JAL at Litteraturhuset, Oslo, Feb. 23.

[drakkar]

JAL talks about Little Star in Oslo tomorrow.

http://www.litteraturhuset.no/program/2 ... ansen.html

[drakkar]

Minutes from the event. First the Norwegian, then google translation.
John mentions the forum - again. Its the second time I've seen he done that in less than a month. This is what he says:

JAL said (translated by me, this time):
Cult Status
Let the Right One In has gained cult status in many communities, and fan sites constantly pops up on the Internet where Lindqvista books are discussed. One Forum, We, The Infected, is one of the more serious. Here his books and films are analyzed, and fan fiction is written.
"- It is absurd. There are people there who have seen the movie over 100 times. And most are American, not Swedish. It's very funny. It is a good discussion forum with a friendly tone. Those who are discussing there are friendly towards each others and they write very thoughtful posts", said Lindqvist. The fame that has become part of him also has a downside - it is kept a secret where he lives." - People sometimes can become a little too enthusiastic, "he said.

So to the conversation:

torsdag 24. februar 2011
John Ajvide Lindqvist på Litteraturhuset - en stemningsrapport

Jeg hadde gledet meg lenge til å høre på Johan Harstad og John Ajvide Lindqvist på Litteraturhuset, og endelig var dagen kommet. Etter å ha tråklet meg vei gjennom kubjeller og norske flagg, kom jeg frem til dagens høydepunkt. Det var forhåndsolgt omlag 130 billetter til arrangementet, det kom flere hundre. Wergeland var helt fullt.

Under kan du lese noe av det Harstad og Lindqvist snakket om. NB: Artikkelen inneholder spoilere om de fleste bøkene Lindqvist har skrevet.


- Det er kjærlighet i mørket


John Ajvide Lindqvist lager skrekkfortellinger om de tingene han liker aller best, og mener at bøkene han skriver er egnet til å fremkalle lyset.

- Bøkene er oppløftende i alt sitt mørke. Det er en kjærlighet i dette mørket og det er mulig å rive seg løs og finne noe annet, selv når alt går til helvete, Komikken er et mye mørkere og mer kynisk sted. Bøkene mine er mer lysfremkallende, sa Lindqvist da Johan Harstad ville ha ham til å analysere sitt forfatterskap under arrangementet på Litteraturhuset i Oslo onsdag kveld.

Trygg skrekk
Men først skal vi spole halvannen time tilbake. 200 mennesker har akkurat strømmet inn dørene til Wergeland til lyden av ekte svensktopp. Praten har gått høyt mellom slurkene med vin. Kvinner og menn, unge og gamle. I kveld er alle samlet for å høre en av Sveriges mestselgende forfattere. Kanskje har han stått i døren og observert oss. Sett hvordan kollegaer og bekjente hilser på hverandre, nipper til glassene og småprater, tenkt ut en ny og skrekkelig historie. For det er i disse settingene at han finner sine historier, John Ajvide Lindvist. Det er i det hverdagslige, det trygge og det velkjente han lar mørket og ondskapen få slippe helt frem.

Fengslet av Blackeberg
Johan Harstad har latt seg fascinere av Lindqvists skrekktalenter lenge, helt fra han første gang leste manuset til La den rette komme inn i 2004. - Allerede fra side 5 traff fortellingen meg og jeg skjønte at jeg hadde møtt noen litterære karakterer som jeg gjerne ville tilbringe tid med. Jeg og Oskar var dessuten enige om at det var like greit at det hadde kommet en vampyr til Blackeberg. Det kunne jo ikke bli så mye verre, fortalte Harstad og beskrev romanen som briliant, hjerteskjærende og med over gjennomsnittet sterke, litterære kvaliteter sjangeren tatt i betraktning.

En ekte tryllekunstner
Det var tryllekunster John Ajvide Lindqvist strebet etter å bli, da han var i starten av 20 - årene. Han tryllet mye for forbipasserende på gatene i Sverige, Amsterdam og London. - Men jeg pratet nok mer enn jeg tryllet.Så kom standup - komikken til Sverige og jeg forsto at jeg ikke behøvde å trylle for å kunne stå på en scene. Jeg kunne bare prate, forteller Lindqvist med gester og en mimikk som tilsier at det nettopp er på scenen han har tilbrakt mye tid.

Suksessrik
Lindqvist skrev mye tekst til andre, men etter hvert gjorde han et forsøk på en skrekkfortelling. - Det var bare på gøy. Jeg hadde alltid tenkt litt sånn "huff" om det å bli forfatter. Men da jeg skrev skrekkfortellingen, var det første gangen jeg forsto at dette var noe jeg kunne, sier han. Og det var både lesere og anmeldere enige om. La den rette komme inn er blitt en stor suksess, er oversatt til flere språk og er filmatisert to ganger. Den svenske filmversjonen har fått ikke mindre enn 50 filmpriser.

