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Arndís Þórarinsdóttir (Arndis Thorarinsdottir) is an Icelandic writer and translator.

Arndís has published the following books for children:

• The middle-grade novel Mömmuskipti (Mom Swap), co-written with Hulda Sigrún Bjarnadóttir and Published by Forlagið in 2023.
  • Nominated for the 2023 Icelandic Literary Prize in the children’s and young adult category.
  • Awarded third place in the children’s and young adult category of the annual Icelandic Bookseller’s Awards
  • Nominated for the 2024 Reykjavík Children’s Book Prize for original work.
• The middle-grade novel Kollhnís (Somersault), Published by Forlagið in 2022. Sold to The Netherlands (Volt), Hungary (Cerkabella), Estonia (Hea Lugu), Italy (Iperborea) and The Czech Republic (Portál).
  • Won the 2022 Icelandic Literary Prize in the children’s and young adult category.
  • Won the 2023 Fjöruverðlaunin, the Icelandic Women’s Literary Prize in the children’s and young adult category.
  • Won the 2023 Reykjavík Children’s Book Prize for original work.
  • Awarded second place in the children’s and young adult category of the annual Icelandic Bookseller’s Awards
  • Nominated for the 2023 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize.
  • Listes as one of the 18 best children’s books of 2023 listed by the Estonian Union for Child Welfare and the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre.

• The chapter book Bál tímans: Örlagasaga Möðruvallabókar í sjö hundruð ár (The Inferno of Time: The Adventures of a Vellum Manuscript over 700 Years), published by Forlagið in 2021. Illustrated by Sigmundur Breiðfjörð Þorgeirsson. Sold to Spain (Pagès Editors – Catalan).
  • • Nominated for the 2021 Icelandic Literary Prize in the children’s book category.
    • Nominated for the 2021 Reykjavík Children’s Book Award in the original children’s book category.
    • Nominated for the 2022 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize.

• Blokkin á heimsenda (The Island on the Edge of the Universe), co-written with Hulda Sigrún Bjarnadóttir and published by Forlagið in 2020. Sold to Denmark (Carlsen), The Netherlands (Volt), Russia (Mann, Ivanov & Ferber), Germany (Arena) and Finland (WSOY).
  • Won the 2020 Guðrún Helgadóttir Children’s Literature Prize for an unpublished manuscript.
  • Won the 2020 Icelandic Literary Prize in the children’s book category.
  • Nominated for the 2021 Reykjavík Children’s Book Award in the original children’s book category.
  • Nominated for the 2021 Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize.
  • Nominated for the 2024 Deutsche Jugendliteraturpreis.

• The chapter books Nærbuxnaverksmiðjan (The Underwear Factory), Nærbuxnanjósnararnir (The Underwear Spies) and Nærbuxnavélmennið (The Underwear Robot), published by Forlagið in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Illustrated by Sigmundur Breiðfjörð Þorgeirsson.
  • Nærbuxnanjósnarnir was nominated for the 2019 Icelandic Literary Prize in the children’s book category.

• The chapter book Arfurinn (Bequest), published by The Icelandic Directorate of Education in 2020. Illustrated by Heiða Rafnsdóttir.

• The chapter book Galdraskólinn (A School of Magic), published by the Icelandic Directorate of Education in 2019. Illustrated by Ragnheiður Ásta Valgeirsdóttir.

• The chapter book Gleraugun hans Góa (Gói’s Glasses), published by The Icelandic Directorate of Education in 2015. Illustrated by Árni Jón Guðmundsson.

• The nonfiction book Sitthvað á sveimi (Something is Out There), published by The Icelandic Directorate of Education in 2014. Illustrated by Karl Jóhann Jónsson.

• The chapter book Lyginni líkast (Coming True), published by The Icelandic Directorate of Education in 2013. Illustrated by Freydís Kristjánsdóttir.

• The novel Játningar mjólkurfernuskálds (Confessions of a Milk Carton Poet), published by Forlagið in 2011.
  • Nominated for the 2013 Nordic Children’s Book Prize.

Her first volume of poetry, Innræti (Imprint) was published by Forlagið in 2020. Innræti was nominated for the 2020 Icelandic Literary Prize, in the fiction category.

Arndís has also translated the first ten books of Rosie Banks’ Secret Kingdom series into Icelandic. Previously she translated JRR Tolkien’s Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics for Dr. Ármann Jakobsson’s edition of the text.

She has published short stories and articles in various Icelandic magazines.

Arndís lives in Reykjavík with her husband and two children. You are welcome to contact her directly by email, her address is arndis@arnd.is.  She is represented by the Rights & Brands agency,  but her work with Hulda Sigrún Bjarnadóttir is represented by David Dunton at Harvey Klinger Literary Agency. Arndís and Hulda also have a joint website.

Arndís has an undergraduate degree in comparative literature and a postgraduate degree in Creative Writing, from the University of Iceland, and another postgraduate degree in Writing for Performance, from Goldsmiths College, University of London.

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