Carina Axelsson's Blog, page 13

Ooh la la…!

 

Hi everyone,

 

Ever since the spring blossoms have been on the trees here at home I’ve been craving a trip to Paris. It really is the prettiest city at this time of the year!

 

So what five things would I see and do if I could hop on a train today, and visit the City of Light? Click here to take a look at my new blog post on the Girls Heart Books website and find out!

 

And don’t forget to pack a chic handbag and your fave ballerina slippers  ;-))

 

Au revoir!

 

Carina x

My 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Interview…

 

Hi everyone,

 

Model Under Cover: A Crime of Fashion is hitting the US shores this summer (as Model Undercover: Paris), and I’m lucky enough to have some fab book bloggers helping with my cover reveal . One of them, Colby Sharp from the Sharp Read book blog, also asked me to do an interview to post at the same time as the cover reveal!

 

(FYI: A “Cover Reveal” is basically just a fun way of getting readers excited about an upcoming publication by revealing a book’s cover – it gives them a taste of what’s to come…!)

 

You know an interview with a title like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is going to be fun to do – and it was! Colby’s amusing questions on writing included “What is your favourite thing about writing?” and – my fave – “If you could spend the day inside the world of any book which book would you pick?”

 

So to find out my answers, and why Colby’s interviews are called 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, head on over to his book blog, Sharp Read, and check out my short but sweet interview.

 

As a third-grade teacher, writer, lit-fan and Nerd Camp leader (don’t you love that?!), Michigan, US-based Colby has well-informed opinions, reviews, and ideas on both the book world, and reading. So take a look at his site too, while you’re there (and find out what Nerd Camp is all about!).

 

Happy reading!

 

Carina x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Interview…

 

Hi everyone,

 

Model Under Cover: A Crime of Fashion is hitting the US shores this summer (as Model Undercover: Paris), and I’m lucky enough to have some fab book bloggers helping with my cover reveal . One of them, Colby Sharp from the Sharp Read book blog, also asked me to do an interview to post at the same time as the cover reveal!

 

(FYI: A “Cover Reveal” is basically just a fun way of getting readers excited about an upcoming publication by revealing a book’s cover – it gives them a taste of what’s to come…!)

 

You know an interview with a title like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is going to be fun to do – and it was! Colby’s amusing questions on writing included “What is your favourite thing about writing?” and – my fave – “If you could spend the day inside the world of any book which book would you pick?”

 

So to find out my answers, and why Colby’s interviews are called 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, head on over to his book blog, Sharp Read, and check out my short but sweet interview.

 

As a third-grade teacher, writer, lit-fan and Nerd Camp leader (don’t you love that?!), Michigan, US-based Colby has well-informed opinions, reviews, and ideas on both the book world, and reading. So take a look at his site too, while you’re there (and find out what Nerd Camp is all about!).

 

Happy reading!

 

Carina x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Cover Reveal!

Hi everyone,

 

I’m super excited to reveal the cover for the US edition of Model Undercover: Paris!

 

 

The book’s publication date is scheduled for July 1st, so get your sunglasses ready for some summer reading!

 

And in case any of you are wondering whether there are any major differences between the US and UK editions – the answer is no. A few linguistic tweaks – elevator for lift, and that kind of thing – and a slightly different title (The book’s UK title is Model Under Cover: A Crime of Fashion), but not much else.

 

I’ve had a blast working with Sourcebooks, my US publisher. They are a large independent publisher based in Naperville, Illinois – although their children’s books/YA office is in New York City. So how lucky am I to have such a good excuse for visiting New York City?

 

My editor, the ever-charming Steve Geck is a super sweetie, and the fabulous Dominique Raccah is the publisher and CEO of Sourcebooks.

 

A word about Dominique: with Sourcebooks she has established one of the largest woman-owned independent book publishers in the US. Furthermore, Dominique has been at the forefront of e-books and e-readers since they hit the market. She’s a widely respected – and often quoted – leader in the digital revolution of the book. You can read a bit more about Dominique and Sourcebooks here.