Elsker filmversjonene
- Jeg er ufattelig glad i den filmen. Det er en av de beste filmene jeg har sett, helt objektivt. Det er akkurat en slik historie som jeg liker og det er Tomas Alfredsons fortjeneste at den er så bra som den er. Det er en fullstendig "underbar" film, sier Lindqvist. Han skrev selv manuset på 90 sider, som ble klippet ned til 70 sider underveis i filmprosessen. - La den rette komme inn er et mesterverk!

Lindqvist har også mange lovord å komme med om den amerikanske filmversjonen.- Stephen King sa at det var den beste filmen han hadde sett på 20 år. Den er like langsom, mørk og dyster som det den svenske er. Bortsett fra noen usle digitale effekter er den "jättebra". Men den er jo så klart mye mer amerikansk. Også er det skapt et nesten magisk landskap, særlig i forhold til hvordan man anvender lyset, sier Lindqvist og legger til at mange internasjonalt glemmer at den svenske versjonen finner sted tidlig på 1980 - tallet. - Det har kommet noen kommentarer om fy faen, hvor dårlig de har det i Sverige. De har jo ikke mobil en gang, smiler han.


Tilfeldig med vampyr
På spørsmål om hvorfor han valgte å skrive om vampyrer, sukker han og rister oppgitt på hodet med et smil om munnen. - Det kunne like gjerne vært noe annet enn en vampyr. Det er aldeles for mange vampyrbøker og filmer, og jeg visste ikke at det skulle være en vampyr i fortellingen da jeg begynte å skrive. Jeg visste at jeg ville skildre Blackeberg og at det skulle komme noe "hemskt" dit, besøkende fra den andre siden. Jeg ville at Oskar skulle nærme seg dette monsteret og da var vampyr det beste monsteret. Det ville vært litt verre med en varulv, en zombie eller en gelemasse fra det ytre rom, smiler han.

Hjelp av hustruen
Lindqvists hustru er meget viktig under skriveprosessen hans. Han leser alltid manusene høyt for henne, og er det noe hun ikke liker så endrer han det. - Når jeg har skrevet en 20 - 30 sider, leser jeg manuset høyt. Nå har jeg gjort dette så mange ganger at jeg kan se når det er noe som ikke er bra i manuset på måten hun rører seg på. Et par ganger har jeg ikke vært helt enig med henne, men jeg har endret likevel og i ettertid ser jeg at det ble bedre slik som hun sa. Det er bra med kritikere man stoler så mye på. Vi gjør også det samme med hennes bøker, forklarer Lindqvist.

Da han arbeidet med manuset til La den rette komme inn, var det særlig Eli som trengte omarbeidelser i starten. - Min hustru kommenterte at Eli var aldeles for mektig og selvstendig. Hva trengtte hun egentlig Oskar for? Så jeg gjorde Eli mer ensom og ulykkelig, sier Lindqvist.

Androgynt
- Det er blant annet en kastreringsscene i boken. Hvorfor ville du skrive om kjønnsløse vampyrer? Undrer Harstad.
- Fordi jeg synes det androgyne er så interessant. Den aseksuelle kjærligheten er tuftet på behov som forståelse og nærhet, og det synes jeg er ganske interessant. Men jeg bestemte meg ganske sent i skriveprosessen for at Eli var en gutt. Dessuten var det enda verre for Oskar å akseptere at Eli var en gutt enn at han var en vampyr - men han aksepterer det også.


Kultstatus
La den rette komme inn har fått kultstatus i mange miljøer, og det dukker stadig vekk opp egne fansider på nett hvor bøkene til Lindqvist diskuteres. Forumet, We The Infected, er ett av de mer seriøse. Her blir romanene og filmene analysert og det skrives fanfiction. - Det er helt absurd. Det er folk der inne som har sett filmen over 100 ganger. Og de fleste er amerikanske, ikke svenske. Det er veldig morsomt. Det er et godt diskusjonsforum med en vennlig tone. De som diskuterer der inne er gode med hverandre og de skriver veldig kloke innlegg, sier Lindqvist. Berømmelsen som er blitt ham til del har også en annen side. Det er for eksempel hemmelig hvor han bor. - Folk kan bli litt vel entusiastiske, sier han.

Mer om Oskar og Eli
I La den rette komme inn skildrer han en karakter, Elis verge, som man får inntrykk av er pedofil. - Men det er han jo. Han er "tok pedofil", utbryter Lindqvist før han legger til. - Men det var først da jeg så den svenske filmen på det store lerretet at det gikk opp for meg at man tror at Oskar kan bli en ny Håkan. Derfor valgte jeg å skrive en fortsettelse, La de gamle drømmene dø. Her får man vite mer om hva som skjer når Oskar og Eli går av toget, sier Lindqvist. Fortellingen finnes i en samling noveller som ikke er kommet på norsk enda, men som nylig er utgitt i Sverige.

Lindqvist har også lest inn en mp3 bok, som skal utgis i april. Den vil kun bli tilgjengelig via nedlasting. Historien handler om zombier, og finner sted på en liten øy med et fyr. - Jeg leste den faktisk inn i går. Den er helvetes blodig, og en helt straight zombiehistorie, sier Lindqvist.

