| Maria J. Pfannholz | |
| Pseudonym: | Maria Johanna Pfannholz |
| Birth Name: | Pia Mayer-Gampe |
| Occupation: | Author |
| Language: | German |
| Nationality: | German |
Pia Mayer-Gampe (born 1955), known by her pen names Maria Johanna Pfannholz and Maria J. Pfannholz, is a German novelist in the crime and science fiction genres.
Pfannholz was born in Munich, the daughter of writer and environmental activist Carl Amery.[1] After studying forestry in Munich and obtaining her diploma, she devoted herself to writing.[2] She first published non-fiction and then science fiction. In 1989, her novel Den Überlebenden – Die sieben Flaschenposten des Anton Gstettner (The Survivors – Anton Gstettner's Seven Bottled Messages) was awarded the Deutscher Science Fiction Preis. Furthermore, in 1991 she was also awarded the Encouragement Award from the European Science Fiction Society.[3]
Pfannholz resided in Bhutan for a few years. After she had returned to Germany, she published detective novels. Today she resides with her family in Upper Bavaria.[4]
In her works, Pfannholz mainly speaks of murders and assassinations in the Spessart mountain range, and of the weaponry recommended for walks in the forest.[2]