 

Anyway, do I sound excited about having the fab Sourcebooks publish Model Undercover: Paris??? I THINK SO!!!

 

Keep checking this space for more updates on the US release of Model Undercover: Paris!

 

Carina x

 

 

On Computers and Writing…

Hi everyone,

 

I handed in the final draft of Stolen with Style just before Easter and have since been enjoying the bliss of not having a major deadline hanging over me! So one of the projects I’ve finally had a chance to catch up on – and one I’ve been meaning to do since February! – is the setting up of my new desktop computer…

 

 

I’ve never had one (I’ve only worked on laptops until now) so I keep staring at it and looking at it as if it were a new puppy, or amazing species of flower, or something. Sad, I know!

 

I’m often asked what I work on: paper or computer? And if it’s a computer, then what kind of computer? Those questions are inevitably followed by something along the lines of, “I have this book I want to write, and I’m thinking I should get a computer with more memory, or some special writing software, or maybe a small laptop that I can take everywhere, a bigger battery, etc.,…What do you think I should do?”

 

My answer to these questions is always the same: If you want to write a book just start with what you have. You don’t need anything fancy. Really – I promise. Because while the computer – in my case, anyway! – does indeed have a vital role to play…it is a supporting role – not a leading role. You’re the one doing the writing – not the computer.

 

So, again, just start with what you have. If that means writing at home on your family’s one an only computer then do it. Schedule a time when no one else will be using it – 5am, 3pm, midnight, whatever – and sit down and write. If it means starting your new book on your ancient laptop (that’s what I did), then just start on your ancient laptop. Or borrow a friend’s, or family member’s, whatever…just start where you are.

 

As the head of fiction at one of my publishers told me – and I love this: “The only way all of this happens,” she said as she waved her hand around the book-packed hall we were standing in at the Frankfurt Book Fair, “is if you, the writer, actually put your bottom on a chair and write.”

 

And she’s right.

 

More computer memory, or a fancy screen, or a special software program isn’t going to write your book – only you will. Not that these things won’t help, but at the end of the day, honestly…any old computer and basic office program like Word will do.

 

I wrote Model Under Cover: A Crime of Fashion (along with other things that shall remain stashed at the back of my desk drawer, never to see the light of day!) on my eight year old, heavy-as-a-packed-suitcase, black, noisy, slow laptop (friends would tease me that it was ready for a museum). I told myself that if one day I managed to get a contract for the book I was writing I’d buy myself a new laptop. So after signing my first contract for MUC, and the advance came in, that’s what I did: I treated myself to a new laptop.

 

Then I told myself – because by this point I was spending all day, everyday in front of my computer – that with the advance for my next book I’d buy myself a gorgeous desktop computer with a very LARGE screen. And that’s what I’ve done.

 

I’d be lying if I didn’t say that both of these new and amazing machines haven’t changed my writing life – they have. But notice I say my writing life - not my writing. My eyes don’t have to squint quite so hard, the improved power does indeed help with researching, working on videos for my Youtube channel, storing photos for my posts, etc., and when traveling my back is most grateful for the new laptop. But as much as I love them, and appreciate their capacity…they haven’t actually changed the process of writing for me.

 

A blank screen is a blank screen is a blank screen – no matter how powerful or state-of-the-art the computer. And for me, plot snags are still best solved by a walk with my dogs (no tech experience required!).

 

So if you want to write, save the money for some good brain food – a trip to Florence, for instance, or some new books, or plants for your garden. Write your book with whatever you have at hand, do your best, and later treat yourself to a new computer. The wonderful upside of this is that later on you’ll know that you can write a book with anything, on anything – no magic pen or special props needed – and that’s a fab feeling!

 

Carina x

 

 

 

Most Inspiring Books – Part I

 

Hi everyone,

 

I’m back and ready to blog! I’ve finally handed in the next draft of Stolen with Style and have a few deadline-free (sort of) days over Easter. Yay!

 

Many of you have asked me what my favourite books are…but the fact is, if I were to make a list it would be waaayyyy too long because there are just so many AMAZING books out there! So instead I thought I’d blog about three books that really inspired me the first time I read them – and still really inspire me today!

