Writing

My current project is a series of four books set in the Regency era. They are loosely connected through friendship and the Swedish-Russian war of 1808-1809.

Working titles:

REDEMPTION (finished). A Swedish Anne of Green Gables in Sleeping with the Enemy. Features a Swedish heroine and an English hero. Set in London, 1807.

SALVATION (finished, I hope). James Bond meets Jane Austen. Featuring a French heroine and an English hero. Set in England, France and Italy, 1808.

REVELATION (started), with a snappy political writer of a heroine, and a stuffy duke who’s in dire need of some personal revelations. Set in London, 1808-1809.

SALVATION (rummaging at the back of my mind), with a Swedish heroine and an English (he would say Irish) hero. Set in Egypt (probably), Sweden and London, 1810 (most likely).

Note on writing:

My writing naturally reflects all of me. I draw from my imagination, my beliefs and my desires. Just as my writing reflects all of me I wish for my characters to be whole beings, or at least on the journey to be healed. In my daytime work, which is fulfilling but not at all as satisfactory as writing, I’m helped by my understanding of what it is to be a human being. A person consists of body, soul, and spirit and all of these needs to find a balance. This understanding I weave into my characters.

The body, with all its physical needs and limitations is an integral part of us. I will not shy away from passion and desire when it means so much for a functioning relationship and for a person to accept him/herself. Quite besides the fact that it’s so much fun to write about!

The soul, a simple word for such a complex part of a person. The soul is the mix of all our thoughts, our dreams and ambition, our gifts and talents. Whenever someone comments on another “It’s so typical of her!” it would be the soul that’s referred to. The soul has to find a safe place to be recognised, encouraged and challenged. What better place than in the arms of a lover.

If the soul is complex, then what am I to say about the spirit? It’s the spirit with a lower-case “s”, mind you, not The Holy Spirit. Although the Spirit has a way of fluttering about wherever it wishes, completely out of human control, so don’t quote me on that one. The spirit is the seal God once placed on us, eons ago. The spirit is what makes us long and search for that Something out there. It’s what enables us to see traces of God’s work all around us. And above all, the spirit grants us the gift to feel the love of the Eternal One. In a way the spirit is what fuels the soul and the body. To be able to love ourselves and others, we need to have known love, a love as true, selfless and everlasting as Divine love.

In short, my writing is about great love, in body, soul and spirit.