Piken med gullhåret
Lille Stjerne er den siste utgivelsen hans i Norge. Her er leserne blant annet vitne til en massakre på Skansen. Lindqvist sier han er veldig glad i den romanen, men at det var tungt å skrive den. - Det er en mørk og fæl historie. I utgangspunktet hadde jeg tenkt at dette skulle bli en morsom historie å skrive, men så innså jeg hvilken psykologisk utvikling som skulle lede frem til sluttscenen på Skansen, sier han.

Allsang på Skansen er ikke det eneste, koselige Lindqvist har laget skrekk av. I Menneskehavn, som kom ut i 2008, har en av karakterene stygge tanker om Evert Taube og Astrid Lindgren, som han hevder har romantisert den svenske skjærgården og dermed ødelagt den. Tankene tok etter hvert form av en fæl fantasi, som blant annet involverer Astrid Lindgren og en motorsag. - Men det tok jeg bort. Jeg er forøvrig veldig glad i Taube og Lindgren. En gang, under innspillingen av Vi på Saltkråkan, fikk Lindgrens båt motorstopp. Far kom forbi og reddet henne og hun skrev en dedikasjon til ham i boken Vi på saltkråkan. Det er blitt et familieklenodium, sier Lindqvist.

Drill og kranier
Det går plutselig et gys gjennom salen. Under samtalen har Johan Harstad tatt opp en eske og åpenbart en gul drill, som han plasserer på bordet foran seg. Drill er et av redskapene som fremskaper skrekk i Lille stjerne. - Bare i tilfelle vi får bruk for den, kommenterer han tørt. Lindqvist smiler og ser ut til å være i sitt rette element. - Jeg visste faktisk ikke hva slags våpen jeg skulle bruke i boken. Så en dag skulle jeg handle inn planker og på butikken hadde de fått inn disse drillene. De sitter som et våpen i hånden. Det var perfekt, forklarer han før han leser prologen og det første kapittelet i Lille stjerne.

Skumlest med det trygge
Lou Reed har en gang sagt: - I get scared like in Sweden. You know, it's--- kind of empty, they're all drunk. Everything works. You know, if you stop at a stop light and don't turn your engine off, people come over and talk to you about it. You go to the medicine cabinet and open it up and there will be a little poster saying: "In case of suicide - call..." You turn on the TV, there's an ear operation. These things scare me. New York? No." Johan Harstad avsluttet gjenfortellingen av sitatet med å spørre om det er all tryggheten i Sverige, som gjør landet så godt egnet som kulisse i skrekkromaner. - Ja, det tror jeg. Det er veldig bra å være svensk og skrekkforfatter, men det er jo ikke lenger det samfunnet som vi svensker vil hevde at det er. Det har endret seg mye. Allsang på Skansen er selve manifestasjonen på det vi svensker vil være, og jeg synes det er spennende å se hva som skjer når man slipper mørket inn i det samholdet, sier Lindqvist som understreker at han ikke skildrer dette ironisk.

Er ikke ironisk
- Jeg kan begynne å gråte når jeg ser allsang på Skansen, for jeg synes det er så fint. Jeg skildrer ikke slike ting ironisk, det er ting jeg liker. Det må være noe feil med meg, men det har jo vært bra for min økonomiske situasjon. På skoleavslutninger for eksempel, tenker jeg ofte på hva som kunne ha skjedd. Er barn egentlig onde?
- Men du har det godt med deg selv? Spør Harstad.
- En forfatter sa en gang at han var den lykkeligste i hele hans bekjentskapskrets, men jeg tenker at det sier mer om hans bekjentskapskrets. Men jo, jeg er lykkelig og jeg får jo sitte og holde på med dette mørket som arbeid. Min sønn spiller endel dataspill på internett. Det er en hemmelig verden og det hender at jeg funderer på hva de holder på med. Så bruker jeg min egen redsel i skrivingen, og gjør det hele mye mer jævlig enn det som er tilfelle. Sånn sett er dette en form for terapi, som også er økonomisk, smiler han.

Barn og energier
Det første kapittelet i Lille Stjerne, skrev han et halvt år før resten av boken. - Jeg ville kjenne litt på tonen, men det ble bra. Jeg fikk frysninger når jeg leste gjennom det og da er det bra. Så hadde jeg et bilde i hodet av to jenter ved et stakitt på Skansen som synger med, og det er mye energi rundt dem. Det er mye energi i tolvåringer, og den energien bruker jeg i sluttscenen, forklarer han.


Ingen Joseph Fritz
Lennart Sederstrøm, en fallert dansebandstjerne, er en av personene i Lille stjerne og Johan Harstad ville vite hvorfor han velger å beholde barnet han finner i skogen. - Fordi han har absolutt gehør. Da han finner piken, synger hun tre rene toner etter hverandre og alle er i sinustone - de er perfekte. Lennart tenker at hun er et mirakel, noe nesten utenomjordisk. Det klare stemmen skaper en ressonanse i ham selv og han vil ikke at hun skal tilskitnes av det vanlige samfunnet. Så han plasserer henne i kjelleren. Ingen får lov til å prate med henne. Hun skal bare høre musikk. Men etter hvert finner han ut at dette ikke går i lengden, han vil ikke være en Joseph Fritz. Så hun får slippe opp av kjelleren, men for å hindre at hun går ut av huset forteller han en historie om at verden er et ondt sted hvor de store menneskene spiser de små menneskene. Det gjør at piken er helt skrekkslagen for alt som er utenfor huset, og den verdensoppfatningen skal få litt negative konsekvenser, sier Lindqvist og legger til. - Boken er mørk som faen og er helt klart den mørkeste og voldeligste jeg har skrevet. Om man synes det er vanskelig å lese voldsskildringer, bør man ikke lese den, eller så får man lukke øynene.

