.jpg)
Kari Hotakainen (born 9 January 1957 inPori, Finland) is a Finnishwriter. Hotakainen started his writing career as a reporter in Pori. In 1986, he moved to Helsinki. He became a full-time writer in 1996. He has two children with his wife, sound technician Tarja Laaksonen, whom he married in 1983. He has also worked as a copywriter and as a columnist for theHelsingin Sanomat.[1]
His father, Keijo Hotakainen, worked as a storekeeper and photographer while his mother, Meeri Ala-Kuusisto, worked as a sales clerk. Kari Hotakainen passed his matriculation examination in 1976 and graduated from Rautalampi High School the same year. He has aBachelor of Arts.[1]
Hotakainen kicked off his career as an author in the beginning of the 1980s by writing poetry. His debut collectionHarmittavat takaiskut (Unfortunate setbacks) was published in 1982. From poetry, Hotakainen moved on to writing books for children and young adults and then on to writing novels for adults. Before he started writing full-time, Hotakainen worked as a news reporter, in the advertising department ofWSOY, etc. Hotakainen's breakthrough came when he was nominated for the 1997Finlandia Prize, for his semi-autobiographical work titledKlassikko (The Classic). In 2002, Hotakainen received theFinlandia Prize for his book titledJuoksuhaudantie (Battle Trench Avenue) published the same year. Later on, the book was turned intoa movie with the same name. In 2004, Hotakainen receivedthe Nordic Council's Literature Prize for the same book. In 2006, he received theNordic Drama Award for his playPunahukka. Hotakainen has also written children's plays,radio dramas, newspaper columns and the scripts for a 10-part TV series titledTummien vesien tulkit.
Hotakainen was seriously injured in a car accident on 3 March 2012.[2]
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Winner of the Runeberg Prize 2010 | Succeeded by |
