Fossum, Karin

The Norwegian author Karin Fossum was born in Sandefjord where she grew up in a small 1950s bungalow. Her mother was a housewife, her father worked away from home most of the time. Karin was the middle child; she liked to sing, play instruments, draw, read and write. Her mother introduced her to world literature. Karin Fossum left home early to attend Skjebergs folk high school at Østfold. She then worked as, among other things, supermarket cashier, taxi driver and maid. She has also worked with the mentally ill and the rehabilitation of drug addicts. She has been a full-time author since 1995. Fossum lives in the village of Sylling, situated about fifty kilometres from Oslo.