[2] His parents were Halvdan Marius Pettersen Skogheim (1901–1974) and Edel Markussen (1906–1993).

He made his literary debut in 1970 with the poetry collection ... gagns menneske.

His literary breakthrough came in 1980, with the documentary novel Sulis, the first of a four-volume chronicle about migrant railway construction workers in Northern Norway.

Sanatorieliv from 2001 is a treatment of medical, social and cultural aspects of tuberculosis, partly based upon his own childhood experiences, when he spent eleven years in various sanatoriums.

The book was awarded the Sverre Steen Prize from the Norwegian Historical Association in 2002.