Camilla Lackberg is a popular Swedish crime writer whose books, set in the tiny west coast fishing village of Fjällbacka, have sold over 10 million books in 55 countries. Lackberg attended the Auckland Writers Festival in May, and shared with the audience the story of how she began her crime-writing career - at the tender age of four years old. The story she wrote began with Santa and Mrs. Claus happily holding hands, and ended with Mrs. Claus lying on the ground, beaten to death, blood running from her Santa hat.
From that grisly start, Lackberg has gone on to become one of Sweden’s most profitable authors selling more books than Stieg Larsson, author of the Millennium Trilogy. Her novels center around writer and amateur sleuth Erica Falck and her husband Patrick Hedström, a local cop who together solve a series of grim murders that take place in picturesque Fjällbacka.
Not surprisingly, these novels have now been turned into a series of feature film length television movies that kick off on Rialto Channel tonight (Tuesday 2ndSeptember, 8.30pm), and they’re a must see for murder–mystery fans.
Camilla Lackberg kindly took the time to have a quick chat about CAMILLA LACKBERG’S FJALLBACKA MURDERS.
Camilla Lackberg is a popular Swedish crime writer whose books, set in the tiny west coast fishing village of Fjällbacka, have sold over 10 million books in 55 countries. Lackberg attended the Auckland Writers Festival in May, and shared with the audience the story of how she began her crime-writing career - at the tender age of four years old. The story she wrote began with Santa and Mrs. Claus happily holding hands, and ended with Mrs. Claus lying on the ground, beaten to death, blood running from her Santa hat. (Check out the bottom of this post for a giveaway!)
From that grisly start, Lackberg has gone on to become one of Sweden’s most profitable authors selling more books than Stieg Larsson, author of the Millennium Trilogy. Her novels center around writer and amateur sleuth Erica Falck and her husband Patrick Hedström, a local cop who together solve a series of grim murders that take place in picturesque Fjällbacka.
Not surprisingly, these novels have now been turned into a series of feature film length television movies that kick off on Rialto Channel tonight (Tuesday 2nd September, 8.30pm), and they’re a must see for murder–mystery fans.
Camilla Lackberg kindly took the time to have a quick chat about CAMILLA LACKBERG’S FJALLBACKA MURDERS.
(Camilla Lackberg)
RC: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us about the Fjallbacka Murders. What’s been the best thing about seeing your stories and characters come to life on screen?
CL: It was like a dream come true to see my characters come to life. It was both a very surreal and emotional moment to see Erica and Patrick in motion in front of a cinema audience. As an author, you tend to grow a strong relation with your characters after eight novels. You are familiar with most of their fears and thoughts and your idea of them is fairly clear. I believe that the crew did an incredible job portraying them and captured the essence of my novels.
RC: The first four books had already been adapted for television before you began this project, what did you learn from that experience?
CL: I learned a lot through the whole experience. Not only because it was a completely new format for me, but it was also very enriching for my creativity.
I love new challenges and this project got me new perspectives. I also got a better understanding of what it means turning a book into a movie script. It’s not an easy task.
RC: What’s the difference between writing a crime novel series and writing crime television series?
CL: First of all it’s a completely other format. Adapting a book to a movie can sometimes be a difficult thing. You need to be able to compromise and adapt the story, without loosing the essence of the novel or the characters. Even though I’m very much involved when my novels are adapted to movies, I let the experts write the manuscript. It’s an art to make 300 pages into a movie of 90 minutes.
RC: I know you’ve referred to yourself as a “control freak”, what for you was the most important aspect to get it right in this series?
CL: My main characters are very important in my novel, so it was very crucial to find the right persons to play Erica and Patrick. I’m very grateful that we found Claudia Concha Galli and Richard Ulfsäter to play them.
It was also very important that the series captured the true essence of my novels and the right tone.
RC: How do the people of Fjallbacka feel about their lovely, sleepy costal town being immortalised in your novels and now on screen?
CL: I think they enjoy it. Sometimes I actually get the question from the citizens if I perhaps could place a dead body in their backyard in my next book. It’s great!
RC: Did you enjoy the filmmaking process?
CL: I loved it. I always like to explore new formats and challenges myself.
I believe it is very important to step out of the comfort zone occasionally and to get new perspectives. For the same reason I’m writing song lyrics and children’s books. It gives me new energy and keeps me inspired!
RC: You’re involved in a variety of ventures, is it hard to find the time to write these days?
CL: The trick for me is to schedule special writing time, that’s only devoted to writing. Then I isolate myself with my manuscript and sink my mind my fictional world of Fjällbacka. I need total focus when I write.
For me planning is crucial in order to be involved in so many projects.
RC: That was a polite way of me asking, when is your next book due? I’m addicted!
CL: Oh thank you! The next book, The Lion Tamer, will be published in November this year in Sweden. After that the translations begin. I’m very excited about this novel and it has been a great journey. I hope you will like it!
Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to Rialto Channel. We’re thrilled to be screening the Fjallbacka Murders.
To celebrate the new series, we have 3 book packs containing 4 of Camilla Läckberg’s greatest crime novels: The Preacher, The Stone Cutter, The Hidden Child & her latest Buried Angels to giveaway . Enter the draw here for your chance to win.