Camilla Läckberg

Camilla Läckberg

Camilla Läckberg at the 2011 Göteborg Book Fair.
Born August 30, 1974
Fjällbacka, Västra Götaland County, Sweden
Occupation Novelist
Nationality Swedish
Genre Crime fiction
Website
www.camillalackberg.com
Fjällbacka in Sweden, the tiny seaside village where Läckberg was born

Jean Edith Camilla Läckberg Eriksson (August 30, 1974) is a Swedish crime writer. Her work has been translated into 33 languages.[1]

Writing technique

Läckberg considers herself a crime dilettante since discovering such literature on her father's bookshelf at a young age. It has remained a fascination for her ever since.[2] Läckberg's books have received special praise for detail and "in-depth characterization".[3] Those around are observed for behaviour, then the protagonist is hidden in a plethora of characters-although the readers are never deceived per se.[4] What interests is primarily psychology:-just how 'horrible' people are capable of being![5] Läckberg - sometimes called the Swedish Agatha Christie - became a writer after her husband and parents enrolled her in a creative writing course as a Christmas present: 'For me actually, specific images – snapshots – come first, and then the story starts to come together from those bits and pieces. I am very visual when I write, I "see" the story in pictures and writing a book is like having a movie running in my head 24/7.'[6] The scenes are described in a few words which gives the reader a simple pattern to work from-they have to provide the rest:- "I read about furniture makers I’ve never heard about, designers I cannot pronounce, and magazines which seem interesting enough to look through. Needless to say Google's search-engine works overtime during my research!"[7] Although her actual creative process is shrouded in mystery some suggest Läckberg first looks for a motive then works from there; these-as her plots-she terms 'finite' attributions: money, jealousy, revenge, loss etc.[8] 'Understanding why someone does something terrible like a murder is interesting.'[9] The characters are definitely the strong point: they are complicated people who are far from perfect, their innermost workings are interesting, often amusing, having a patina of realism.[10] At the end of each book is a 'imaginary peripeteia' as in ancient Greek drama, a reversal showing everything from a new perspective.[11] Läckberg often uses a familiar narrative ploy of running two stories alongside one another (In the Stone Cutter the current murder investigation and the story of Anders Andersson, a stone cutter from Stromstad in 1923. In the Hidden Child the assassination of a retired history teacher juxtaposed against Erika's mothers wartime diaries).[12] Although the protagonist is sometimes known before the finish thus avoiding a cliched denouement at the end-the writing is skillful enough to still demand our attention.[13]

Personal life & entrepreneurial ventures

Läckberg was born in Fjällbacka, Bohuslän, and started writing at an early age - her earliest work being called "Tomten" (The Goblin) then having graduated from the Gothenburg University of Economics, the would-be crime-writer moved to Stockholm, (the Läckberg family still owns property in Enskede, southern Stockholm) where she worked as an economist before beginning writing fiction seriously.[14] Läckberg describes her worst quality as: "being exceptionally good at procrastination!" & being a fan of the disco-classic “I Will Survive”; as well as being a 'cry-baby' who laughs at: "romantic comedies and the crazy utterances of children!" [15] Entrepreneurial talents have found expression in a jewellery company "Sahara", inspired by the natural objects we readily find around us.[16][17][18] Hong Kong maternity fashion company Sono Vaso recently launched in Europe with (the then) pregnant bestselling author endorsing.[19] Läckberg was married for the second time in 2010 to Martin Melin,[20] winner of Expedition Robinson. The two had met at a 2005 release party for one of her books, then began a working relationship. Martin proposed to Läckberg in August 2009.[21] The wedding occurred at Häringe Slott south of Stockholm.[22] She has three children. Wille and Meja are from her first marriage. The Ice Princess was accepted by her publishers in the same week as Läckberg gave birth to her son Wille.[23] Charlie is from her relationship with Melin.[24] He is also the subject of her first children's book Super-Charlie.[25] Camilla Läckberg is the best selling author in Sweden as of Nov 2011: Änglamakerskan, was published in the middle of September and is breaking all records having sold more than 300 000 copies, a 40% increase insales compared to the last novel Fyrvaktaren.[26] Under Swedish law, Läckberg's ex-husband Micke Eriksson was entitled to 50% revenue from the contracts signed during their marriage. Eventually it was agreed that a lump sum should be paid to him.[27]

Bibliography

Published Swedish title English title Translation Notes
2003 Isprinsessan The Ice Princess Steven T. Murray (2008)
2004 Predikanten The Preacher Steven T. Murray (2009)
2005 Stenhuggaren The Stonecutter Steven T. Murray (2010)
2006 Olycksfågeln The Gallows Bird a.p.a. The Stranger Steven T. Murray (2011) Paperback version seems to be called The Stranger;[28] the film is called The Jinx[29]
2007 Tyskungen The Hidden Child Tiina Nunnally (2011)
2008 Sjöjungfrun The Drowning Tiina Nunnally (2012)
2009 Fyrvaktaren The Lost Boy[30] Tiina Nunnally (2013) [31]
Snöstorm och mandeldoft The Scent of Almonds
Smaker från Fjällbacka Flavours from Fjällbacka
2011 Änglamakerskan The Angel Maker's Wife a.p.a. Buried Angels Tiina Nunnally (2014)
Fest, mat och kärlek Feast, Food & Love
2011 Super Charlie Super Charlie

Television adaptations

Filming of the new TV series Fjällbackamorden began in August 2011 based on the characters from Läckberg's novels, but the stories will be new, with actors Claudia Galli and Richard Ulfsäter playing Erica and Patrik.[32] 'My books are my children & I want to hand them over to somebody who will look after them,' Camilla is quoted as saying.[33]

Läckberg and her friend and fellow author Denise Rudberg have hosted the literature series Läckberg & Rudberg on SVT.

Awards

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sara Comments Off (2011-09-19). "Camilla Läckberg". TheCrimeHouse.com. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  2. ↑ "Scandinavianbooks".
  3. ↑ Yahr, Emily (June 12, 2011). "Washington Post". The Washington Post.
  4. ↑ "Recontre avec Camilla Lackberg".
  5. ↑ "Entrevista.con".
  6. ↑ "Amazon Post".
  7. ↑ "Google THC".
  8. ↑ Kornbluth, Jesse (September 11, 2010). "Huffington Post".
  9. ↑ "camillalackberg.nl".
  10. ↑ "dnbok".
  11. ↑ "dnbok".
  12. ↑ "Southern Tablelands".
  13. ↑ "litendeavors".
  14. ↑ "harper-collins".
  15. ↑ "Svd".
  16. ↑ "Sahara".
  17. ↑ "Sahara-se".
  18. ↑ "Sahara-blog".
  19. ↑ "Sono Vaso".
  20. ↑ "Camilla Married police Officer". camillalackberg.com.
  21. ↑ "New Marriage".
  22. ↑ "Haringe_Slott".
  23. ↑ "Biography".
  24. ↑ "Biography". camillalackberg.com.
  25. ↑ "Super-Charlie".
  26. ↑ "Änglamakerskan".
  27. ↑ "pengarna".
  28. ↑ "Camilla Lackberg". Eurocrime.co.uk. 2012-06-03. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  29. ↑ "Camilla Lackberg". svtsales.com. 2014-01-05. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
  30. ↑ http://www.camillalackberg.com/fyrvaktaren
  31. ↑ "The Lost Boy : Camilla Lackberg". HarperCollins. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
  32. ↑ "Tre Vänner".
  33. ↑ "Tre Vänner".
  34. ↑ "Award".

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Camilla Läckberg.