Välkommen, tervetuloa!

That’s welcome in Swedish and Finnish. Because yes, I come in two languages.

My name is Michaela, but most people call me Kugge. I was born into a bilingual home where we spoke both Finnish and Swedish, and after doing all my education in Swedish, it became the more natural language for me – and the one I write my fiction in.

For many years I was a struggling writer. Now my books are finding their way across Europe, and I’m still trying to grasp that it’s actually happening. 

My feelgood novel Summer at Villa Hilda is published in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Hungary, the Netherlands and Germany. The tv-rights have also been sold. All thanks to my wonderful literary agency – Agency Ahlbäck.

I also write a crime series with my friend Anne Hietanen. The series will be published at least in Finland, Sweden and Denmark. 

Outside of writing, I play handball and lift heavy weights. I live in Helsinki, but love Berlin, having lived there for a couple of years. One of my sincerest wishes is a night train from Tallinn (2 hours away with ferry from Helsinki) straight to Hauptbahnhof. Someone please make it happen.

That’s me. Who are you, and how did you find your way to me?