Biography

Louise Halvardsson was born on a cold winters day in Nässjö, Sweden, in 1982, but when she was old enough she escaped to Brighton where she learnt about love, life and literature.

Her first novel Punkindustriell Hårdrockare med Attityd ("Punk Industrial Hard Rocker with Attitude") was published in Swedish by Författarhuset in September 2007, and won The Society of Author's Award "Slangbellan" for Best Newcomer in Young Peoples’ Fiction. The first edition sold out and subsequently a second edition was printed in 2008, which is also available in paperback. The Danish translation was published in September 2009.

In 2012 Louise carried out a social experiment called Swenglish. This project has now been made into a book and a film. Since then she has published another novel in Swedish and three poetry collections. She now lives in the countryside outside Gothenburg. 

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE SWENGLISH PROJECT PLEASE CLICK HERE

Punk poet with Swedish accent (Punkpoet med svensk brytning)

An early draft of Louise's second novel was originally written in English and got the following review from an editor:

"A gritty coming-of-age novel that explores the intersections of life washed up in Brighton, and how one man influences the young women he befriends. The main character's  journey from Sweden is not just geographic – she must discover her own sexuality and try to find out what has happened to her friend in whose glamorous image she has shaped herself."- Kay Sexton, author of Minding My Peas & Cucumbers

Louise also performs poetry and short fiction under the name Lou Ice. Read more here.