Sir Terence David John Pratchett

Birth

Apr 28, 1948

Pratchett was born in 1948 in Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, England, the only child of David and Eileen Pratchett, of Hay-on-Wye.

First publication

Apr 22, 1963

At age 13, Pratchett published his first short story "The Hades Business" in the school magazine. It was published commercially when he was 15.

Marriage

Feb 22, 1968

Terry Pratchett married his wife Lyn in 1968

Writing period

Period: Feb 22, 1971 to Feb 22, 2014

Birth of daughter

Dec 30, 1976

Their daughter Rhianna Pratchett, who is also a writer, was born in Rowberrow, Somerset in 1976.

First Discworld novel

Feb 22, 1983

The first Discworld novel The Colour of Magic was published in 1983 by Colin Smythe in hardback. The publishing rights for paperback were soon taken by Corgi, an imprint of Transworld, the current publisher. Pratchett received further popularity after the BBC's Woman's Hour broadcast The Colour of Magic as a serial in six parts.

Order of the British Empire

Feb 22, 1998

In 1998 Pratchett was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Carnegie Medal

Feb 22, 2001

In 2001 he won the annual Carnegie Medal for The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, the first Discworld book marketed for children.

Being knighted

Feb 18, 2009

Pratchett was knighted for services to literature in the 2009 New Year Honours.