- Men hvordan gjør du research til de voldeligste scenene?
- Jeg leser skildringer av andre og har lest litt anatomi, men når jeg beskriver dette, som for eksempel hvordan det kjennes ut når en drill skjærer seg inn i kraniet, er det veldig få som kan si: nei, slik er det ikke.

Skriver ekte og troverdig
Lindqvist har fått mye for å skildre barn og ungdommer på en lite falsk og lite stereotyp måte, og han får ofte henvendelser fra 14,15 og 16 - åringer som sier at han fanger dem og tankene deres helt eksakt. - Det gleder meg. Om man har kontroll på grunnfølelsen, så går det bra. Jeg har en 14 - 15 årig emojente inne i meg som sier hva jeg skal skrive. Ja, jeg vet - jeg er helt gal. Men altså, i 11 - 12 årsalderen er man fotsatt ikke helt der at man vet hva som er virkelig og uvirkelig. Man er villig til å tro på ting. Når man er 13,14 og 15 begynner man å tenke mer på identitet og fundere på hvem man er. Man er villig til å lytte til hviskinger fra den mørke siden for å få hjelp til finne ut hvem man er. Det er ikke det samme for en børsmegler som er i full job, sier han.


Tessla
I Lille stjerne former de to pikene et band som får navnet Tessla, med klare referanser til vitenskapsmannen med samme etternavn. Linqvist hadde tenkt til å dra det hee litt lengre. - Men jeg fant ut at det ble for kronglete og litt for mye litteratur om jeg skulle dra inn alt det jeg leste, så jeg lot det være.

Han er kjent for å være mektig inspirert av The Smiths og Morrisey når han skriver, og han har ofte en låt som akkompagnerer hver bok han skriver. - Da jeg skrev Menneskehavn var det Lifelines med A-ha. Den gikk hele tiden, og da jeg var ferdig og skulle lese manuset for min hustru, så jeg at jeg hadde spilt låten 666 ganger. Jeg må ha en lyd bak meg når jeg skriver, men ikke så mye at jeg blir distrahert. Derfor velger jeg en sang som formidler stemningen i boken. Når jeg har hørt en sang nok ganger, hører jeg den ikke lenger, forklarer han.

Barker og King
Lindqvist er blitt sammenlignet med Stephen King, men personlig har han mer sansen for bøkene til Clive Barker. - Stephen King finnes et sted i bakgrunnen som en inspirasjonskilde, og han er en fantastisk forfatter som har skrevet 10 - 12 mesterverk. Men Clive Barker er en bedre stilist og han skriver mye fælere. Stephen King bremser ofte ved det aller fæleste og går ikke ut i det virkelige mørket. Clive Barker går ut i dette mørket, og jeg forsøker heller ikke å skygge for det, sier han og mener at Books of Blood representerer det aller beste som er skrevet i skrekksjangeren.

Fan av Lagerlöf
Han er også glad i Selma Lagerlöf. - Selma er min favoritt svenske forfatter. Jeg har lest nesten alt hun har skrevet, hun er makeløst bra. Hun vet hvordan man skal fange leseren og fortelle en historie, sier Lindqvist.
- Men nå som du blant annet har tatt fra oss den svenske skjærgården. Abba og Lill Babs. Hva skal du ta fra oss neste gang?
- Neste gang skal jeg gi meg i kast med camping, sier Lindqvist og smiler.

Kjærlighet
Harstad påpeker at det var mye kjærlighet i bøkene til Lindqvist: kjærlighet karakterene imellom, kjærlighet mellom forfatter og karakterer, og kjærlighet overfor leserne av bøkene. I Papirvegger finnes det sågar et personlig etterord fra forfatteren. - Man føler ofte at man som leser tilhører samme team som forfatteren når man leser, at man har fått en plass på Lindqvist teamet, bemerket Harstad, noe Lindqvist smilte til. - Jeg forsøker å unngå å skrive med distanse til karakteren og jeg liker også de verste karakterene på sitt vis. Jeg skriver fordi jeg vil at mennesker skal lese og bli fanget av bøkene, at de skal gråte, få vondt i magen og sukke når det er fint. Og jeg bruker ulike midler for å få det til. Jeg er nok veldig leserinnrettet, sier han.

