Katarina Petersmo
KATARINA PETERSMO lives in Valbo, a small town in central Sweden where she also grew up. She lives in a house with a large garden together with her husband, their two teenage children, and their energetic Spanish Water Dog. Writing is both her profession and her greatest passion.
“When I read a novel, I want to sink into another world. I want to be there; it has to feel real. And when I’ve finished the book, I want it to stay with me — to have changed something inside me. That’s the goal of my writing: to give you that feeling.”
As a freelance writer and copywriter, she writes everything from books to film scripts, often within fields like environment and recycling.
After winning Sweden’s largest short story competition (Icakuriren’s Short Story Prize), Katarina decided to fully dive into fiction. Her stories often explore themes of longing, love, and creativity. In 2026, her fourth physical book will be released — a sizzling romance novel.
On Instagram, she happily shares all aspects of the creative process and spreads the joy of reading and writing to her followers. Welcome to:
@katarinapetersmo@_skrivliv
Katarina loves long walks, conversations with friends, and playing padel.
Writing Myself Away from You Now
“Love makes you stupid — it’s like taking drugs. Everything you see is filtered through a pink lens,” says Fanny in her video blog. Nina can’t help but watch. They go to the same high school, and everyone is talking about the vlog.
Nina has been with Joel for two years and eight months. He is her great love. But when he parties, he changes completely. Maybe it’s Nina’s fault. She feels so boring. Why isn’t she like other girls, who throw off their clothes and swim in the summer night? Why isn’t she a little more like… Fanny?
Fanny’s video blog is all about love. Because she can’t stand seeing how it changes everyone around her — her best friend, even her own mother. They’ve all turned completely stupid. Fanny smiles into the camera and tells girls how strong they are, how they don’t need to change themselves for boys. But when the camera is off, she pulls the tissue paper out of her bra and cries. What does she know about love? She who has barely been with anyone. Something happened a few years ago, and now she’s too scared to let anyone get close.
When Nina starts following Fanny’s advice, everything changes. She pushes her boundaries in ways that turn her entire world upside down. One day, she meets Isabell. Isabell tells her she’s too young to settle for Joel already. They end up in a pool, and something shifts there, in the turquoise-blue water.
And then there’s Linus, the photographer. He sees her through his lens, making her edges sharper, more defined.
But who can she really trust?
A novel about first love. About trying to find yourself before losing yourself in someone else.
This is a book for young readers who enjoy stories about love, relationships, and creativity — but also for adults who want to remember a time filled with both dripping shame and euphoric bliss.
Quotes and reviews:
“It’s a very important story being told.”
It should be highlighted more that young people too can get stuck in relationships that aren’t good for them, and it’s important for teenagers to become aware that not all love stories are about girls meeting Prince Charming. It’s crucial to follow your own will.
— Reader’s report, Bonnier Carlsen
“This book gripped me in a way I didn’t expect!”
4.5/5 stars
— mariasbokhylla.wordpress.com
“Brilliant take on wanting to be someone you’re not!”
— Linda Skugge, review in Icakuriren
“A beautiful novel about the fragility of first love”
About how things can go wrong simply because you have nothing to compare to, and how you mimic your parents’ way of handling relationships.
— Yrsa Keysendal, author and reader
“You’re pulled in instantly, without a warm-up”
Wow! There aren’t many books I’ve read that start this way — you’re pulled in instantly, without a warm-up. I think it’s largely thanks to your beautifully descriptive language, which made me feel like I was right there in the middle of it the whole time. I really loved the atmosphere. And the sisterhood, subtly woven throughout the story. The entire novel is truly incredible.
— Siri Gyllstad Wester
“I would have needed this book when I was a teenager.”
I’m drawn into the story; I’m there. I would have needed this book when I was a teenager — for real. I find myself in it. A book just as much for parents of teenagers as for teens themselves. You’ve woven Nina and Fanny’s stories together so brilliantly. I love that structure and your style of storytelling. It pulls me straight into the world. And the ending…
— Christine Hägglund
“The characters stay with you beyond the pages”
My God, woman, you can write! I love your portrayals of Nina and Fanny, and you instantly threw me back into teenage angst so intensely I got a stomachache and sweaty palms at the beginning.
— Anna Rex
Original title: Jag skriver mig bort från dig nu.
Publication: Smack förlag 2018
Rights sold: All rights available
Pages: 249
Reading material: Full translation
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