SUMMER STATE OF MIND

HAPPY SUMMER! It’s been a while, mostly due to my shoulder surgery in April, which made typing painful. Once I started feeling better, I dove straight into final edits for Nornöns eko. My new novel comes out on August 29th, and I'm so excited to reintroduce the characters from Nornö to readers!

That said, an August pub date means this will be a working summer. I’ve been wondering why I’ve felt so mentally drained lately, and then it hit me: I’ve been working on this manuscript for four years, in two languages. It was written and edited in English, then translated into Swedish, and subsequently reedited in Swedish. Puh!  The upside? My Swedish vocabulary and literary range have grown significantly. The language no longer feels as limited to me as it once did, and I’m genuinely proud of the result.

There’s still one more round of corrections to review, but once the manuscript goes to print, it’s officially out of my hands. However, much work remains behind the scenes in terms of marketing and promotion, so I’ve decided to dedicate my mornings—until noon—to book work. After that, the rest of the day will be for physical activity, mental rest, and quality time with family and friends.

While a heatwave is scorching continental Europe, the weather here in Sweden—especially in the archipelago—has been cool, windy, and rainy. I’m a little worried for the weeks ahead. We wait all year for these long, bright summer days. Is it too much to ask for a little warmth and consistency?! I know I shouldn’t dwell on the weather, but summer always comes with high expectations, and when the sun doesn’t deliver, I can’t help but feel disappointed. Interestingly, I’ve been reading about coolcations—how more and more travelers are choosing Scandinavia for their summer holidays to escape the extreme heat elsewhere. I guess the grass really is greener on the other side.

That said, cloudy skies are the perfect excuse to clean and declutter. I’ve promised myself I’ll finally tackle the old drawers and cabinets. With two twentysomethings who no longer live at home full-time, our seaside cottage feels like an archive of bygone summers—sailing camps, tennis clinics, waterskiing lessons, a collection of Boat ’n Tote bags, personalized towels. It takes some effort not to slip into sadness or nostalgia, but the kids have been bringing new friends from college and the U.S. to the island, and I’m learning to appreciate these shorter, more intense visits as their own kind of magic.

Now that most of the editing is behind me, I hope to carry a more carefree mindset and enjoy my seasonal favorites: Wimbledon, flowers blooming in the garden, raspberry bushes, pretty sundresses, colorful manicures, sailboats drifting by, ombré skies, and the sound of birds chirping at first light. These simple pleasures remind me to live in the present and that joy often lies in everyday moments.

In the evenings, I love curling up on the couch with my remote and a menu of movies and series to choose from. My recent viewing includes Mobland, Sirens, Department Q, and the Danish mystery Reservatet (also known as Secrets We Keep). I'm a sucker for a good prestige drama and Your Friends and Neighbors, The Studio, and Mountainhead did not disappoint. I’m excited to start the adaptation of Alafair Burke’s The Better Sister  and Lena Dunham’s romcom, Too Much, next. Watching screen content isn't just for entertainment; it's teaching me a lot about pacing, structure, and character development. I'm approaching storytelling through a more cinematic lens, which has been both inspiring and enlightening for my novel writing.

Of course, I haven’t given up on reading! I devoured The Doorman by Chris Pavone, a propulsive, smart page-turner (that would translate seamlessly to the screen), and my summer TBR list includes: These Summer Storms, Bring the House Down, Culpability, Finding Grace, and Among Friends. I still have a pile of books from last summer, as well, so my goal is to read at least two books a week.

Wishing you golden days and new adventures—whatever your version of summer looks like!