Satire likevel?
Lindqvist jobber forøvrig ikke i en t trehytte, om noen skulle tro det, og selv om han skriver om ting han liker er han ikke fremmed for å ta livet av noen på Stureplan i Sverige. - Tro meg, jeg skal skrive om det. Jeg forsøker å unngå satiren, men jeg skal skrive om det. En historie hvor noen dreper noen utenfor Stureplan. De blir funnet halshogde og man lurer på hvem som har gjort det. Og morderen er lirekassemannen som har bestemt seg for at nok er nok. Det ville ikke vært en dag for tidlig, smiler Lindqvist til en fullsatt sal på Litteraturhuset.

and Google translation:

Thursday 24 February 2011
John Ajvide Lindqvist at the House of Literature - a mood report

I had long looked forward to listening to Johan Harstad and John Ajvide Lindqvist at the House of Literature, and finally the day arrived. After basted my way through the cowbells and the Norwegian flag, I came out of today's highlight. It was pre-sold about 130 tickets for the event, there were several hundred. Wergeland was completely full.

Below you can read some of the Harstad and Lindqvist talked about. Note: This article contains spoilers about the most books Lindqvist wrote.


- There is love in the dark


John Ajvide Lindqvist stock horror stories about the things he likes best, and believes that the books he writes is likely to produce light.

- The books are encouraging in all its darkness. It's a love in this darkness and it is possible to tear himself away and find something else, even when everything goes to hell, comedy is a much darker and more cynical place. My books are more lysfremkallende, "said Lindqvist when Johan Harstad wanted him to analyze his writing during the event at the House of Literature in Oslo on Wednesday night.

Safe horror
But first, we rewind a half hour back. 200 people have just poured in the doors of Wergeland to the sound of real svensktopp. Forums have been high between sips of wine. Women and men, young and old. Tonight is all gathered to hear one of Sweden's best-selling authors. Perhaps he stood in the doorway and observed us. Seen how colleagues and acquaintances greet each other, sipping glasses and chatting, devised a new and terrible story. For it is in those settings that he finds his stories, John Lind Ajvide Viewed. It is in the everyday, the safe and the familiar, he lets the darkness and evil be allowed right up.

Imprisoned by Black Rock
Johan Harstad has been fascinated by horror Lindqvists talents long time, ever since he first read the script for Let the Right One in 2004. - Right from page 5 story hit me and I realized that I had met a few literary characters that I wanted to spend time with. Me and Oskar was also agreed that it was just as well that there had been a vampire to Black Rock. It could not get much worse, "said Harstad, and described the novel as a brilliant, heartbreaking and with above-average strong literary qualities of the genre taken into account.

A real magician
It was magic John Ajvide Lindqvist aspired to be, when he was in the beginning of the 20 - years. He conjured a lot of passersby on the streets of Sweden, Amsterdam and London. - But I probably talked more than I came tryllet.Så stand - up comedy to Sweden and I realized that I did not need to spell to be able to stand on a stage. I could only talk, "said Lindqvist with gestures and facial expressions that indicate that it is on stage he has spent much time.

Successful
Lindqvist wrote a lot of text to others, but eventually he made an attempt at a horror story. - It was just for fun. I had always thought a bit like "ugh" about it to be a writer. But when I wrote the horror story, was the first time I realized that this was something I could, "he said. And it was both readers and reviewers agree. Let the Right One In has been a great success, has been translated into several languages and has been filmed twice. The Swedish film version has been given not less than 50 awards.

Love the film versions
- I am incredibly fond of the movie. It is one of the best movies I have seen, quite objectively. It is just such a story that I like and it is Tomas Alfredson profits that it is as good as it is. It is a complete "wonder-working" film, "said Lindqvist. He himself wrote the screenplay of 90 pages, which were cut down to 70 pages during the film process. - Let the Right One In is a masterpiece!

Lindqvist also has many good things to come with the American film version .- Stephen King said it was the best movie he had seen in 20 years. It is just as slow, dark and gloomy as it is the Swedish. Apart from some dastardly digital effects is the "jättebra". But it is so clearly a lot more American. Also, it created an almost magical landscape, particularly in relation to how to use the light, "said Lindqvist, adding that many international forget that the Swedish version takes place early in 1980 - number. - There have been no comments on Bloody hell, how bad they have it in Sweden. They are not mobile once, he smiles.


Random with a vampire
When asked why he chose to write about vampires, he sighs and shakes his head with a smile on his face. - It might as well have been something other than a vampire. It is absolutely too many vampire books and movies, and I did not want it to be a vampire in the story when I started to write. I knew I wanted to portray the Black Rock and that there would be no "hemskt" there, visitors from the other side. I wanted that Oskar would approach this monster and that was the best vampire monster. It would have been a little worse with a werewolf, a zombie or a gel mass from outer space, he smiles.

Help of his wife
Lindqvists wife is very important during the process of writing his. He always read scripts aloud to her, and it is something she does not like so he changes it. - When I wrote a 20 - 30 pages, I read the script aloud. Now I've done this so many times that I can see when it is something that is not good in the script the way she moves on. A few times I have not been totally agree with her, but I have changed, however, and in retrospect I see that it was better the way she said. It is well with critics Mon rely so much on. We also do the same with her books, "said Lindqvist.