 

What’s great about a book you love – no matter how old you were when you first read it – is that you’ll always love it!

 

And don’t worry – no spoilers!

 

 

This is the official trailer to my fave Jane Eyre film (there have been many versions made). 

 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë - I love, love, love Jane Eyre! This was the first big, thick, juicy romantic novel I can remember reading, and I found its passion, mystery, and romantic location absolutely gripping.

I love Jane’s clear, strong voice, and am (still) in awe of how fiercely she clings to her principles – even when faced with circumstances that would make most of us crack and take the easy road. Jane is a heroine’s  heroine, and through the force of her character (she’s somewhat famously described as being ‘plain’) she renders herself unforgettable.

For me she is the original sassy girl. I don’t think you can go too wrong by asking yourself, What would Jane Eyre do?

Of course, I can’t discuss Jane Eyre without bringing up him – him being Edward Rochester, the heartthrob of the moors, and my first literary crush. I remember thinking, “Wow! Please jump out of the book and come to life now!” I won’t go on in case you haven’t read the book, but suffice it to say, Rochester set the gold standard to which all my other literary crushes are compared.

 

 

 

 

Check out Judy’s website here. Isn’t she cute on her kayak?

 

Forever by Judy Blume – Let me just start by saying that it took me weeks to build up the necessary courage to take this book home from the library – and still, I nearly died with embarrassment when the librarian took it from my hands.  Why? Because of the sex. I remember how much whispering at school there was about the sex in this book. Having said that, the book isn’t about sex only. It’s about falling in love for the first time, having responsible sex, and then learning to live with the consequences of all that that entails.

Anyway, if you’re unfamiliar with Judy Blume you could start with another fave of mine, Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret.

I don’t see how anyone could fail to love Judy Blume because she’s quite simply the most amazingly generous writer. By that I meant that she lets her characters do things without judging them, and she allows them to come to their own conclusions about life; she gives them the space they need to glow with reality and depth.

I was so into dogs and horses that it took me forever (no pun intended!) to get into Judy Blume, but once I did, I became a fan. Her characters are like people you know – and importantly, like.

 

 

 

Agatha Christie at her desk at home. I’d like to think she kept those impossibly high stacks of books on her desk all the time!

 

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie – Before getting into Agatha Christie, the only detectives I was familiar with were Nancy Drew, Scooby-Doo and Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther films. But thanks to them I was a huge fan of detective fiction – so after reading my first Agatha Christie, there was no question of ever turning back: she opened up a whole new, big world for me.

I can’t remember how this book came to be in my hands, but I’m just glad my parents weren’t into Agatha Christie or they probably would have taken it away from me! There are something like ten deaths over the course of this book (and I was about ten when I read it), all dispatched on a remote island off the English coast with that quintessential Christie jolliness. I remember racing to the end to find out who the murderer was – never mind that I was terrified. She’s apparently the best selling author of all time – which is not a surprise if you know her!

Of course, her mysteries all took place eons ago, so as much as I loved reading her mysteries, I was nevertheless also pining for a young sassy detective who was dealing with mysteries in the here and now. In that sense,  Agatha Christie’s mysteries definitely fuelled me to finally write about my own detective.

 

So that’s it – three of my top faves. I’ll follow this up in a couple of weeks with three more faves. In the meantime, happy reading!

 

Carina x

 

 

Fab Competition and Girls Heart Books…

 

Hi all,

 

Yesterday my writer friend Kelly McKain posted an interview about me on the fab website Girls Heart Books. So head on over to read the short interview – which includes a sneak peek of MUC 2: Stole with Style (shhh!), along with my top writing tips.

 

 

As for the fab competition Kelly is hosting, it’s not for one book but two! Model Under Cover: A Crime of Fashion and Kelly’s own Rainbow Beauty: Peppermint Kiss. What’s not to love? And if you’re new to Kelly’s books, check out her website here. It’s fun and full of all sorts of great information on beauty, writing and loving life – just like her books!

