Swedish Author Mikael Yvesand Admits Self-Sabotage with Second Novel, Inspired by Real-Life Double Murder
Stockholm, Sweden - Author Mikael yvesand, known for winning the 2023 Catapult Prize, has revealed he actively “sabotaged” himself while writing his second novel, “our Boy,” a work partly inspired by the 2005 double murder in Linköping. Yvesand, who generally avoids reading books, began reading Karl Ove Knausgård‘s “The Morning Star” at the prompting of his girlfriend but remains unconvinced.
The author’s admission stems from a recent profile in Dagens Nyheter detailing his unusual writing habits and creative process. Yvesand confessed to a preference for reading preliminary investigations over fiction and described a deliberate attempt to distance himself from perceived artistic pretension. He explained his choice to wear blue work clothes while writing wasn’t influenced by Klas Östergren’s “Gentlemen,” but rather by musician and producer Steve Albini’s signature Dickies Boilersuit worn in the studio.
“Our Boy” delves into themes evoked by the Linköping murders, a case solved after years of investigation, as detailed in a dagens Nyheter report from June 2023. Yvesand’s previous work explored the complexities of adolescence, a theme he continues to examine, focusing on the disconnect between youth and adulthood.He also discussed his aversion to being labeled a “cultural worker,” a sentiment reflected in his pragmatic approach to his craft.
Further Reading:
* Mikael Yvesand: “I’d rather read preliminary investigations than books”
* The moment when the double murder in Linköping got its solution
* Mikael Yvesand depicts the gap between thirteen and the rest of life