Then he worked on the script for Let the Right One In, it was especially Eli, who needed re-work in the beginning. - My wife commented that Eli was altogether too powerful and independent. What she really trengtte Oscar for? So I did Eli more lonely and unhappy, "said Lindqvist.

Androgynous
- It is a castration scene in the book. Why would you write about sex solve vampires? Wonder Harstad.
- Because I think the androgynous is so interesting. The asexual love is based on the needs of understanding and closeness, and I think it's pretty interesting. But I decided quite late in the writing process that Eli was a boy. Moreover, it was even worse for Oskar to accept that Eli was a boy than he was a vampire - but he accepts it as well.


Cult Status
Let the Right One In has gained cult status in many communities, and it constantly pops up their own fan sites on the Internet for books Lindqvist discussed. Forum, We The Infected, is one of the more serious. Here are the novels and films analyzed and written fanfiction. - It is completely absurd. There are people there who have seen the movie over 100 times. And most are American, not Swedish. It's very funny. It is a good discussion forum with a friendly tone. Those who are discussing there are good together and they write very clever post, "said Lindqvist. The fame that has become part of him also has another side. It is such a secret where he lives. - People can be a little too enthusiastic, "he said.

More about Oskar and Eli
In Let the Right One In he describes a character, Eli's guardian, that one gets the impression of the pedophile. - However, he is. He is "Building a pedophile," exclaims Lindqvist before he adds. - But it was only when I saw the Swedish movie on the big screen that it dawned on me that you think that Oscar may be a new Håkan. Therefore, I decided to write a sequel, Let the old dreams die. Here you get to know more about what happens when Oskar and Eli get off the train, "said Lindqvist. The story is contained in a collection of short stories that have not been in Norwegian yet, but recently published in Sweden.

Lindqvist has loaded an mp3 book, to be published in April. It will only be available via download. The story is about zombies, and takes place on a small island with a lighthouse. - I actually read it in yesterday. It's bloody hell, and a completely straight zombie story, "said Lindqvist.

The girl with golden hair
Little Star is the last of his release in Norway. Here's readers include witnessing a massacre at Skansen. Lindqvist says he is very fond of the novel, but that it was hard to write it. - It is a dark and ugly history. At first I thought that this would be a fun story to write, but then I realized the psychological development that would lead to the final stage at Skansen, "he said.

Sing-along at Skansen is not the only, cozy Lindqvist made by horror. In Human Harbour, which came out in 2008, has one of the characters ugly thoughts about Evert Taube and Astrid Lindgren, who he claims have romanticized the Swedish archipelago and then destroyed it. The tanks eventually took the form of a foul imagination, which, among other things, involves the Astrid Lindgren and a chainsaw. - But what I took away. I am however very fond of Taube and Lindgren. Once, during the recording of "We the Saltkråkan, Lindgren got a boat breakdown. Dad came by and rescued her and she wrote a dedication to him in the book We the saltkråkan. It's become a family treasure, "said Lindqvist.

Drill and skulls
There is suddenly a shudder through the hall. During the call, the Johan Harstad taken up a box and revealed a yellow drill, as he puts on the table before him. Drill is one of the tools that creates fear in Lille star. - Just in case we have a use for it, he comments dry. Lindqvist smiles and looks to be in their element. - I did not actually what kind of weapon I'd use in the book. Then one day I would buy the boards and the store had gotten into the drill. They sit as a weapon in his hand. That was perfect, "he explains before he read the prologue and first chapter of Little Star.

Foam reads with the safe
Lou Reed once said: - I get scared just in Sweden. You know, it's --- kind of empty, they're all drunk. Everything works. You know, if you stop at a stop light and do not turn your engine off, people come over and talk about it you two. You go to the medicine cabinet and open it up and There Will Be a Little records Saying: "In case of suicide - call ..." You turn on the TV, There's an ear operation. These Things Scare Me. New York? Com. "Johan Harstad finished retelling of the quote by asking whether it is all confidence in Sweden, which makes the country so well suited as a backdrop for horror novels. - Yeah, I think. It's very good to be Swedish and horror writer, but it 're no longer the society that we Swedes would argue that it is. It has changed a lot. Sing-along at Skansen is the manifestation of what we Swedes will be, and I think it's exciting to see what happens when you let the dark into in solidarity, "said Lindqvist, stressing that he portrays this irony.

Is not ironic
- I begin to cry when I see the sing-along at Skansen, because I think it's so nice. I do not depict such things ironically, there are things I like. There must be something wrong with me, but it has been good for my financial situation. At graduations, for example, I often think about what might have happened. Are children really evil?
- But you feel good about yourself? Ask Harstad.
- A writer once said that he was the happiest of all his acquaintances, but I think that says more about his acquaintances. But yes, I'm happy and I get the ride and keep on with this darkness that work. My son plays some games on the internet. It is a secret world and sometimes I wonder what they're doing. So I use my own fear of writing, and do it all the more awful than is the case. In that sense, this is a form of therapy, which is also economically, "he smiles.

