Leena Lehtolainen
Humanist of the day

Leena Lehtolainen

Leena Lehtolainen has a thirst for knowledge. She loves the background research involved in an author's work: interviewing specialists, reading the relevant non-fiction, checking out locations. Although studying literature did not prepare her for a writing career, it has certainly come in handy when sifting through the welter of information to hand.

Leena Lehtolainen

Leena Katriina Lehtolainen
Born March 11, 1964, Vesanto.

Bachelor of Arts, 1988 (Finnish literature), Licentiate in Philosophy, 1995, University of Helsinki

Author
Acting assistant and acting lecturer, 1990-91, Department of Finnish Literature), University of Helsinki
Manager, the Tapiola Choir, 1988-1990
Cashier 1982-83, the Finnish National Opera's staff restaurant

Publications, awards and special accomplishments:
Over 20 novels, collections of short stories, essays, columns
Vuoden johtolanka ('The Clue of the Year') award 1997
City of Espoo literature award 2000
Hyvää päivää – God Dag ('Good Day') award 2004

Photo: Thomas Whitehouse
Written by Leena Lehtolainen, Kaija Hartikainen (ed.)
Translated by Johanna Spoof

From researcher to author

When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming an author. My dream came true when I was still quite young - I published my first book at the age of 12, and yet another book aimed at young readers just five years later, in 1981.

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