And in answer to some of the more general questions...
1) How would you describe The Little Old Lady Who Broke All
the Rules?
It is a book about five people, all over 70, who become tired of
the way society treats them. They leave their care home in a bid
to launch new careers as thieves because they have noticed that
prisoners are treated better in jail than the elderly in old
people´s homes!
2) Why did you decide to write about a group of friends living in a
care home?
I get so frustrated when I read about harsh savings on elderly
care. These older people have built today’s society and made it
possible for many of us to have a good life. But then when they
are ‘past it’ they are treated very badly. This is just not on. So
while this book is full of humour, it is also a strong protest
against a society that has forgotten human values. I wanted to
highlight this issue and make people think about the care of elderly
citizens.
3) Who is your favourite character in the League of Pensioners?
Actually, I love them all. Martha is my central character, of
course, and I identify with her, but I like Brains very much, too,
as well as Anna-Greta, Christina and Rake. So, you see, it is difficult
to single out just one of them . . .
4) Can you see yourself becoming like Martha as you grow older?
Yes, or perhaps I might be even more outrageous! But I’d like
to think that I would eat more healthily – and not steal so much!
5) Do you have a favourite moment in the book?
My favourite moment is when the League of Pensioners steal
the paintings at the National Museum – and the end of the book
too.
6) Do you have any favourite novels?
I enjoy feel-good novels. I also read Dickens, Oscar Wilde and
many other English authors. I love English films, too, and the
wonderful sense of humour that English people have!
7) What do you enjoy most about being an author?
Honestly, it gives me the freedom to plan my own time and do
what I want, where I want.
8) The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules has sold to 17
countries so far and has been published under several different titles.
Can you tell us what the other titles are and what they mean?
The original Swedish title is Kaffe med Rån which translated
means ‘Coffee and Robbery’. Some countries have followed
the Swedish title, i.e. the Icelandic version Kaffi og Rán. The
German title is Wir fangen gerade erst an (We’ve Only Started
Now), the Italian title is La banda degli insoliti ottantenni (You
Cannot Trust the 80 year olds), the Norwegian title is Svindel og
multelikør (Crookery and Cloudberry liqueur), the Spanish title
is La Bolsa o la vida (The Money or Your Life) and the Dutch title
is very much the same – Je geld of je leven.
I love the English title, The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the
Rules because it says exactly what the book is all about. A group
of elderly people who break all the rules – with Martha as their
leader. And then I identify with the title personally as well!
9) How does it feel to have written an internationally bestselling
novel?
Absolutely fantastic! I am so happy with the response I have
had from readers.
10) What do you hope readers will take away from reading about
Martha and the gang?
I want them to take care of the old, take care of each other, to
remember human values and most of all to enjoy life.