary gem that, in the right hands, has limitless power for good. But while she searches for the one thing that can save her... Read more »
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First Test
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Bernadette Dunne
- Format: Unabridged Compact Disc
- On Sale: November 13, 2007
- Price: $35.00
In the medieval and fantastic realm of Tortall, Keladry of Mindelan (known as Kel) is the first girl to take advantage of the decree that permits females to train for knighthood. Up against the traditional hazing of pages and a grueling schedule, Kel faces only one real roadblock: Lord Wyldon, the... Read more »
First Test
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Bernadette Dunne
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook Download
- On Sale: November 13, 2007
- Price: $15.00
In the medieval and fantastic realm of Tortall, Keladry of Mindelan (known as Kel) is the first girl to take advantage of the decree that permits females to train for knighthood. Up against the traditional hazing of pages and a grueling schedule, Kel faces only one real roadblock: Lord Wyldon, the... Read more »
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Page
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Bernadette Dunne
- Format: Unabridged Compact Disc
- On Sale: November 25, 2008
- Price: $35.00
Keladry of Mindalen, the first girl to train as a knight since Alanna, is officially a page now, but she's got three more years before she'll be a squire. And those three years are not going to be easy. Kel has to stand up against bullying boys, cruel older sisters, and... Read more »
Page
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Bernadette Dunne
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook Download
- On Sale: October 14, 2008
- Price: $17.50
Kel fights to maintain the rigorous regimen of a page while confronting the prejudices that come with being a female in a man's world and coping with a crush on her closest friend, Neal.
From the Paperback edition. Read more »
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Squire
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Bernadette Dunne
- Format: Unabridged Compact Disc
- On Sale: May 12, 2009
- Price: $44.00
When Keladry of Mindelan is chosen by the legendary Lord Raoul to be his squire, the conservatives of the realm hardly think she’s up to the job. Kel quickly proves her ability as a jouster, warrior, and guardian of a fiery griffin, ultimately earning respect and admiration among the men, as... Read more »
Squire
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Bernadette Dunne
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook Download
- On Sale: May 12, 2009
- Price: $22.00
When Keladry of Mindelan is chosen by the legendary Lord Raoul to be his squire, the conservatives of the realm hardly think she’s up to the job. Kel quickly proves her ability as a jouster, warrior, and guardian of a fiery griffin, ultimately earning respect and admiration among the men, as... Read more »
Trickster's Choice
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Trini Alvarado
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook Download
- On Sale: September 23, 2003
- Price: $15.00
Tamora Pierce brings readers another Tortall adventure! Alianne is the teenage daughter of the famed Alanna, the first lady knight in Tortall. Young Aly follows in the quieter footsteps of her father, however, delighting in the art of spying. When she is captured and sold as a slave to an exiled... Read more »
Trickster's Queen
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Trini Alvarado
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook Download
- On Sale: September 28, 2004
- Price: $17.95
Aly’s adventure continues. . . . No longer a slave, Alanna’s daughter is now spying as part of an underground rebellion against the colonial rulers of the Copper Isles. The people in the rebellion believe that a prophecy in which a new queen will rise up to take the throne is... Read more »
Song of the Lioness #3: The Woman Who Rides Like A Man
Written by Tamora Pierce
Read by Trini Alvarado
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook Download
- On Sale: March 26, 2002
- Price: $13.00
A knight at last, Alanna of Trebond heads out to seek adventure in the desert of Tortall. Captured by desert tribesmen, she is forced to prove herself in a magical duel to the death. But her real challenge doesn't come until after she wins. As the first female shaman, Alanna must... Read more »
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