Jag drömde aldrig om att skriva en självbiografi. Orden har bara alltid funnits inom mig. När jag var sju år gammal började jag skriva dikter, och på något sätt kändes orden starkare när de klottrades ner i mitt lilla skrivhäfte. På högstadiet påminde min lärare mig ständigt: ”Prata högre, Lene! V…

I have received so many letters from readers of Beautiful Affliction, and I am just so very grateful for every reader who writes to me to share their story and experience of reading my book. I have been deeply touched and shed many tears as I’ve been reading and I would love to share one story wit…

When I was a teenager in Sweden, I read a book by a Swedish Creative Writing guru. His tone was factual and dominant, he knew his business and he made sure we knew he knew. One of his memorable pronouncements went something like this: Never write with the blood of your heart, for it will surely ru…

Greetings from Bali! We have a lot to celebrate: the girls’ holiday from school, my “second birthday” (which was last week: the 7th anniversary of my heart surgeries), and one month since the official publication day for Beautiful Affliction! In addition, it is Islamic New Year in Indonesia, which…

I was woken up this morning by my husband and the girls singing Happy Birthday and carrying a tray with fruit salad and apple juice. The anniversary of my heart surgeries have become my “second birthday” and there is nothing better than to celebrate with my family and apple juice! (Readers of Beau…

I have done this before. Counted the days and weeks to an important event. One spring many years ago I counted the moments until my wedding, filled with thoughts of pearl-embroidered silk and waltzing with my dear groom to be. While stroking my heavy belly, singing to my unborn baby, I counted the…

Hello friends! Today we (my husband and I) have been celebrating the Advance Reader Copies of Beautiful Affliction that arrived from the US in a big brown box! We went to Hotel Dharmawangsa for dinner and while there in the beautiful garden, we took some pics to show you! I can barely believe it…