Hille Karm

Hille Karm (until 1975 Hille Ok, born 8. IV 1949) is a journalist and writer.

Karm was born in Tallinn. As a child, she lived on Saaremaa where she also attended school. Later, she moved to Harju County and graduated from Keila Secondary School. From 1967-1972, she studied journalism at Tartu State University. After graduation, she worked as a journalist, and as editor of the Tallinn University of Technology newspaper and the magazine Nõukogude Naine (from 1989, Eesti Naine). Karm later studied advertising at the Marketing Institute and then taught marketing communication at the same institution. She has also worked at the marketing department of ERGO insurance company, after which she became a freelancer. She joined the Estonian Writers’ Union in 2010.

Karm was first recognized at a story competition by Noorus magazine in 1976. She was also successful at the Baltics essays and articles competition Bellaad, where she won first prize twice. Her first publication was the short story collection Semestri 99. päev (‘The 99th Day of the Semester’, 1981). The main characters of all nine stories in the collection are young people and several stories are set in an institution of higher education. The collection reflects the author’s experience with her everyday work.

Karm also wrote a novel titled Linnutiivul (‘Upon A Bird’s Wings’, 2018), in which Tessa, a mature woman celebrating her birthday, meets friends and strangers both over the phone and in person.

Hille Karm has written various works, including books on several well-known creatives (for example the actress Elle Kull and singers Heli Lääts and Helgi Sallo). She has also translated prose from Finnish and Russian.

L. P. (Translated by A. A.)

Books in Estonian

Non-fiction
Septembrist jaanipäevani. [Tallinna Polütehnilisest Instituudist.] Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1986, 100+12 lk.
Helgi Sallo. Helgib ja heliseb. Tallinn: Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 2007, 208 lk. [2., täiendatud trükk: 2017.]
Elle Kull. Unes ja ilmsi. Tallinn: Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 2009, 215 lk.
Õnnerahva lood. Tallinn: Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 2009, 179 lk.
Taevas ja maa. Tartu: Petrone Print, 2011, 240 lk. [Mälestused.]
Hille Karm, Tiina Park, Tiina Park. Naine teiselt planeedilt. Tallinn: Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 2014, 231 lk.
Siiri ja Mihkel Oviir. Kahekesi klaasist majas. Tallinn: Tammerraamat, 2016, 431 lk.
Heli Lääts. Armastusega. Hille Karmi vestlused Heli Läätsega. Tallinn: SE&JS, 2017, 382 lk.

Novels
Linnutiivul. Tallinn: Tammerraamat, 2018, 264 lk.

Short stories
Semestri 99. päev. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1981, 80 lk.
Midagi head. Tallinn: Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 2009, 128 lk.
Saame kokku pühapäeval. Lühikesed linnajutud. Pegasus, 2012, 150 lk.

Children’s stories
Väike vahva vanaema. Tallinn: Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 2006, 63 lk.
Joosep ootab jõuluvana. Tallinn: Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 2007, 62 lk.
Robot Robin saab südame. Tallinn: Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 2007, 54 lk.
Joosep läheb jõuluvanale külla. Tallinn: Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 2008, 71 lk.
Ingli valgus. Tallinn: Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 2009, 63 lk.
Pasun punase kuue taskus. Tallinn: Ajakirjade Kirjastus, 2010, 70 lk.
Kui vanaema väike oli. Tallinn: Fookus Meedia, 2014, 175 lk.
Näe, särabki!. Tallinn: Argo, 2014, 38 lk.