Enduring the global pandemic turned the world into an introverted stage. At least that we couldn't
gather in meetings, convents and other happenings.
If you ask Anne Holt, the Norwegian Nordic Noir writer, we could keep it that way she said during a
Q&A at Mornington Hotel, together with Malin Thunberg Schunke. The laughter was a bit uncertain,
what did she just said?
Stockholms bokhelg (Stockholms Book Weekend) seemed like a long-awaited event.
I didn't know what to expect. It has been a long time since I attended any bigger event in any
artistic expression. And I have never been to a record store day. Why is that last important you
might ask?
The set up for this weekend reminded me a bit of the set up for a record store day. But instead
of bands with acoustic guitars you have writers doing QnA's. At bookstores, at the publishers
office etc. Normally I had attended the Small press expo or Stockholm International Comic
Festival or whatever the event has been called. Both for old time sake, to socialize.
But mainly to follow my daughter, an aspiring artist to the event. I think she was in fourth grade
when she was represented with a work there. Today Cosplaying is added to her/their (her friends)
nerdish expression and doesn't want the old man to embarrass her/them.
So today I was free to fly wherever my wings would take me.
I spent a great deal of time reading the program, which is new to me. The shoot from the hip guy is l
ess and less visible. And I really needed it to be done. Unlike at the Book/Art/Sci-fi/Tattoo/Music/Photography/And record- fair and Comic -ConI been
to this was not a gathered under one roof event. This was a we-use-the-whole-city event.
And to make sure to make it hard we use the same time table kind of event. So a selection had
to be made. And I think I got it right. Just what I needed.
I started up at Lind & Company at Kungsholmen. What a lovely office! It will be tiresome for you to
read me write it over again so let’s say book publishers have lovely offices.
Three male Authors answered Questions on the Subjekt Hur blodigt får det vara? (
How much blood should it be?). Mikael Ressem, Nicklas Rydberg and Samuel Karlson,
mentioned in the order from left, were sitting in the picture, answering questions on cruelty,
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| Ressem, Rydberg, Karlson |
blood and where their limits are as writers. Ressem as a past as an Ambulance Nurse
might have seen some blood in his day but didn't think it worked well in fiction.
All of them agree that the amount of violence must be in proportion to the story.
Karlson admitted that he has had some very violent and cruel episodes in a novel.
Then he wrote in anger, he added. But their general point is that speculative use of
extreme violence is a sign of writing laziness. A term also Anne Holt used on a question
as such later that day.
In a film you can use liters of blood, but that doesn’t work on a book page.
The 20 minutes were too short. But both Lind & Co and I were on a schedule.
I decided to do this as I do most of my trails. I walk. A great walk in my town since 1986.
I also happen to be living some time in these blocks. I had time to walk into the yard of Stockholm City Hall.
The Nobel Prize dinner location. And got a picture of the next location, Norstedts. 
The Norstedts building is worth a mention on its own. The publisher has the building as a logo as well.
In the backyard of the iconic building was the event outdoors. Where they served BBQ hotdogs and coffee.
Just perfect. David Lagercrantz was on stage. Talking about his new NN book project about
the investigating duo Rekke and Vargas in Obscuritas.
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| David Lagercrantz |
sign of torture on the victim seems like answer the question on how much violence to be used, :-).
Lagercrantz three sequels on the Millennium series, post Stieg Larsson, ended very violent.
He also talked about how it was a bit of a limiting experience to write about Lisbet Salander,
because his editor had a big bunch of no-no's on what to make of the character.
In Obscuritas he will do whatever he wants.
After I got to ask him about a thing I was wondering about for a Lagercrantz Millennium trail.
He also shared a teenage memory with me I don't think everybody knows.
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| Riddarhuset - the House of Nobles |
Then off, Passing the House of Nobles, Where Lagercrantz family have an insignia shield.
Yes Lagercrantz is a Noble family. Father Olof was a celebrated Author and sister Marika you
can see as an Actor in the Millenium film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Swe).
A walk to the Posh Östermalm I saw a world celebrity, also NN related. I won't tell you who.
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| Anne Holt and Malin Thunberg Schunke |
Anne Holt is a former minister of the Social Democratic government, as well as a Lawyer and Journalist.
When she speaks, it is with a certain pondus. Her fellow QnA’er onstage inside Mornington Hotel’s r
estaurant at Piratförlagets event, Malin Thunberg Schunke might have been a bit taken by the moment. But did well.
But old school Anne Holt, from the School of Sjöwall/Wahlöö did call out for a need to let go off on
the shock effects and make the gray Nordic Cops cool again. She got a point.
After that I feel satisfied. But my subconscious makes me go to the last planned location.
On Fiskargatan!!! Of course I will go to Fiskargatan!
The Publisher Ordfront will after this event leave their address at Fiskargatan, Neighbor with
Lisbeth Salander. And aim for Gamla stan. Ordfront nowadays also publishes Galago,
an alternative comic book I once voluntarily worked on as an intern. To learn the craft, t
rade and business, in the mid eighties.
The non crime writer Per J Andersson is a Travel Writer. I remember why I had put this
Q&A in my schedule. And it was rewarding. Almost shockingly rewarding. All of a sudden I
saw where to steer the NNL concept, what I am doing. I am a Trail Writer.
I never saw myself as any writer in this. It is you my (Facebook) group members that pointed that out to me.
When Andersson said it, it stood clear to me. And I’m so grateful to him,
Ordfront and Stockholms bokhelg to get that insight.
I didn’t know what to expect. But I am more than satisfied with last Saturday. Sunday's events I don’t have the energy to go to. Which is bad. Because it has some good sessions too. I’m convinced of that.
