“I am not a public figure. I write to communicate – not for self-promotion. Writers have the privilege of anonymity. I once sat next to a man on a plane engrossed in one of my books – he had absolutely no idea who I was.”
For over two decades, Jo Nesbø has cast a long shadow – a distinctly dark yet compelling one – across the landscape of Norwegian crime fiction.
From his base in Oslo, Nesbø has illuminated the city’s underbelly with his unflinching and brilliant portrayals of serial killers, addicts, and the lost souls that haunt its streets. His Harry Hole series, translated into over fifty languages and reaching millions of readers worldwide, has firmly established him as a global icon of the genre.
As a thriller writer myelf, I was delighted to find an interview with Nesbø on an Icelandic site, and had to share some of the highlights here:
The Genesis of a Literary Force
Nesbø’s career as a novelist took off with the publication of “The Bat” in 1997. This debut introduced the world to Harry Hole, the hard-drinking and deeply tormented detective tasked with investigating the murder of a Norwegian woman in Australia. “The book was a kind of experiment,” Nesbø reflected. “I didn’t know what would come of it. I had some confidence, certainly, but no real idea yet what kind of writer I would become.”
Crafting Compelling Characters: Embracing Bias
When questioned about his remarkable ability to develop such vivid and complex characters – a defining characteristic of his storytelling – Nesbø offered an intriguing insight into his process. “I give my characters two basic traits to start with. It’s akin to sitting in a café, observing people’s conversations, and attempting to decipher their discussion. We all possess prejudices – they’re simply shortcuts based on limited information. I utilise my own to shape characters. They are, after all, my own unique set of biases.”
The Allure of Privacy: Maintaining Creative Space
Nesbø is renowned for his intensely private nature. He eschews author readings and avoids overly personal dedications to his readership. “My writing world is a private realm,” he stated firmly. “Once readers begin to comment on it, it ceases to be solely mine.”
I loved this from Nesbø: “I am not a public figure. I write to communicate – not for self-promotion. Writers have the privilege of anonymity. I once sat next to a man on a plane engrossed in one of my books – he had absolutely no idea who I was.”
Exploring the Nature of Villains and the Necessity of ‘Insanity’
Asked about his meticulously crafted villains – ranging from the chillingly cold-hearted to the dangerously delusional – Nesbø referenced the work of Norwegian criminologist Nils Christie, stating, “Criminals do not exist, only criminal acts.”
For publishers outside Scandinavia, this interview offers a valuable glimpse into the psyche of a globally successful author who prioritises his craft and connection with readers above all else, hinting at the enduring appeal of his dark and complex narratives.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
