Meet Kajsa Ingemarsson

Kajsa Ingemarsson grew up in Stockholm, but also lived for some years in Blekinge after high school before she moved back to Stockholm . She studied Russian, Polish and political science at Stockholm University and spent one year at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow . Back in Sweden in 1990 she contacted the Security Service FBI on the recommendation of a fellow student and because of her language skills was offered work in the Swedish counter-espionage against Russia. She worked for the Security Service from 1991-97, but for a further career in the FBI, she would have had to undergo Police Academy training, which she chose to renounce.

In 2002 she debuted as the author of the book On the Fourth, it must be done. She has since written six more novels, a krönikesamling - Kajsa’s World - and self-help book Dream Life – Happy for Real. Ingemarsson’s novels are set in a recognizable contemporary world and address the problems that people, especially women, face today. A recurring theme is the turning points and crucial choices – big and small – that affect life’s direction. The books have a large readership and in 2005 she became Sweden’s best-selling author with the novel Small Lemon Yellow.

Julie: Welcome, Kajsa. You made your writing debut in 2002. Tell us how you first became published.

Kajsa: I was working in television at that time, but was writing when I had time off. Once I mentioned that in an interview and the day after a publisher called me and said she would like to read what I was writing. That is how it was started.

Julie: Did you always want to write?

Kajsa: I always loved writing essays in school if that counts … Otherwise I never dreamed about becoming a writer. When I started to write my first novel, it was my first attempt as a novelist.

Julie: Anything your fans would be surprised to know about you?

Kajsa: I have a horse, a 5 year old warm-blood, and I spend hours every day in the stable, riding, grooming, clearing the dung out …

Julie: When you’re not writing, what do you like to do to just kick back and have fun?

Kajsa: Spend time with my horse! And my family of course.

Julie: Dealing with writing deadlines can be a challenge. What do you do to cope with the stress?

Kajsa: That’s a difficult one. I’m not really good at handling stress. What I try to do is not to take on to much work in the first place and I’d rather not work against deadlines.

Julie: Is there something special you do to celebrate when one of your books is released?

Kajsa: When you release a book it’s done in so many stages. It’s difficult to point out one exact day when the work is ready, so I tend to forget the celebration. Luckily my husband remembers to buy a bottle of champagne at some stage to say Cheers! And my publisher usually organizes a dinner in honor of a new book. But I really should improve when it comes to celebrations!

Julie: What’s next for you?

Kajsa: I’m writing like crazy, but not a novel this time. We’ll see what happens …

 

 

Filed Under: Behind the Books

Tagged: author interview, behind the books

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