Stella and the Berry Bay follows a little girl about to start school who finds out her family is moving to a new house and town. What was the inspiration for your story?

Stella and the Berry Bay like the other books in the Stella Series, are very dear to me. They contain many things that I have experienced myself.

Stella is not just a character but a reflection of my childhood. Many events and places from my past have found their way into the books about Stella and her friends. This story is a journey back to the time when I, like Stella, enjoyed the freedom of riding a little red bike in a safe country village.

But before I reached that point in my life, I had to experience the same challenges as Stella when she unexpectedly had to move. Writing a book about families moving to new places felt important because it has become increasingly common. Many children have to experience leaving their roots. As parents or educators, we must know how to treat the pain and discomfort associated with moving. Rooting in a new environment needs support.

It’s not easy for all children to get to know new schools, classmates, friends, places, and hobbies. In the worst case, a family move can instantly turn everything familiar upside down, making the child feel insecure. Parents don’t always pay enough attention to a child’s troubles because they might change jobs simultaneously. Also, making everything work in a new home takes time and energy.

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

Many things in this book are essential to consider when a family moves.

The children must be included in the preparations as early as possible to have enough time to prepare for a significant life change. This includes practical tasks like packing and arranging new living situations, which are important. However, the utmost importance lies in the mental transition from familiar surroundings to new experiences.

Primarily, it revolves around fundamental safety, focusing on whether the family remains united and addresses core family concerns. The subsequent consideration involves friendships, anticipating adjustments, especially with long-distance moves.

This book aims to emphasize the indispensable role of adults in the family’s moving journey. They contribute at various stages—from preparations and farewells to embracing the new chapter. Even seemingly insignificant keepsakes and memories can hold profound sentimental value.

Initially portraying Stella’s poignant challenges, the book gradually shifts focus towards the opportunities and friendships awaiting her in the new locale. These connections provide her with the strength to confront another hurdle, particularly the strict teacher overseeing her class at the new school.

Did you include any memories or emotions from your own childhood in the character of Stella?

I have used plenty of my childhood memories and personal experiences in all three Stella books I have published so far. Writing them gives me lots of fun because I can relive the best moments of my early years—not forgetting some challenges I had to conquer. I hope that both the ups and downs are something the young readers can enjoy and also use as building blocks in their own lives. Stella reminds me a lot of myself as a child. She loves independent nature trips, makes a lot of friends of all ages, and enjoys her little red bike.

In the first Stella book, Stella and the Magic Stone, I describe a particular summer in her life. She enjoys the freedom her little red bike represents and is not particularly intrigued by her parents’ constant blueberry picking – both very familiar elements in my childhood. Trying to find valuable or at least beautiful stones by hitting them to pieces was something I used to do. Thunderstorms with lightning were common in Eastern Finland’s lake district; they even burnt houses and destroyed forests and fields. However, the most prominent theme in this book is Stella’s relationship with her Grandpa, which reflects my Dad, who ended up in the hospital decades later and had to be woken up.

This book, Stella and the Berry Bay, is also very personal. As a child, I experienced the same situation as my main character. I was looking forward to getting into a nearby school, but things changed when our family moved to a country village twenty-five kilometers away. I said goodbye to my friends and headed towards the unknown. In my hand, I was tightly holding the teddy bear postcard given by the club aunt. I didn’t meet her ever after. Fortunately, the change turned out well for me in the end, and I have many good memories from that small village and a lot of inspiration for children’s books.

Also, the third book, Stella and the Spiky Friend, is based on my childhood and focuses particularly on one of my extraordinary adult acquaintances in the village—namely, the pharmacist who was feared by children and adults as well!

To put it short, Stella and her environment reflect, in many respects, my person and my life. I guess that village and its people meant to me the same as “Noisy Village” with its people meant to Astrid Lindgren.

Is there a topic you have always wanted to write about but have not yet found the right storyline for? 

As for the children’s stories, I have been lucky to publish over sixty books in English already and even more in Finnish. The flow is constant, and new ideas keep developing smoothly in my mind.

The challenges of unfinished book plans and ideas mainly relate to my dreams of writing even more for adults. So far, I have published primarily short stories. But it would be wonderful if I could sometimes write something “longer” for adults. My life experience and the winding road from a small village to completely different environments and responsibilities would undoubtedly help me with this task. I feel that even we adults are all surprisingly small in front of the greatness of life – we carry inside us birth and death, joy and sadness, dreams and disappointments from the beginning till the end.

At least, that’s how I feel, although I tend to offer children the brighter side of life and encouragement for surviving even the more challenging days.

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