The Caring Crab follows a handyman crab that is always out to help others that forgets to take care of themselves. What was the inspiration for this story?

Many adults who have read my book The Caring Crab tell me it’s a story of their life! About how they would like to help everyone all the time and cannot say “no.” Their own needs are left behind, and they become simply too tired. This sounds sad, but I can assure you that there is a lot of genuine friendship and sharing life together in my book.

Colin is the main character in Colin the Crab Book Series, which already has four books for older children and two so-called Mini Crab Books. This gentle and old-fashioned character has become a favorite of readers. It is typical for him to help everyone in need. And they are many!

Sometimes, others are even taking advantage of Colin’s patience and pushing him in various directions. But luckily, he is mostly stubborn enough to realize that he has the last word when it comes to his own life.

Colin represents all the gentle and kind people who tend to think first about the needs of others. They often leave their individual plans and wishes behind. Of course, it’s great to be helpful to others and be sensitive to what other people around you might need. But there is a danger that a person’s own needs will not be met, and exhaustion will take over eventually. In adult life, we often talk about burnout.

The story is strongly connected to the interplay between different individuals in real life, and we can interpret it in many ways. It’s about friendships between different people, sharing things, and helping each other. But it also reminds us to be selfish in a healthy way and take care of our needs. – And this includes the time for building the dream pavilion, too!

What books do you enjoy reading?

I have always been interested in history. Reading about the development of cultures and societies gives us a lot to think about even today. I believe everything in the world is connected. Life is a combination of countless chains that mix and form an extensive network. It links everything that has been to the present. Chains extend into the future. That’s why I think it’s important to read as much as possible and get information. It is an essential resource for all of humanity and, of course, for individuals.

I love to find the “stories” about people who lived before my time. And I don’t just mean rulers, leaders, financial figures, or other influential people. I love to read – and write – about more ordinary people, too, as I want to pay attention to the value of their life. I often think that each person would need a book of their own, telling their life story to the present world instead of being forgotten.

When I want to relax by reading, I choose something light to read. Detective stories are a lot of fun. Browsing through art books and architectural works is also refreshing when you’ve been working with words for hours and hours. My most recent holiday reading consisted mainly of local history as well as everyday cultural history – also the history of dollhouses.

Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?

This is easy to answer. My main supporter has definitely been my husband. He made me start publishing my children’s books more than a decade ago and developed an international approach to our business. I would never have been able to establish such a project alone. He has spent both time and money on Wickwick Publishing. I can write good stories and communicate with illustrators and translators, but there is much more to it that depends entirely on my spouse’s skills.

Besides, it’s fun to travel together to the international book fairs, where my husband is also my “bodyguard” and takes care of all the logistics. A strong home front is vital to the author. Where else would I otherwise be able to read new texts straight away to an interested listener? It’s nice to immediately see the reactions on the face you’re used to interpreting. At least my spouse claims that evening coffees are always fun when he listens to what I’ve written during the day.

I also have a few trusted and loyal friends who always manage to encourage me to keep writing. Their support is especially important at times when I feel impatient and don’t see the impact of my work on the environment clearly enough.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Although I am sociable and enjoy meeting people and traveling, I also need to spend a lot of time at home in complete peace. That’s when I listen to music on the radio or listen to documentaries. I often have some knitting in making because I love different colored wool yarns. From the people in my circle, the socks never run out! It’s also lovely to bake buns and tiger cakes at home, especially if I get the closest people to visit and enjoy them together.

I also spend a lot of time alone outdoors. There I can listen to the sounds of nature and think about my most sensitive thoughts. Many of my books have their origins in those walks. I know a lot of plants and birds, and I like to take photos of them. I also take a lot of pictures on my trips abroad. Often, they are strange pictures of some of the details that have caught my attention.

All in all, I am interested in both the big and small things around me. The world is full of stories if you keep your eyes open and are patient enough to listen to what others are saying or what is left unsaid. The life of an author is never dull!

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