Louise Penny

Louise Penny CM OQ is a Canadian author of mystery novels set in the Canadian province of Québec centred on the work of francophone Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. Penny was born on July 1, 1958 in Toronto, Ontario. She earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts (Radio and Television) from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Toronto Metropolitan University) in 1979. After graduation, aged 21, she embarked on an 18-year career as a radio host and journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). After she turned to writing, she won numerous awards for her work, including the Agatha Award for best mystery novel of the year five times, including four consecutive years (2007–2010), and the Anthony Award for best novel of the year five times, including four consecutive years (2010–2013). Her novels have been published in 23 languages. In 2013, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada "for her contributions to Canadian culture as an author shining a spotlight on the Eastern Townships of Québec". In 2017 she was made a Member of the Order of Québec. Penny currently lives in Knowlton, a small village in Québec's Eastern Townships about 100 km from Montréal, quite close to the American border.