Around 2009-2010, while writing ‘Lost,’ I began to get several Field Researcher stories popping up into my head, and it was around that time that the whole FR-universe really began to take shape. Characters stepped up, craving attention, and I listened. One of the books that wanted to be written is ‘Not For Your Eyes,’ the book that will end the whole series. I knew roughly what would take place, and when I say ‘roughly,’ it’s in the most generous sense of the word. We’re goi

It’s interesting how characters work when you’re writing about them. In ‘Of Darkness Born’, I kind of introduced a Field Researcher named George. He was only mentioned, and we never got to meet him. However, I did have a quite specific idea of how he was supposed to be: flamboyant, funny, generous, and a womanizer. In “The Living Wall” which I’m currently writing, he has a bigger part to play, and yesterday, he began claiming his place. As I wrote, George developed and now he

I had a wonderful and inspiring time at WordSpring this weekend. It was lovely to meet all the amazingly creative authors there and take part in workshops, panels, and award ceremonies. I even came to realize why it's been so hard for me to write 'Living Wall'. It’s because I still look at Larry from Henry’s perspective. Larry does have negative traits. He’s flawed just as all my characters, but Henry never took off his rosy-tinted sunglasses when looking at him, he never sto

I usually try to avoid getting political, because politics is not what I want to focus on as an author. However, during the weekend, I read an article that made me drop my chin. I have rolled my eyes at the sensitivity movement before, but I’ve kept it as my personal opinion. Now, I feel that I need to speak up, because this is a very dangerous road we are travelling. If no one is allowed to write from another perspective than their own, and not allowed to draw from other peo

I’m sitting at the computer, watching the rain hammering on the window and the trees’ branches dancing wildly outside. It’s PD-day and my children are at home, listening to their favourite music as they’re building train tracks and cities in the hall, while the seven fans downstairs half-drenches every sound. Somehow, it’s all very soothing. After a week full of construction workers demolishing our floors and walls downstairs – even though they gave my children the time of th

I have always had a longing inside me of having a garden. Ever since my early teens, I used to collect gardening books and herbal medicine books and pour through them, longing for red currants, wild strawberries, cherries, gooseberries, and all the herbs you can think of. One of my favourite book series back then was the one about Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters; the protagonist a crusader turned monk, head of the monastery’s garden. I read them again and again, always envisi

One of the recurring questions I get is how much research goes into my books. It's a great question which I appreciate a lot. Even though the stories are fictional, I want as much as possible to be true, which is why I spend a lot of time doing research. 'Of Darkness Born', for example, took three years to complete. One of those years went wholly into research. The main part of what I studied had to do with how forensic units work, how autopsies work - especially brain autops

I’ve been thinking about the word ‘inspiration’ lately, and what it really means to people on a deep, personal level. Words are overall a very intriguing subject, because, depending on each person’s own experiences, they mean different things to different people. What ‘inspires’ me does not necessarily ‘inspire’ you. It’s a double-edged (s)word. It creates a longing in your soul, but sometimes, it also creates an astounding fear of never again feel that sensation. For an arti

I have written three books and planned nine (plus a short-story-collection) in the Field Researcher Universe, but, let’s face it; I could go on and write books about them my whole life. The universe is so huge and so rich and all the people you meet in the books have a story worth telling. In ‘In the Hands of the Unknown’, for example, we get to meet a security guard at the Museum of Natural History. In a short passage, he tells Miriam and Carl about his father who served in

Music is an important part in everyone’s life. You usually have memories connected to certain songs, and when your ear catches a certain melody, feelings and images and even smells show up in your mind. It’s a wonderful medium. I myself have a very complicated relationship to music. It probably has something to do with me being highly sensitive to noise and light. In the mornings, for example, I can’t even stand people talking, and no lights can be on. If it i

It's been a very long winter and honestly I have to admit that I am very tired. You who have read this blog know that my father-in-law has been sick in cancer and a few days before Christmas he passed away. Coping with that and the funeral in France three weeks ago, and with the worry of the loved ones he left behind, I have not been able to be very social on different medias. Eventually I will come back, but for now, I need some privacy and some calmness around me and my fam

I don't know if I've heard any negative things about CreateSpace, but honestly, I've only had good experiences with them. Like today, for example; I sent in my newly updated version of 'Lost'. I got a message that they received it and were working on the three copies I ordered, and now, four hours later, they are sent, on their way home to me... I mean... how awesome is that? And if they follow the pattern I should have them in my hand tomorrow or on Friday. :-) With this qui

Okay, we've been home in Edmonton for almost an hour now, and it feels damn good. France was an interesting experience and Port Vendres was beautiful, though terrifying to drive in, but... wow... it feels great being home and great being treated with this daily kindness from shop keepers and strangers. I've missed it so much. And I've missed my cats so, so, so very much. I have a feeling that I'm going to have four cats in my bed tonight, when I get to bed as soon as I've wri

So this is it. It's our last night in Port Vendres. As I stand at the open French windows, looking out at the darkened landscape with the wild sky above, I feel that it all speaks to me. It is as if the small, picturesque village disappears in front of my eyes and I'm travelling back in time when this place was more violent and unsafe than it is now, when people travelled unseen amongst the mountains, but watched the same sky and stars and sea as I do today. It worries me tha

I admit, it's been a couple of hard days since 'Lost' came out. I've been struggling with the words in 'Of Darkness Born' and Henry has been standing there in the outskirts of my mind with arms crossed over his chest, glaring at me. Honestly, I have no idea why he's so mad at me, but eventually I told him: "Henry, you have to start talking to me if you want people to like you. I can't write about you properly if you don't communicate." After that it went easier. Now I even ha

Wow... I can't understand that I haven't written a single blog post since May. Where did June and July go? Oh... right... I've been working... Yep, that's right, I've been working like crazy to get 'Lost' out on deadline date, and believe it or not, but I actually beat the date - with two whole days!!! I feel pretty awesome!!! I even gave myself three whole hours before I sat down and started writing on book three in the series... Yeah, I know... I think I went a bit mad the

Lost in confusion I'm totally lost from the world. 'Lost' has taken over my life and I feel obsessed, and addicted, searching for my next fix every second. Sometime in between all this I try to find time to hug my children and feed them and listen to them when they want to tell me something - and sleep... What's that? What's sleep? I don't think I know anymore. Thank all good in this world and beyond that I have such a supportive and loving husband. You are the best, Mikael,

Horror vs Love or vice versa? This is NOT going the way I planned! Why is this suddenly a love story with elements of horror in it, and not vice versa? I don't write love stories, that's not what I do. I write horror. But... here it is. Doesn't matter how hard I try to deny it, it is a love story... #AuthorNote

What I think is one of the most beneficial things with being an author (except that you can work the hours during which you are actually most creative, which for me is the graveyard shift - quite fitting for a horror novel author, don't you think?) is that when you get stuck on something, a passage, a plot hook, or something like that, you can actually do something totally different and STILL be working. So today, I've managed to weed the whole yard while thinking about how m

Word counting makes me happyIt is now official, 'Lost' is half-way or two-thirds through, and I've beaten the word count of 'In the Hands of the Unknown' with two thousand already. 'Ithotu' is 73.135 words. 'Lost' is so far 75.060, and counting. Very happy. I can also tell you that I have two other books in the series on my mind, one prequel about how the Star Students and the Golden Fleece Society came to be (thanks D.J. for raising that question - it is indeed a very intere