Rein Tootmaa
Rein Tootmaa (born 3 March 1957) is a prose writer and critic.
He was born in Tõrva, attended school in Tõrva from 1964–1975 and studied Estonian philology at Tartu State University from 1975–1980. After graduating from the university, he worked as an editor at the board of the Estonian SSR Book Society for two years. From 1982–1985, Tootmaa was a teacher of Estonian language and literature at Kingissepa (now Kuressaare) Secondary School No. 2 in Saaremaa. From 1985–1992, he was director of the cinema network of Saaremaa. Thereafter, he worked as a journalist for the Saaremaa newspapers Oma Saar and Meie Maa. In 1997, he was development director and director of Chaplin Centre (now Museum of New Art) in Pärnu. Later, Tootmaa has been a freelance literator. He has been a member of the Estonian Writers’ Union from 1995.
Rein Tootmaa made his debut with a short story in the newspaper Edasi in 1980 and published his first collection of short stories, Klaverimängupüha (‘Piano Playing Holiday’), in 1987. In this, like in two following collections, his stories concentrate mostly on the themes of love and marriage. In 1997, Tootmaa published the novel Tulnukad ja kratid (‘Aliens and Treasure-bringing Goblins’) in which the author treats political struggle in the newly independent Republic of Estonia in the key of a satirical fantasy story. In the 21st century, Rein Tootmaa has published a novel and a trilogy of short novels, Teekond haaremisse (‘Journey into the Harem’).
Tootmaa has also published literary criticism.
L. P. (Translated by I. A.)
Books in Estonia
Novels
Tulnukad ja kratid: ulmelis-realistlik romaan tänapäeva Eesti elu ainetel. Tallinn: Virgela, 1997. 197 lk.
Teekond haaremisse: Juksi Jaani pihtimused. I. Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus, 2002. 137 lk.
Teekond haaremisse: Juksi Jaani pihtimused. II. Abi-elu. Kodu-loom. Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus, 2003. 135 lk.
Teekond haaremisse: Juksi Jaani pihtimused. III. Üksinduse vabariik. Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus, 2006. 133 lk.
Filtrita “Camel”. Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus, 2012. 167 lk.
Short stories
Klaverimängupüha. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1987. 158 lk.
Seal, selle laia välja taga. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1991. 140 lk.
Põgeneda! Tallinn: FC Boheem, 1997. 100 lk.
