Christopher Paolini

Christopher Paolini was born in Southern California and lived most of his life in Paradise Valley, Mont. The tall, jagged Beartooth Mountains that rise on one side of Paradise Valley inspired the fantastic scenery in “Eragon,” the first novel in his Inheritance cycle. Paolini was 15 when he wrote the first draft of “Eragon,” and his family self-published the book in 2001. In August 2003, Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers published “Eragon” to immediate success, reaching a worldwide audience. “Eldest” and “Brisingr” followed in the series. “Inheritance” (Knopf) is the fourth and final book of the series, which has sold more than 25 million books worldwide.

Previous National Book Festival Appearances

• 2012