Born in Glarus, lives in Ronco, Tessin. Countless awards, including the prize of the Swiss Schiller-Stiftung, the Schubart Literaturpreis, the Justinus-Kerner-Preis. Historical novels such as Der Riese im Baum ("The Giant In The Tree"), Die Wachsflügelfrau ("The Wax-Winged Woman"), Der Zeitreisende ("The Time Traveller"), Die Vogelmacherin ("The Birdmaker"), Die Geschichte von Hexenkindern ("The Story Of The Witch's Children"), Aline und die Erfindung der Liebe ("Aline And The Invention Of Love"). Children's books Die Hexe Lakritze ("The Witch Liquorice").