đ Writing Butterfly Games #2 in Sweden â August 2025
Posted on 03/08/25 in Monthly Blog
Greetings from Sweden, friends! đžđȘ
Iâm lucky to be spending the month writing the second book in the Butterfly Games historical fiction series in a grand circa-1901 apartment in the Haga neighborhood of Karlstad. Yes, Karlstadânot Stockholm, not Gothenburg, but this charming mid-sized city about halfway between Stockholm and Oslo. Why here, you ask? Let me tell you.
The Perfect Size for Me
Karlstad is a gem of a cityâabout 65,000 residents, twice the size of my little Connecticut town, but still cozy. And in true Swedish fashion, itâs incredibly well-connected: trains to Oslo and Stockholm, buses that reach the tiniest towns, and local transit that runs late into the night. Can you imagine?
Itâs a detail I canât overlookâespecially since my son, who has autism, doesnât drive. Back home, public transportation is⊠letâs just say not great. Swedenâs connectivity makes me envious in the best way.
đïž A House With Secrets
If youâve read an advance copy of Butterfly Games (or watched the trailerâyou have watched the trailer, right?), youâll recognize the name Carl. Heâs one-third of the messy, passionate love triangle at the heart of the novel. His fictional family didnât appear out of thin airâit’s inspired by the real noble family who ran things around here in the 1700s and 1800s. Their grand estate, Long Manor, was about fifteen miles outside the city. It’s gone. But their townhouse? Still standing, right here in central Karlstad.
Naturally, I had to pay it a visit. đ”ïžââïž
đ Tiny Quirks I Canât Ignore
â Coffee Maker Tyranny
Nothing, of course, is perfect. Thanks to EU energy rules, most coffee machines shut off after 40 minutes. Forty. Minutes. As a writer who sips coffee until 5 PM, I find this borderline hostile. Back home, my Cuisinart gives me four full hours. EU: if youâre reading this, I surrender. Just let me brew in peace.
đ§ Tethered Bottle Caps
Iâm all for reducing plastic waste, but the new design? Every cap is permanently attached to its bottle. Try pouring water one-handed while the cap flaps around like a bat. Iâve lost track of how many near-spills Iâve had before my first sip of coffee (assuming the machine is even still on by then).
đœïž But Seriously⊠I Love It Here
Petty frustrations aside, thereâs so much to love: cobblestone streets, misty mornings, and entire meals devoted to open-faced sandwiches. Iâve been scribbling away on Butterfly Games Book 2, letting the atmosphere seep into every scene. When I need a break, I walk along the riverside path or eat my body weight in smörgĂ„sbord fare like this glorious smörgĂ„stĂ„rta above. (Yes, itâs savory. Yes, itâs cake. Yes, itâs amazing.)
đŹ New to Butterfly Games?
If youâre just joining me on this journey and wondering what Butterfly Games is all about, check out the trailer. Itâs romantic, political, dangerousâand based on a true story.
đ Watch the Butterfly Games Trailer
And don’t forget to add Butterfly Games to your Want to Read list on Goodreads!
Thatâs it from me this month. Next time, Iâll have more tales from Sweden, some bookish updates, and maybeâjust maybeâbetter news about my morning coffee.
