Thursday, May 3, 2012

There's more to Sweden than Ikea...Introducing Kajsa Ingemarsson along with a book giveaway!


Introduction by Kathryn Hamilton

**Giveaway is now closed**

Read all about it! Kajsa Ingemarsson is here to spread the “News!”

Joining us today is Kajsa Ingemarsson as she celebrates her first North American release “Yesterday’s News.” Kajsa has already enjoyed tremendous success throughout Europe and is touted as the #1 non-crime writer in her native Sweden! “Yesterday's News” is her 9th and most popular novel, and is in the process of becoming a feature film. Before becoming an international fashion model and tv/radio host, Kajsa was employed by Sweden’s secret police (involved with counterespionage and diplomacy). She currently hosts The Weakest Link in Sweden. We are excited to have Kajsa share her wonderful stories about finding ways to become a hero in your own everyday life.

You can find out more about her at this website.

Thanks to Smith Publicity, we have TWO e-books of "Yesterday's News" to share with some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

Describe your writing in three words.
Entertaining, inspiring and energizing

How are you similar to or different from Agnes in "Yesterday's News?"
Agnes is very insecure and dependent on people around her. She doesn’t think she is really worth being loved, so she settles with less than she should. I am not like her in that sense, I think I’m a rather self-secure person. But she likes food, and so do I!

What was the most challenging part you had to write for "Yesterday's News?" How did you get through it?
It’s difficult when your characters start doing stupid things and behave self-destructively. You really want to interfere and help them: No, don’t do that! I think Agnes should stand up straight long before she does. Throw out the boyfriend, file a police charge against the sexist boss and then quit the job! But she has to make her own mistakes. Luckily, though, I can decide where to end the story!

Another difficult part to write was the death of an important figure in Agnes' life. I don’t like to kill people in my books, but it was really necessary for it to happen so that Agnes could wake up and start changing things in her life.

What is your usual writing routine?
When I’m in a period of writing, I usually write every day – office hours. I need regularity in my writing, otherwise I lose grip of my story.

What do you think the key is to a successful chick lit novel?
It has to engage the reader’s feelings. It can be scary or funny or sad or anything, but it has to connect with the reader’s soul in some way.

What is the first novel you ever read?
I don’t remember actually. Perhaps some Agatha Christie ...?

What is your favorite movie based on a novel?
Hm, difficult question, but I think “Lord of the Rings” are fantastic adaptions.

What theme would you like to see more of in chick lit novels to give them an original flair?
Happiness. It’s really difficult to describe that feeling without becoming a cliché, but, oh, how lovely it is to read about happiness when it’s done with finesse!

What is your favorite novel that was not written by you?
I have a lot of favorite novels, but one I come to think of right now is "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. Among classics, I love the Russians, e.g. Michail Bulgakov’s "Master and Margarita."

If you could take us on a tour of your town, where would we go first?
To Vurma, my favorite coffee shop – they’ve got lovely cinnamon buns!

Special thanks to Kajsa for a lovely interview and to Smith Publicity for sharing "Yesterday's News" with our readers.

How to win "Yesterday's News":
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.)

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite item from Ikea?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

Giveaway ends May 8th at midnight EST.



16 comments:

Marthalynn said...

I love and want the Expedit. I think it's just about everyone's favorite bookshelf!

I love that Agnes is into food - me too :)

I'm a follower!

marthalynn16 at gmail

Jeryl M. said...

I would like to read this book.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Jeryl M. said...

I like there Pax wardrobes.

I am a subscriber.

I am a Facebook fan.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

My favorite items from Ikea are the tea towels.

I'm a follower!

cat123hen(at)aol(dot)com

Kat said...

I am so interested in this novel!
1) I don't shop at Ikea enough to have a favourite item but I love the cool lamp I got there several years ago
2) I'm already a follower of the blog
3) Posted on fb
4) I'm already a member of CLC

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

My favorite item from Ikea and I know this might sounds strange but it is coffee(mellanrost Kaffe). I love their coffee!

-blog follower
-tweeted
-member of CLC on fb

Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

We have a really great hutch in our dining room from IKEA

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

bn100 said...

I like their bookshelves.

I follow the blog.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Maureen said...

We have some folding counter chairs from IKEA that are great.
I follow on GFC
Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/MaureenCE/status/198460057644568577
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

karenk said...

love ikea bookshelves.

thanks for the chance to read this novel.

i'm a follower, too :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Bridget O'Neill said...

We have a TV stand we got at IKEA and I love it!

I'm a follower via email

I'm a Facebook fan

bjoneill@hotmail.com

kaewink said...

I have a Brimnes-bed that I absolutly love. But half of my flat is from IKEA, so ... :D

I´m a follower via GFC, Twitter and Facebook.

kewinkler at gmail dot com

Erica said...

I love their dressers. I own three!!

I am a follower on twitter, facebook and the blog by email.

StereoQueenBee said...

1. Please tell us: What is your favorite item from Ikea?

My Expedit bookshelf! I have FOUR of them!

2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).

Already a follower.

3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Posted!
Facebook - Sabrina-Kate Eryou
Twitter - stereoqueenbee

4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Am already a member.

queenofcrunk at gmail dot com

Erica said...

OOps forgot my email

wordywon AT gmail DOT com

Wehaf said...

This sounds marvelous!

My favorite IKEA item is the Hemnes linen cabinet.

urchiken at gmail dot com