Biography
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Born
17 November 1983 (age 40)
Biography
Christopher Paolini was born in Southern California, but he was raised in the Paradise Valley, Montana area, where he is currently living. His family members include his parents, Kenneth Paolini and Talita Hodgkinson, and his sister, Angela. Home schooled for his entire school career, he graduated from high school at the age of 15 through an accredited correspondence course at American School, Chicago, Illinois. Following graduation, he started his work on what would become the novel Eragon and its sequels, Eldest and Brisingr, both set in Alagaësia.
Nature influences much of Paolini's writing. In a three-way interview with Philip Pullman and Tamora Pierce, Paolini stated that Paradise Valley is "one of the main sources" of his inspiration. In Eldest Paolini explained that his elves were atheists and vegetarians. When asked if he is a vegetarian, he answered, "No, I am not vegetarian, although I lean in that direction."
Career
In 2002, Eragon was published by his parents' company, Paolini International LLC. To promote the book, Paolini toured over 135 schools and libraries, discussing reading and writing, all the while dressed in "a medieval costume of red shirt, billowy black pants, lace-up boots, and a jaunty black cap." Paolini's sister created the cover art for the first edition of Eragon, which featured Saphira's eye. He also drew the maps on the inside covers of his books.
During one of his promotional tours, he gave a speech at the school of the stepson of Carl Hiaasen, who showed it to his stepfather. Hiaasen enjoyed the book and told his publisher, Alfred Knopf, about it. An offer was made by Knopf for Eragon and the rest of the Inheritance trilogy. The second edition of Eragon was published in August 2003. At the age of nineteen, Paolini became a New York Times bestselling author. Eragon has since been adapted into a film of the same name.
Paolini's essay "It All Began with Books" is included in the anthology Guys Write for Guys Read (April 2005).
Eldest, the sequel to Eragon, was released August 23, 2005.
His third book does not yet have a title or release date.
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