Viveca Sten is one of the most popular writers in Europe and especially in her home country Sweden. Her Sandhamn Murder series have been adapted into TV series. Lucky for English language fans of crime mystery, the first novel Still Waters will have an official worldwide premiere on October 1. The book already made her way to Kindle Amazon Top 10 Bestselling list. It’s a great honor to present at Land of Books our next guest Lady Viveca Sten.

– Viveca, what is your next book Still Waters about?
– It’s a hot July morning on the island of Sandhamn in the Stockholm archipelago when a man walking his dog makes a gruesome discovery: the body of a man, tangled in fishing net, has washed ashore.
Police detective Thomas Andreasson from the mainland is the first to arrive at the scene. The man is soon identified as a Krister Berggren: a bachelor who has been missing since Easter. Nothing indicates foul play until a woman is found brutally murdered at the local bed-and-breakfast. It turns out she is Krister Berggren’s cousin.
Luckily Thomas’s childhood friend, lawyer Nora Linde who lives in Sandhamn comes to his aid. Together they take on the seemingly impossible riddle while at the same time trying to make sense of their troubled personal lives.

– How did you decide to start the Sandhamn Murder’s series?
– I had written several non-fiction legal books and very much wanted to try my hand at fiction. Having always loved a good read, and especially crime novels, this genre was something that appealed to me.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– When you go from writing no-fiction to fiction you need to reinvent your way of writing. For instance, I had never written any dialogue. I literally sat at my kitchen table and read the dialogue out loud to figure out if it sounded right.
– Tell us something more about your main characters Thomas and Nora? Are they close to someone from your real life?
– Police officer Thomas Andreasson solves crimes at Sandhamn, an island in the beautiful Stockholm archipelago with help from his childhood friend, bank lawyer Nora Linde.
Nora Linde is blond and tall, with a boyish figure and serious personality. 
Thomas Andreasson is also tall and blond with blue eyes. He is handsome but not vain. I am constantly asked the question if they are going to become an item!
– How much time did you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– I usually spend about a year on each novel and I usually write 5 – 6 complete drafts and read the text another 5-6 times.
– Who are you?
– I am a former business lawyer who lives in Stockholm with my husband and three children. During the summer months I leave for Sandhamn to write and spend the holidays with my family. I love sking downhill and I also travel extensively. I have always been an avid reader.
– What are your writing habits?
– I generally write from early morning till evening, sometimes late in the night. I can write anywhere, on airplanes, trains, ferryboats. The only thing I need is my Mac and my iPhone with music from Spotify.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of your books?
– The Sandhamn Murder Series have sold three millions copies worldwide and continues to top the best seller charts, not to mention the whopping success of the TV mini- series tbased on my novels. An estimated 30 million people around the globe have been watching the adventures of Nora and Thomas unfold on the TV screen. I am immensely happy about the sales of my books.
– What are you doing to promote your book by the best possible way?
– I do a lot of press and author tours in various countries. I also go to many literary festivals where I am invited. I have a facebook side in Swedish and one in German and I am also on Instagram/vivecasten.
– When we will see your next novel and would you unveil something more about it?
– The next book is called “Closed Circles” and will be relased in april 2016. It is a story about hidden secrets and painful ambition in Sweden´s most famous sailing society: The Royal Swedish Sailing Club.
– You had a very successful legal career. Why you decided to switch to writing?
– I simply love writing!
– What are the most important things during the translation process for international release in your point of view?
– The translator needs to understand the ambiance of the original language and retain the look-and-feel of the Swedish original writing. So far, I am very happy about the translation into English.
– The authors from Sweden made great boom in international market during the last few years. What is the source of so much talent in your country?
– Ha ha, may be it´s because it is so dark and cold up north during so many months. What else is there to do?
– If you may ask yourself one question in the interview what it will be?
– How many books will you write in the series? In Sweden my eighth book in the series Sandhamn Murders will be released in November 2015. I have promised to write at least ten books in the series. After that, we will see….

To learn more about Viveca Sten check out her Website
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Take a look at her books
Still Waters (Sandhamn Murders Book 1)
Closed Circles (Sandhamn Murders Book 2)