[1] Erling Pedersen was born in Rauma, in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway.
He made his literary début in 1972 with the short story collection Rottenes konge, for which he was awarded the Tarjei Vesaas' debutantpris.
[2] Pedersen's breakthrough with critics and audiences came with Skredesyklusen – Din plass på jorda (1981), Solregn over Skrede (1991), Smaken av jern (1998) and Brødre (2001).
Pedersen followed four generations throughout the 1900s, and the changes in the Norwegian daily rolled up through the experiences of people.
A recent work, Kongens merke (2006), is about war and persecution in Norway during the reign of King Christian IV (1588– 1648).