Questions and Answers

My book LIV – between darkness to light was published in English on Amazon two days before my mum passed away. Since that day I stopped with all the plans I had for that book, could not really look at it nor to think how to start with the marketing plan I had made up. 

My mum had taken a major part in making my story turn into a book – she believed in me! The strong woman that has always been there for me, no matter what. Standing up for each and every thing I, and my family, would go ahead trying out. The biggest and most caring manager, fan and assistant anyone could have!

It can seem a bit weird not spending all your spare time to market your book after all the time you have spent writing it, having it translated, edited, designed and finally getting it published on Amazon. But I am a true believer that whoever needs to find it and read it, will do so. If not today, so tomorrow. I simply wrote a book because I felt I had an important story to tell!

Today I have decided, though, to come back and answer some of the questions I have received since the quiet launch of my book in English. I hope I will, with a few lines, together with a few images, give you a better picture from “behind the scenes”.

Is your book based on true stories?

The story about the family living in Israel, fighting for their son’s life, is all true and taken from a diary I wrote back then.

The parallel story about Stephanie living on a cruise ship is based on a partly true story.

Did you live and work on a cruise ship and was it there you met your husband?

Yes, I did meet my husband onboard a cruise ship, where we used to work together. An experience motivating me to write the story about Stephanie and her life onboard the cruise ship.

A life full of cultural clashes, intrigues and hierarchical games, but also about amazing people and places.

Is everything you are telling about your son getting sick with cancer, and having to amputate his leg, true?

Yes, unfortunately that is all true.

Is it true that you studied acting in New York?

Yes, when I studied at the well known acting studio Lee Strasberg, in New York, for a year a dream of mine came through. To live and study acting in New York for a period of my life. A very important year of my life, where I learned a lot about myself. Also a very important year for me and my husband as a couple, since that was the first year we lived a “real” life together, no longer living on a cruise ship. 

Have you been training and competing in kickboxing in real life?

Yes, I fell in love with martial arts when I was around 14 years old in my hometown Karlskrona, Sweden. I then started with karate. However, when I went to study & work in England for 3,5 years, kickboxing was the closest form to take up and compete in, since competing was something I really wanted to try out.

My major achievements:

• 1995 – in Germany, 3rd in the world in LC kickboxing (WAKO – World Association of Kickboxing Organization)
• 1996 – in England, the European title for 63 kg in Semi Contact with LowKicks (WKF – World Kickboxing Federation)
• 1998, In Copenhagen Denmark, the World Champion LC kickboxing (WKO – World Kickboxing Organization)

What was the island you liked the most in the Caribbean?

So many islands to love; Grenada for the intriguing spice smell, telling so much about the history of this island, when you arrive in the port. The today French island of St Barts, still with some Swedish street names from the time it belonged to Sweden. The green lush island of St. Lucia with its high mountain peaks, jungles and waterfalls. Jamaica for its special vibes, rhythms and because I love Bob Marley. Each and every island with its own amazing beaches, food and people.

Were you scared when traveling over the Bermuda triangle every week?

I had to calm some passengers down, on each cruise from New York to Bermuda, who were worried and telling stories they’d heard about the Bermuda triangle. But no, I was never scared. I traveled between New York and Bermuda for about three months in a row, on a weekly basis, and nothing worrying ever happened.

If you have read my book and liked it, I would so very much appreciate it if you could please share in your social channels; Amazon, Goodreads or wherever you are at! It is extremely hard to stand out and make your book seen & heard among the ocean of books and authors out there…Thank you from the bottom of my heart!