I am just in the middle of editing my forthcoming novel, The Island Affair, and I thought I'd let you have a sneak peek into my inspiration for the book. The Island Affair (and the series to follow) is set in Åland. This is a group of islands situated in the Baltic off the coast of Sweden, … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
As well as wishing you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, I'd like to start by thanking you for your support in 2018. It's been a wonderful year where I have increased my readership and more than tripled my book sales! I've also been able to help a lot of other authors to publish and market their … [Read more...]
A Nordic Christmas
There's something magical about a Nordic Christmas. I would say that, wouldn't I? But it's true. With fresh snow underfoot and dark skies clear with stars, this time of year has an almost mythical quality to it. For us Scandinavians, December is the most important time of year. As well as Christmas, … [Read more...]
No Snow in Lapland
There's no snow in Lapland, a state of affairs which is terrible for the tourist industry. It doesn't bode well for the future of our globe, either. The Press Loves Bad News The lack of snow in Lapland has been picked up by newspapers and news channels alike. CNN reports a 'Festive Flop', while … [Read more...]
Displaced Sisters
I've just said goodbye to my sister who's been visiting me in London. She lives and works in Luleå, Northern Sweden. A Displaced Family My only sibling and I have been displaced sisters ever since our father decided in the mid-seventies that he would take up a job offer from a Swedish telecoms … [Read more...]
The Christmas Heart Characters: Tuuli
As the launch date for The Christmas Heart approaches, I thought I'd let you know a little more about Tuuli, one of the characters in the book. Friend from University Kaisa met Tuuli on the very first day that she entered the Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki. The two young women immediately … [Read more...]
Do You Judge a Book by its Cover?
I find book covers highly interesting. (I would, wouldn't I?) I've just come back from Finland and whenever I'm there, I always spend as much time as possible in bookshops. What strikes me often is how different book covers in Finland (and in the Nordic countries in general) are, compared to the … [Read more...]
Helena’s Best Reads: The Defenceless by Kati Hiekkapelto
The Defenceless by Kati Hiekkapelto, published in the UK by Orenda Books, is a Nordic Noir tale of immigration, drugs and unexplained deaths set in a coastal city in Finland. The Plot Anna Fekete, a young police detective hailing from Eastern Europe, is called to a case of a fatal car accident, … [Read more...]
My British Citizenship Saga Continues ….
I've written here before about how I had to apply for British citizenship in order to guarantee that, after Brexit, I am able to remain in Britain, which has been my home for the past 34 years, and where my British grandchild, children, and husband all live. Glad to Be British Although I resented … [Read more...]
Where to find your Nordic Hygge in London
As today is the International Hygge Day, I thought I'd let you know where I take myself when I feel homesick and need my Nordic Hygge fix. Whether it's Swedish Fika (coffee with cake or bun), Danish Hygge (feeling cozy) or food old-fashioned Finnish silence, you can find it in London. Nordic … [Read more...]
