Kaaberböl, Lene 1960–

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Kaaberböl, Lene 1960–

PERSONAL: Born March 24, 1960, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Education: Aarhus University, earned degrees (English and drama). Hobbies and other interests: Petanque (a sport similar to bocce).

ADDRESSES: Home and office—Phabel & Plott ApS, Laksegade 12, St.th, DK-1063 Copenhagen K, Denmark. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Writer. Owner and founder of company, Phabel & Plott ApS. Has worked as secondary-school teacher of English and drama in Copenhagen, and as editor, advertising copywriter, riding instructor, and cleaning assistant.

AWARDS, HONORS: The Shamer's Daughter named among best children's books of 2000, Danish Ministry of Culture; Disney Writer of the Year Award, 2002, for "W.I.T.C.H." series.

WRITINGS:

"TINA" SERIES

Den første bog om Tina oghestene (title means "The First Book about Tina and the Horses"), Tommeliden, 1975, revised edition published as Tina og Sunny (title means "Tina and Sunny"), Klematis (Risskov, Denmark), 1989.

Den anden bog om Tina og hestene (title means "The Second Book about Tina and the Horses") Tommeliden, 1975, revised edition published as Tina og Handsome Joy (title means "Tina and Handsome Joy"), Klematis (Risskov, Denmark), 1989.

Tinas hestepensionat (title means "Tina's Boarding Stables"), Tommeliden, 1976, revised edition, Klematis (Risskov, Denmark), 1990.

Tinas rideskole (title means "Tina's Riding School"), Tommeliden, 1976, new revised edition, Klematis (Risskov, Denmark), 1990.

"KATRIONA" SERIES

Sølvhesten (title means "Silverhorse"), Klematis (Risskov, Denmark), 1992.

Hermelinen (title means "Ermine"), Klematis (Risskov, Denmark), 1994.

Isfuglen (title means "Kingfisher"), Klematis (Risskov, Denmark), 2000.

"CHRISTIAN" SERIES

Den nat Kristian blev til (title means "The Night Christian Was Made"), Klematis (Risskov, Denmark), 1993.

Jagten pa den gyldne trüffel (title means "Quest for the Golden Truffle"), Klematis (Risskov, Denmark), 1994.

(With Eva Kaaberböl) Det a Kristian fik en lilles ster (title means "The Year Sarah Came Along") Klematis (Risskov, Denmark), 1994.

(With Anne Marie Vessel Schlüter) Et kongeligt balletbarn (title means "A Royal Ballet Child"), Klematis (Risskov, Denmark), 1994.

(Editor, with Hanne Ullerup) Soldiers Don't Go Mad, Klim (Aarhus, Denmark), 2000.

"SHAMER" SERIES

Skammerens datter, Forum, 2000, translated by Kaaberböl as The Shamer's Daughter, Henry Holt (New York, NY), 2004.

Skammertegnet, Forum, 2001, translated by Kaaberböl as The Shamer's Signet, Henry Holt (New York, NY), 2005.

Slangens gave, Forum, 2001, translated by Kaaberböl as The Serpent's Gift, Hodder (London, England), 2005.

Skammerkrigen, Phabel, 2003, translated by Kaaberböl as The Shamer's War, Hodder (London, England), 2005.

"W.I.T.C.H." SERIES

Salamanderens hjerte (title means "The Salamander's Heart"), Egmont Litas/Tempo, 2002.

Stilnerens musik (title means "Brimstone Music"), Egmont Litas/Tempo, 2002.

Havets Ild (title means "Merefire"), Egmont Litas/Tempo, 2002.

Grøn magi (title means "Green Magic"), Egmont Litas/Tempo, 2002.

Den Grusomme Kejserinde (title means "The Cruel Empress"), Egmont Litas/Tempo, 2002.

"BROKEN ORB" SERIES

Stenfalken (title means "The Stone Falcon"), Litas, 2003.

Ørnekløer (title means "The Talons of the Eagle"), Litas, 2003.

Uglens skygge (title means "The Shadow of the Owl"), Litas, 2003.

Also author of Den gyldne føniks (title means "The Golden Phoenix").

OTHER

Also author of a novel, The Morning Land, 1988. Compiler of anthology, Soldiers Don't Go Mad. Kaaberböl's books have translated into several languages.

SIDELIGHTS: Lene Kaaberböl published her first books when she was just a teenager. Her "Tina" series told of the adventures of a horse-loving girl who goes on to become a riding instructor. The author had published four books in the series by the time she was seventeen years old, and their popularity was such that they have been translated into other languages, revised, and reprinted over the years. At the age of eighteen, Kaaberböl discovered the classic fantasies The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien and the "Earthsea" trilogy by Ursula K. LeGuin. She was inspired by these and other imaginative works, and her own writing turned toward fantasy at that time. She has created several popular series, including one based on the Disney series W.I.T.C.H., featuring a group of fairies with special powers keyed to the elements. Kaaberböl's series includes one book based on each character.

Kaaberböl's best-known work in the United States is probably her "Shamer" series, which she translated into English herself. It begins with The Shamer's Daughter, a murder mystery as well as a fantasy. In the universe in which the story is set, certain people have the gift of forcing others to confront their conscience simply by looking them in the eye. These Shamers are frequently used to determine whether or not someone is guilty of a crime. The protagonist, eleven-year-old Dina, has inherited the shaming gift from her mother, but she finds it to be more of a curse, for most people avoid her gaze and shun her, as they do not want to face their own failings. Yet Dina must embrace her special gift when her mother's life is put in jeopardy by Drakan, the evil Dragon Lord, who is the only truly shameless man in the universe. Dina teams up with Nicodemus, Drakan's cousin, who has been falsely accused of murder; together, the two of them face many vicious dragons and their master as they try to rescue Dina's mother.

The story of the Shamers continues in The Shamer's Signet, The Serpent's Gift, and The Shamer's War, reaching its climax as the Shamers must make their final stand against Drakan. Reviewing The Shamer's Daughter for the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Krista Hutley called it "an absorbing and fast-paced fantasy/mystery bursting with action and intrigue." Horn Book contributor Anita L. Burkam noted in her assessment of The Shamer's Daughter, "The plot is expertly constructed to make best use of each setting, each character, and each fantasy element."