Alumni story: the priest Elin writes fantasy and horror books

In parallel with her work as a priest, Elin takes distance learning courses in creative writing at Linnaeus University. Through her studies, she has evolved as a writer and, so far, she has published two books in different genres: a horror novel for adults and an urban fantasy for young adults. Currently, a children's book is seeking the right publisher.

Elin serves as a priest in the Church of Sweden in Nederluleå parish, with responsibilities including baptisms, weddings, and funerals. She also runs her own business, which allows her to express her creativity.

"The creative courses aid me in my role as a priest – which involves a fair amount of writing. I also have a sole proprietorship where I engage in author talks, author visits, and proofread and edit other authors' manuscripts before they are sent to publishers. All this is done to help the author improve the quality of their manuscript", Elin shares.

She also helps others in their writing processes and manuscript development, something she has learned through her studies.

"I have experience in giving and receiving constructive criticism and feedback on texts. If you aim to write books with the intention of getting published, it is essential to let others read and respond to your work", says Elin.

After previously taking shorter courses, Elin has returned to Linnaeus University with the goal of earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. She values that she can study remotely while working.

"It's incredibly enjoyable, and something I do alongside my job and being a mother. I find time to write during breaks and in the evenings when my kids are asleep. My writing process is quite chaotic; I write all the scenes I want to write, then I piece everything together in the right order and write it into a whole", she describes.

Elin finds inspiration in interactions with other people, and in the nature and culture of Norrbotten, where she lives. Norse mythology and folklore particularly spark her imagination, which is reflected in her books.

"I have written three books, two of which have been published by traditional publishers. The published books are Likfarmen, a horror novel for adults, and Kamera Obskyra, an urban fantasy with horror elements written for young adults. The third, a children's book, is still looking for a publishing home".

Elin shares that her experience of studying at Linnaeus University has been very positive.

"The teachers on the courses have been so professional and skilled at bringing out the best in my texts and keen to see me develop as a writer".

Her advice to current students is that they should not feel confined by their degree in the future, and that they should continue developing their interests and skills.

"There are many courses at Linnaeus University that I plan to take in the future, even after I have earned my bachelor's degree, such as the course on writing children's literature", Elin concludes.