Fredrick Backman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including two novellas and one nonfiction work. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden with his wife and two children.
Backman spent an evening with a packed conference room of fans at the UWM Student Union to promote his new novel “My Friends.” The book is about a group of teenagers who form such a powerful bond over one single summer that will change the life of a stranger decades later.
The event was presented by Boswell Book Company and Books & Company on May 7 with a discussion moderated by Jennifer Watson, associate professor of German Studies at Marquette University.
Fans at the Milwaukee appearance received a signed copy of “My Friends” and the opportunity to get it personally addressed to them, plus a picture with the author.
The newest Backman novel was written out of a dark place of self-doubt in his process and a worry about his ability to continue telling stories. For this reason, Backman dedicated “My Friends” to anyone young who wants to create something.
“This is the weirdest part of the book-writing process,” Backman said. “No offense, I’m glad you’re here. I know it’s a hassle finding parking, babysitters and everything.”
He finds it strange to be put on a stage in front of a large crowd after spending most of his time being alone in a room with made-up characters. For Backman, being a globally acclaimed author adds pressure to perform in a public setting or be an expert in grammatical aspects of writing.
“It’s so exciting to see so many people who love the books that I love,” Watson said. “The books have meant a lot.”
Watson shared that years ago, her Swedish instructor gave her a book that received acclaim in his home country. That was Backman’s second novel, “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry.”
Watson fell in love with the book and subsequently read all his other novels; just like anyone who enjoys their first Backman story.
Backman never saw it as a possibility that he could write for a living. As a story lover in his 20s and stumbling through odd jobs, he decided to take a year to send his work to magazines.
“I felt that maybe it would be a nicer way to make a living if someone would pay me to write stupid things,” Backman said.
Backman did not want to be an author, desiring to be a storyteller instead. He compared the difference to being a musician. Some artists have technical knowledge, while others have a basic understanding to express their creative talent.
“I think to me an author is something bigger and I’m not saying that to be humble,” Backman said. “You can ask people who know me, and they say, ‘His ego is not the problem; His confidence is.’”
His advice for aspiring writers is not to give up. Backman cited an Australian skater in the Olympics who only won after everyone in front of him fell. Backman advised the crowd to write what they want to and not what they think other people would want to read.
“I can name 100 people in Stockholm who were the same age as me who had way more talent than I did,” Backman said. “The only difference is that I continued. That’s the only thing that separated us, that I kept at it.”
When asked about what compelled him to tell stories, Backman said, “I don’t have a lot of friends, and I didn’t like golf.”
This is the trademark Backman humor that his readers appreciate. Backman started out loving to read as a vehicle to escape into a fantastical narrative.
“I didn’t like reality as a kid,” Backman said. “I still don’t enjoy reality. I think it’s overrated.”
Like many readers, Backman finds comfort in opening a book and following an adventure inside a fictional world.
“Literature is a social contract between the author and the reader,” Backman said. “We’re both going to pretend, and if we both do our job well enough, then we’re going to feel real emotions.”
Backman learned the construction of a story from all the reading he did as a kid. There is a rhythm or sound to crafting the plot. He compared it to a musician who can’t read music but knows how a note is supposed to sound.
“If you want to write, don’t be cool, don’t have cool friends,” Backman said. “Because if you’re going to get it in your head that you must write something that your cool friends are going to like, then that’s the end of good writing.”
Backman said that when the reader cries or laughs at a joke, the author laughed or cried at the same moment when writing.
Backman was invited to speak at an event last year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his publisher, Simon & Schuster. In a viral moment, Backman spoke about the anxieties of being an author.
“That’s the process,” Backman said, “It’s chaos, chaos, chaos, chaos, chaos: book.”
Backman was just as quirky and authentic as the characters he created. During the moderated conversation, there was a relatable awkwardness with his stories and humor. I hung onto every word.
“A Man Called Ove” was the first Fredrik Backman novel I read.
It’s a story about a grumpy old man stuck in his ways who was easily annoyed by modern society. He was a kind man underneath his hardened exterior, which he built up after losing his wife. Ove was a character that anyone could recognize. He was our grandpa, an elderly neighbor and the customer who always caused a commotion with his grievances.
Backman doesn’t just write stories; he documents the human spirit. As a journalist, I find his writing incredibly influential. Backman can write short sentences that pack an emotional punch.
The way he portrays his fictional characters is an inspiration for writing about real-life people. Backman has an uncanny talent for bringing the reader into a story with his straight-to-the-point sensibility.
When I was in high school, his writing reinvigorated the love for reading and storytelling that I had in middle school but lost for a short time. After reading this novel, I went to my librarian and requested all his books. I devoured every single character and story the author concocted.
Through reading Backman’s writing, I somehow find myself gaining a greater understanding of people. Even though it’s fiction, he finds a way to make his characters feel like family members and friends.
At times in life, I find experiences that one can only describe as a “Fredrik Backman Moment.” A moment that’s a bit quirky, humorous, deeply human and sometimes a little dark.