Children and energies
The first chapter of Little Star, he wrote a half years before the rest of the book. - I would feel a little tone, but it was good. I got chills when I read through it and then it's good. So I had an image in the minds of two girls at a railings at Skansen singing, and there is much energy around them. There are a lot of energy in the year-olds, and the energy I use in the final scene, he explains.


No Joseph Fritz
Lennart Sederstrøm, a dance band fallert star, is one of the people in Little Star and Johan Harstad wanted to know why he chose to keep the baby he finds in the woods. - Because he has perfect pitch. When he finds the girl, she sings three pure tones in a row and all are in sinus tone - they are perfect. Lennart think that she is a miracle, something almost otherworldly. The clear voice creates a ressonanse in him and he do not want her to be contaminated by normal society. So he puts her in the basement. No one is allowed to talk to her. She will only hear the music. But eventually he finds out that this does not go in the long run, he will not be a Joseph Fritz. Then she gets run out of the basement, but to prevent her leaving the house he tells a story that the world is an evil place where the big men, they eat small people. This means that the girl is terrified of everything that is outside the house, and the world perception to get some negative consequences, "said Lindqvist and dock. - The book is dark as hell and is by far the darkest and violent I've written. If you find it difficult to read depictions of violence, one should not read it, or so you get to close her eyes.

- But how do you do research for the violent scenes?
- I read the descriptions of others and have read a little anatomy, but when I describe this, such as how it feels when a drill cut into the skull, there are very few who can say no, so it is not.

Prints real and credible
Lindqvist has got a lot to describe children and adolescents on a little fake and not very stereotyped way, and he often gets inquiries from 14.15 and 16 - year-olds who say that he catches them and their thoughts exactly. - It pleases me. If you are in control because the feeling, everything will be okay. I have a 14 - 15-year emojente inside me that says what to write. Yes, I know - I'm totally crazy. However, in other words, in 11 to 12 years old, one is fotsatt not quite there that we know what is real and unreal. Man is willing to think about things. When one is 13.14 and 15 begin to think more about identity and wondering who you are. Man is willing to listen to Whispers from the dark side to help find out who you are. It is not the same for a stock broker who is now in full job, "he said.


Tessla
The Little Star forms the two girls a band that is named Tessla, with clear references to the scientist with the same surname. Linqvist was going to pull it hee little longer. - But I found out that it was too cumbersome and too much literature if I were to go into everything I read, so I desisted.

He is known to be powerful inspired by The Smiths and Morrisey when he writes, and he often has a song that accompanies each book he writes. - When I wrote Man Harbour was Lifelines A-ha. It went all the time, and when I was finished and would read the script for my wife, I saw that I had played the song 666 times. I must have a sound behind me as I type, but not so much that I become distracted. Therefore I choose a song that conveys the mood of the book. When I heard a song enough times, I hear it anymore, "he explains.

Barker and King
Lindqvist has been compared to Stephen King, but personally, he has more sense of the books of Clive Barker. - Stephen King is a place in the background as a source of inspiration, and he is a wonderful writer who has written 10 to 12 masterpieces. But Clive Barker is a better writer and he writes much fælere. Stephen King brakes often by the very fæleste and does not go out into the real dark. Clive Barker is out of this darkness, and I do not try to shade it, "he says and believes that the Books of Blood represents the very best that is written in the horror genre.

Fan of Lagerlöf
He is also fond of Selma Lagerlöf. - Selma is my favorite Swedish writer. I have read almost everything she has written, she is stunningly good. She knows how to capture the reader and tell a story, "said Lindqvist.
- But now that you among others have taken from us the Swedish archipelago. Abba and Lill Babs. What will you take from us next time?
- Next time I'll give my take on camping, "said Lindqvist, smiling.

Love
Harstad, points out that there was much love in the books of Lindqvist: love between the characters, love between author and characters, and love to the readers of the books. In Paper Walls, there is even a personal afterword from the author. - You often feel that one who reads part of the same team as the author when you read, that you've got a spot on the team Lindqvist, noted Harstad, something Lindqvist smiled. - I try to avoid writing the distance of the character and I also like the worst character in its own way. I write because I want people to read and get caught by the books, they will cry, get hurt in the stomach and sigh when it's nice. And I use different means to achieve it. I'm probably very reader oriented, "he said.

Satire anyway?
Lindqvist jobs otherwise not in a tree house t, if anyone would believe it, and though he writes about things he likes, he is no stranger to kill someone in Stockholm, Sweden. - Believe me, I'll write about it. I try to avoid satire, but I'll write about it. A story where someone kills someone outside Stockholm. They are found beheaded and you wonder who has done it. And the killer is street organ man who has decided that enough is enough. It would not be a day early, smiling Lindqvist to a packed hall at the House of Literature.

[a_contemplative_life]

Thanks, drakkar, for going to the trouble to post this!

It would have been fun to have seen the interaction between JAL and his wife over LTROI as he was writing it, especially how he changed Eli and Hakan in response to her comments. Reading a draft out loud--haven't tried that method yet, although I do let my computer read text to me, and that helps sometimes to catch typos.

