The Best Summer Guest follows a nervous little boy who spends the summer with his grandmother at the lake cottage. What was the inspiration for your story?

Most small children have difficulties staying overnight in a strange place without their parents. Especially the first times can be difficult. The children lack their own bed, toys, familiar routines, and perhaps evening fairy tales and songs.

Even if the destination is familiar and dear people live there, the situation can be strange and uncomfortable. The child would like to succeed as an overnight guest, but many things may bother the mind. Dare I sleep alone? What if I don’t fall asleep quickly? Is the room too dark? Dare I reveal that I’m scared? How to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night? Maybe I’m having a nightmare!

When I was little, I found it challenging to be away from home at night without my family. No other place offered the same security as having my family members around. And my vivid imagination made everything even more difficult. But it was fine with me if the whole family went on a trip, for example, to visit relatives. Sleeping at my cousins’ house or in the attic of my grandparents’ farmhouse was just fun. Sleeping in a crowded tent with my sisters was suitably exciting when our family drove around Eastern Finland and spent the nights in campsites.

After some time, I became an eager camper and independent traveler. I just needed to get used to being alone from home overnight – and to learn that at my own pace.

Is there anything about Grandma Gladys that came from yourself or your life experiences?

The Best Summer Guest is more or less a true story. If you had known my beloved mother-in-law – the grandmother of my three children – you would understand who the true hero of this book is. Grandma’s summer days with little guest Jonty combine the experiences of many children from our close circle. These siblings and cousins have spent their summers in an environment we all love.

The description of the summer cottage, the farmhouse next door, and the small village shop nearby are also quite authentic. Even many small details are extracted from that environment and its people. They will recognize themselves in the story, I’m sure!

How Granny is present in Jonty’s life is especially important for the entire story. Her warm and gentle behavior and attitude towards the child are unhurried and genuine. In such an environment, the child feels comfortable and safe.

The Granny in the book and myself have many things in common. I share the idea of ​​simple summer fun, where nature plays an important role. Listening to the children and putting yourself in their position also helps to understand and handle even difficult situations with kindness.

How did you decide on the title of this children’s book?

The book’s title, The Best Summer Guest, emphasizes what all children should feel; that they are good and accepted just as they are. They are surrounded by safe, friendly adults who welcome them and enjoy being together.

While writing this, I also started thinking about my late father, who always treated me with special warmth. Even at a very young age, I felt I was an important person, even unique and equal somehow. I had my voice heard, and my needs were taken into account. In his last words to me, he said that I have always been important to him. It is one of the best gifts and heirlooms a child can receive. Having the confidence that you are important and loved makes it easier to go on alone when the time comes.

In the title of this book, it feels good to declare that Jonty in the story is the  BEST in something – at least as a summer guest at Granny’s summer cottage.

What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Best Summer Guest?

I have already described many essential themes of this book above. Such as respecting the children as individuals, considering their needs, and spending time with them without any rush – just calmly being present. A sense of security and strong self-esteem grow in such an atmosphere.

Finally, I would like to emphasize the value of the chain formed by generations. I often deal with this central issue in different ways in many of my books – also in this one. To understand oneself as an individual, it is helpful that people can get information about their roots and find their place in the continuum formed by their family and relatives.

Cooperation and good relations between different generations are assets for all parties involved. In this chain, irreplaceable information and experience of being human flow. By participating in each other’s lives, family members of different ages can share the same warmth and feel needed and valued.

I have heard good feedback from readers of many ages about the messages in this book. Some people start reminiscing about their childhood and their relatives. Many memories come to their mind; sometimes those memories make them laugh, but sometimes their eyes are filled with tears.

All in all, modest and small things can turn out to be the most essential when looking back on one’s life. Peaceful moments together with my grandparents were a treasure for me, and they fed my story-hungry mind and encouraged me later as a writer.

In a fast-changing world, we need things that don’t change or at least change slowly. They increase the feeling of security and give us time to adapt to the pressures caused by the outside world. At their best, grandparents can help the next generation grow in many ways. In addition to very concrete help, it can be about spiritual connection and cultural heritage. The importance of these things will be noticed later, at the latest, when the moments together have already passed.

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