Lènor Tancred was born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1948. After obtaining a B.A. degree in languages at the University of Pretoria, she studied at the Universita per Straneri in Perugia, Italy in 1973. Her career in journalism began in 1974 when she joined the newly established “Beeld” newspaper in Johannesburg.
A long and varied career took her through public relations, fashion designing and apparel manufacturing, only to return to her first love; writing.

Lènor Tancred is best described as an "Autonomous Being". An anarchist in the classical sense of the word, according to Robert Paul Wolff in his treatise "In Defence of Anarchism." (Harper Torchbooks 1970), she will not be found in a pew, on the veranda of a country club or any party membership list. Claiming kinship with Kipling's "insatiably curious elephant child". Lènor Tancred is a person who questions everything - essential when doing research.

She does not suffer fools gladly and has an absolute horror of crowds and mediocrity, which often brings her into conflict with other committee or board members. Her interests include art, music, the theatre, art films, horse riding, quantum and astro physics. Her favourite author is Terry Pratchette and she is never happier than when reclining on her spine with a book. Although introvert by nature she can be vivacious in company but seldom entertains at home, as she dislikes cooking. An aficionado of European coffee club culture, she is often to be found scanning the latest books, magazines or periodicals or spending time with her friends. Just your average girl-next-door.