I was curious that he said "But I decided quite late in the writing process that Eli was a boy." That could be a translation error, but it had been my impression from one of his posts that he had thought Eli would be a castrated boy very early. Hmm.

[Wolfchild]

Androgynous
- It is a castration scene in the book. Why would you write about sex solve vampires? Wonder Harstad.
- Because I think the androgynous is so interesting. The asexual love is based on the needs of understanding and closeness, and I think it's pretty interesting. But I decided quite late in the writing process that Eli was a boy. Moreover, it was even worse for Oskar to accept that Eli was a boy than he was a vampire - but he accepts it as well.

Interesting. Quite different from what John wrote in this post:

...I went beack to the notes I made while writing the novel (about 90 pages, in all). In december 2000 I made the first one, and it all starts with:
”A vampire story. That takes place in Blackeberg. Not really sure that it is a vampire, but something similar.” a few more paragraphs and I have decided that it is going to be a vampire, and that the vampire is a boy.
The following day I make the decision that the vampire is going to be androgynous (Probably misspelled that one) and that he is, in fact, a castrated boy. This was two months before I even started writing the thing.
An immense amount of ideas and images written in these notes never made it into the novel, but it is funny to see that on that very first day of making notes in december I had also decided that the climax was going to take place in a pool. ”Blood and chlorinated water” I wrote.
So, yes, I knew from the beginning that Eli was a boy. What happened when I let Eli meet Oskar was that Eli started to change his behaviour from what I had originally envisioned. I didn´t even know that they were going to fall in love. But I felt that Eli/Elias would try to appear more likeable in order to ge closer to Oskar, once he had decided not to kill him (The stroke on the cheek). Since Oskar percieves Eli as a girl, Eli is content with not informing him otherwise, although he can´t help himself on a few occasions. Eli doesn´t want to fool Oskar, he is uncertain if Oskar is going to leave him if the truth comes out.

<shrugs>

JAL said (translated by me, this time):
Cult Status
Let the Right One In has gained cult status in many communities, and fan sites constantly pops up on the Internet where Lindqvist's books are discussed. One Forum, We, The Infected, is one of the more serious. Here his books and films are analyzed, and fan fiction is written.
"It is absurd. There are people there who have seen the movie over 100 times. And most are American, not Swedish. It's very funny. It is a good discussion forum with a friendly tone. Those who are discussing there are friendly towards each others and they write very thoughtful posts", said Lindqvist.

It is absurd. I think this every day, and I'm one of the worst.

[drakkar]

I will tidy up the translation a bit. It's worse than the Swedish.

Interesting. Quite different from what John wrote in this post:...

I can start right away, tidying up this one:

Google translation :
Androgynous
- It is a castration scene in the book. Why would you write about sex solve vampires? Wonder Harstad.
- Because I think the androgynous is so interesting. The asexual love is based on the needs of understanding and closeness, and I think it's pretty interesting. But I decided quite late in the writing process that Eli was a boy. Moreover, it was even worse for Oskar to accept that Eli was a boy than he was a vampire - but he accepts it as well.

Mine translation:
Androgynous
- It is a castration scene in the book. Why would you write about asexual vampires? wonder Harstad. (a Norwegian author)
- Because I think the androgynous is so interesting. The asexual love is based on the needs of understanding and closeness, and I think it's pretty interesting. But the final decision about Eli being a boy was made quite late in the writing process. Moreover, it was even worse for Oskar to accept that Eli was a boy than he was a vampire - but he accepts it as well.

So what John said in Oslo seems to make sense. Mia was an important part in the fine tuning (or what to call it) of the book, so even if John knew from the beginning Eli was going to be a boy, the final decision might not have been his alone. E.g. Mia did a lot to fine tune Eli, toning down the vampirism to an infection. Hope this helps

It is absurd. I think this every day, and I'm one of the worst.

It's the second time in a month he mentions the forum, and this time he even spelled out the name.

[a_contemplative_life]

I don't think he means 'absurd' in a derogatory sense. It is quite reasonable to expect people who see something of great beauty to analyze it and share their feelings about it. There's nothing wrong with that, it's human nature. I think what he is saying is that he was surprised by the fact that something he wrote has generated such a response. Perhaps if he were asked, he would clarify that he is 'absurdly surprised.' That's what I think.

[bore]

While "absurd" also is a Swedish word and should have the exact same meaning as the English version of it it is commonly (and improperly) used instead of surreal or unreal, perhaps that is what he meant.

[drakkar]

I found this report in a book blog made by one of the visitors to the arrangement. It is possible she could have made some bad choices of words.

I don't think he means 'absurd' in a derogatory sense.

No that was not in my mind either.

[Wolfchild]

Derogatory or not, it is certainly true. I know that I have put an absurd amount of time into this web site, and I have also spent an absurd amount of time contemplating both the film and the novel. I don't regret it, but I can't deny that it is absurd.

[jonjon_z]

I agree I doubt JAL meant absurd in any bad way.

But the final decision about Eli being a boy was made quite late in the writing process.

This is an incredible and insightful interview for any LDRKI/LTROI fan. I'm curious to know what "jättebra" means. In Google it just means "jättebra". Anyone?