 

 

Good luck with the competition, and in the meantime, happy reading!

 

Carina x

 

 

Gold Star Day!

 

Hi everyone,

 

I’m super pleased that the 2013 sales of my Advent calendar raised €762 for my local library! All the funds raised go to the children’s department. In the photo above you can see me at my local library sitting amongst the new books – they are now on the shelves and ready for check out!

 

I am working on a new calendar for this coming Christmas. So far it’s still in the sketch phase, but I look forward to completing it this summer and then having it printed in time for the autumn build-up to Christmas. I’ve been raising funds with the existing calendar for four years now, so it’s definitely time for  a new one!

 

I’ll keep you posted on how the progress goes…

 

In the meantime happy reading!

Carina x

 

 

I heart Copenhagen…

 

Hi everyone,

 

Last week I was in beautiful Copenhagen, Denmark, and needless to say, I had a wonderful time! Here’s some of what I did:

 

 

 

 

My trip started off with a bang at the super charming Books & Company book store in Hellerup (a pretty suburb of Copenhagen) where owner Isabella Smith (that’s Isabella together with yours truly in the above photo) and her fab team opened the doors to her store for an evening of good fun celebrating Model Under Cover. Isabella has the most wonderful neighbourhood book store. In addition to offering her customers a  well chosen list of superb books (in English only!) that runs the gamut from erudite to quirky via some good romance and biographies (not to mention detective fiction!), she also offers coffee and tea and has a couple of very cosy reading corners in her shop.

 

Thank you Isabella for flying the flag for independent booksellers with your absolute gem of a shop! I love Books & Company! And thank you to all the friends and readers who came and showed their support. Without you all – obviously! – the evening wouldn’t have been a success! Thank you!

 

 

Two days later I was back at Books & Company for a fab reading. I’d like to give a huge thank you to all of the lovely girls and yummy mummies who turned out for my Model Under Cover event. I had a blast, and really appreciated your all-out enthusiasm as well as the many questions you had about A Crime of Fashion and Axelle. We ended the event with some scrumptious little sandwiches and hot cups of tea for everyone. So thanks again Isabella for another wonderful experience at Books & Company!

 

 

And what else did I do and see? Well, I spent as much time with my friends as I could squeeze in (of course!), and as the weather was absolutely stunning, long walks along the picturesque harbours of the city ate into a large part of my free time…

 

 

Sushi! I live in the middle of a forest, deep in the German countryside. There is no way I’m ever going to find sushi anywhere near where I live, so whenever I’m in Denmark I like to stop at Sticks and Sushi for lunch. This is my sushi selfie!

 

 

 

Copenhagen has these really cool glass-enclosed book shelves set up throughout the city where people can leave books they no longer want, or, alternatively, take books they’d like to read. They look great and are easy to use. Plus, what a nice way to give a book a second chance. Totally brilliant!

 

 

Yes, Copenhageners love a bike! So be careful when crossing streets or opening car doors when parked on the street!

 

 

Copenhagen’s most famous resident: the Little Mermaid! She’s actually quite tiny and looks very sweet sunning herself on her rock.

 

 

Even the swans are extra sparkly in Copenhagen!

 

 

Walking along the harbour…

 

 

 

And canals…

 

 

And taking the ferry back home to Germany after a successful and fun trip to beautiful Copenhagen…

 

 

Thank you Copenhagen and Books & Company for a fabulous time! I loved every minute of my visit!

 

Carina x

 

(Flowers by Bjarne Als at the gorgeous Bering House of Flowers flower shop.)

 

 

 

 

Copenhagen Reading…

 

Hi all,

 

If any of you feel like heading north this weekend, then please join me this Saturday the 29th at the super charming Books & Co. of Copenhagen, Denmark. I was very kindly invited to do a reading at their lovely shop, and needless to say, I did not say no!

 

Click here for all details of the afternoon event. And, if you can’t make it, then please check back next week to see the pictures I’ll post of the event.

 

I hope to see some of you there! In the meantime happy reading…

 

Carina x