Article by Sue Moorcroft
Last December, I mentioned to my British-Swedish friend author Christina Courtenay that I was wondering where to set my next winter book. She suggested, ‘Make it Sweden and we can go together. We can stay with Mum.’
My editor agreed that Sweden would be a gorgeous Christmas setting – what’s not to love about snow and glögg? – and Christina transformed herself into my creative director, researcher, translator, PA, historian and travel guide. She created an itinerary between Småland, the area of southern Sweden in which her mother lives, and Stockholm. Airline bookings, hire car invoices and event tickets flooded my inbox. She arranged everything except the hotel in Stockholm. That was my only duty...