Amazon release of LIV
The time has come for the Amazon release of my debut book LIV – a journey from darkness to light. To let my baby live its own life out in the big world.
The name Liv has for long been the name I would have named my daughter. Since I received two wonderful sons, and no daughter, my debut novel and the main character of the story was instead named Liv.
Liv is a typical Scandinavian name, inherited from the ancient Norse word that means ‘shield’ or ‘protection.’ In our day Liv is most often associated with the word ‘liv,’ as in ‘to live.’
In Norse mythology Liv was the woman who survived Ragnarök, the cataclysmic battle with evil that destroyed the gods. She represents the victory of life over death, light over darkness, which is exactly what my book is all about. A battle over darkness.
As the slightly fanatical optimist I am, I could not see myself writing a story about only darkness and bottomless despair, without any glimpses of sun through the dark clouds. Therefore I also tried to give words to the strong and intense moments of joy, which is there no matter how terrible life may seem at times, in the story of Liv and her family’s life.
A parallel story
In order to provide more depth and contrast to how different our lives can turn out, the parallel story of Stephanie emerged. The 23-year-old girl who lives out her adventurous passion working on board a cruise ship. A lifestyle many might dream about, but which this young woman turns into a reality. She loves her job even though the reality on board is not as magical as it looks like in the travel magazines. She is constantly exposed to cultural clashes, intrigues and hierarchical games she previously did not know existed. Will she have the strength to stand up for her body and soul, twenty years before the “Me Too” movement gave women the strength and voice many could only dream of in the 90s?
Liv’s and Stephanie’s life stories are eventually woven together, where both Stephanie and Liv become aware of the power and irony of fate that neither of them manages to escape.
With this story, I hope that you as a reader will experience pure survival instincts mixed with passion, adventure and dreams. I hope to be able to reach your full emotional register with this book, LIV – a journey from darkness to light. My tribute to life.
Live well!
