Linda Olsson's Blog, page 7
October 23, 2012
Summer plans
Time to start making plans for summer! The southern summer and January. I so look forward to teaching this one week course:
After Frankfurt
Interesting to read the commentaries about New Zealand’s presence at the Frankfurt Book Fair in the German media. Overall, sadly, they confirm my own impression. An underwhelming response to New Zealand literature referred to as ‘stories without written language’. There are precious few proper reviews of New Zealand books, and no major presentations. I suppose they drowned in the black water…
Here is a very good review of ‘Die Fremde am Meer’:
http://www.literaturmarkt.info/cms/front_content.php?idcat=81&idart=6541
October 18, 2012
Back from the Frankfurt Book Fair
Back in Stockholm with mixed feelings. Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic, but I had such high hopes for New Zealand’s participation as the 2012 Guest of Honour. It was lavish, perhaps even extravagant, chosing to fill the more than 2,000 square metres of the New Zealand Pavilion with water and darkness. Stunning, perhaps, but not very practical. It was easy to forget that this was part of a BOOK fair. But I suppose time will tell if this will make an impact on how the world takes to New Zealand literature. Neither my German nor my Swedish publisher was approached by anybody New Zealand, while last year Iceland’s focus was entirely on building relationships and selling literary rights.
A comment from German magazine Stern titled ‘Storytellers with no written language’!, but mentioning ‘Die Fremde am Meer’ as having ‘Bestsellerpotenzial’, bestseller potential:
October 8, 2012
Writing summer course
In January, I will be teaching a five day creative writing course in Auckland. I am very excited about this opportunity, and hope it will be an interesting and inspiring week for the students – and for me!
Here is the information:
Feel free to contact me for more information!
September 15, 2012
My blue shoes are now public!
My short story ‘The blue shoes’ now available (in Swedish only)!
Det är så att min far gick bort nyligen. Och skorna var en del av det han lämnade efter sig. Och jag har som sagt aldrig sett dem förr. Det är ett par ljusblå mockaskor. Damskor. Storlek 36. Aldrig använda. Jag begriper inte var min far fått tag på dem. Eller vad han tänkt sig att jag skulle göra med dem.
The thing is, my father passed away recently. And these shoes were part of what he left behind. And I have never seen them before. It’s a pair of pale blue suede shoes. Ladies’ shoes. Size 36. Never used. I have no idea where he got them. Or what he thought I could do with them.
September 5, 2012
Die Fremde am Meer
My third novel, The kindness of your nature/Det goda inom dig will be released in Germany 10 September (my birthday – auspicious, I hope) and I look forward to going to the Frankfurt Book Fair in October as one of the New Zealand authors invited to participate in the celebration of New Zealand as the guest of honour country.
May 10, 2012
My blue shoes
My short story ‘De Blå Skorna’ (The Blue Shoes) has been accepted by Novellix, a Swedish publisher of short stories: http://www.novellix.se/. Publication is scheduled for September, and I hope to be in Sweden then.
March 28, 2012
Starting again
So, here I am. A (nearly) blank screen. Lots of music. The characters have appeared, though their world is still largely unknown to me. But I have taken small steps to join them. Take their journey.
Here, in my little studio in Auckland, I have planted a lucky shoot. And I keep the rose that unexpectedly sprouted roots. I take it as an auspicious sign.
Click here to listen to Death Waltz with Adam Hurst . Sublime.
March 21, 2012
Iceland!
I was just alerted that ‘Let me sing you gentle songs’ has now been released in Iceland:
March 10, 2012
Writers and Readers Festival in Wellington
Back in Wellington. I don’t come often, but each time I am reminded of how much I once loved this city. Now, I see it through the layers of history that has passed since then. With nostalgia and a little sadness.
But there is no sadness in the city itself. Quite the contrary, with the the buzz of the Festival. My two events take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. I am a little daunted by the task of chairing the session with Kate Grenville and Alan Hollinghurst on Tuesday. Firstly, because of the stature of both with such impressive literary records. Secondly, because these two authors have been on the Festival and media cirquit around the world and it will be a challenge to give something fresh to the audience. And to the objects. I know how tedious it can be to answer the same questions again and again. But there is a limit to new angles, of course. Perhaps it is a little like how it is with a novel: there are no truly unique stories, but there are unique ways of telling them. I am hoping we will be able to offer a uniquely Wellington session on Tuesday.
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