Sverre Ã…rnes (pronounced: Swehree Arness) was born in 1949 in the Norwegian western coast valley of Surnadal. He was educated as a teacher (Primary/secondary school), and has also worked as an instructor in digital video editing.
He is primarily a serial novel writer. He has written some 190 novels (until 2005), some thousand short stories, many articles, translations (from English into Norwegian), etc. Although none of his serials were outstanding successes, he might have sold more than 1 million copies in all.
Most notable novel serials:
• BlodsbÃ¥nd (”Blood Ties”, 25 titles, 1994 - 1997. Published again 2004 - 2005.
• Vaterlandsjenta (”The Girl from Vaterland”), 16 titles, 2003 - 2005. English translation: East-End Lass “Playing With Fire”
• COBRA, action thrillers, 8 titles from 1987, published 2 times.
He also took a part writing the western serial “Sexy Western“, where the hero was the gunfighter, gambler, and womanizer Clay Allison. Some 20 titles, of which several were published up to three times.
He wrote 5 serial stories for the weekly magazine VI MENN, a job which sent him researching to Narvik, Central-African Gabon, Australia, and Hawaii. Quite unforgettable, he admits.
Radioplays:
For NRK, the nationwide radio in Norway, he has written three radioplays.
• “Førti millioner i løsepenger” (Forty Millions In Ransom), serial 3 episodes. Instructor and performers were in the top rank: Nils Nordberg, Nils Vogt, Lasse Lindtner, Anne-Marie Ottersen, and Elsa Lystad.
• “Redselen i Krokskogen” and “De flyvende djevler“, about the famous serial hero detective Knut Gribb. NRK Radio. Instructor: Nils Nordberg.
Comic scripts:
Though being a talented illustrator, he has preferred writing the scripts. The most notable are:
• The Phantom, based on Lee Falk’s masked hero (USA). All 19 are published in Sweden, Norway, and Finland. The bulk is also translated into English, and published in Australia.
• James Bond (Agent 007). For the Scandinavian market. 007 (!) scripts.
• Olsenbanden (the Olsen Gang), 5 issues. Based on a movie serial. Drawing artist: Håkon Aasnes. These magazines sold incredibly well in Norway, and were also printed as dailies in several newspapers.
He also wrote a few stories, and drew the pictures for them. They are mostly published in children’s papers (Nissens Jul).
Movies:
He has written a full feature script together with the movie director Oddvar Bull Tuhus, “Blücher“, based on his own comic script. The feature was not a crash hit, but the actors were in the country’s best.
His number one hobby is making short films. The most notable being
• “Velkommen hjem, Anders!” (Welcome Home, Andrew!) This won the Best Film and Best Actor awards in London, and was the winner of the Daily Mail’s Challenge Trophy. He made the script and did the directing. Editor: Rune Andersen. Camera: Peder Norlund. Leading role: Jan Tore Risan. Also shown on NRK TV, primetime.
• “Jeg ser du bare ler!” (I Know You Are Just Chuckling!) This won Gold Medal, and Second Prize totally, in the Eurofilm competition 2004. He did the script, directing, editing & digital effects. Leading role: Lars Daniel Krutzkoff Jacobsen.
Daily life:
He has been a free lance writer and translator since 1978, and still is. In 2003 he moved to the Philippines (Bohol Island). He is living together with his Philippine wife Florlien, his daughter Angelina Maria, and his parents-in-law Lilya and Rudy, and a number of brothers-in-law. He works as hard as ever, and he has never looked back since.