Hilmar Örn Óskarsson
Bio
Hilmar Örn Óskarsson was born on June 14, 1975 in Reykjavík. He grew up in Breiðholt-suburbia and went to school at Breiðholtsskóli, and then FB, The Breiðholt Secondary School. He completed a B.A. degree in comparative literature at The University of Iceland in 2008 – having started his studies in 1997 and is thus an excellent example of how people should not take a ‚short break‘ before finishing the final dissertation.
Hilmar has worked in diverse places : in a soda-factory, at a gas station, in preschool, as a security guard, in a post office and as a Taekwondo trainer.
In addition to writing for children and young adults, Hilmar has published short stories and won the second and third seat in Gaddakylfan - a crime story competition. He has translated some books for children, hosted workshops for writing and is an honorary member of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) for his translation of The Tapper Twins Go to War.
These days he does the bookkeeping and various other jobs for MS Ármann skipamiðlun, Shipping & Marine Supplier, while also trying to keep up with his Taekwondo training.
And then of course there is the writing.
From the Author
The very first book that I read, all by myself, was A Visit from a Turtle by Gene Dietch with illustrations by Vratislav Hlavaty. I read it to pieces as it caused small explosions in my mind, again and again. This is not a very complex story and there is no characterisation but still the book tears the world apart and then blindingly combines it again.
A boy is not a turtle and a circus is not a fish ball factory but still this book unhesitatantly insists that they are and refuses to withdraw these statements. Not even a half way, no, a third part at best. The illustrations are among the most impressive that I have seen and drew me to the book, long before the short text started blowing my mind. Can books to this? Great, where do I sign up?
I never looked back after Turtle came for a visit. I read everything that came within reach and early on the idea that I could write my own stories appeared. And I did just that, I wrote horrible stories. Not horrible as in IT or Cabal. Just horrible. Fortunately practice makes perfect – or at least better stories. Improvement is sometimes such a lazy phenomenon that one could swear it was a still life in disguise.
"To write is like reading from the inside and vice versa," is a line that has rattled around in my head for a long time. I find it cute.
Awards
2007 - Second seat in Gaddakylfan - a crime story competition, for the short story „Brúður“
2008 - Third seat in Gaddakylfan - a crime story competition, for the short story „Eldur“
2015 - A special recognition by IBBY in Iceland for a contribution to children's culture
2018 - An honorary member of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) for his translation of The Tapper Twins Go to War
Húsið í september (The House in September)
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Funi og Alda falda (Funi and Alda the hidden)
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Kamilla Vindmylla og leiðinn úr Esjunni (Kamilla Windmill and the boredom from Esjan)
Read more"Uppvakningar" ("Zombies")
Read more"Brúður" ("Dolls")
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Kamilla Vindmylla og svikamyllurnar (Kamilla Windmill and the traitors)
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