From London to PEI: Chatting with Anna Maria Hellberg Moberg
/
Anna Maria joined us at The Hideout earlier this fall from the United Kingdom. We were so impressed with her extensive publication track record—over thirty books, covering travel, fiction, folks tales, and more! During her time with us, we learned more about Anna Maria’s writing and travels and enjoyed conversations about literary and creative communities in Sweden, the UK, and Prince Edward Island.. Recently, we caught up with Anna Maria back home in London to learn more about her time at The Hideout.
_____
Tell us more about the project you were working on at The Hideout. What were your goals and what did you accomplish?
I spent my week at The Hideout working on the final draft of my first novel – current working title Early, one fine morning – which is partly set in Sweden and partly in the Maritime provinces of Canada. I was aiming to go through most of the chapters during my stay and it turned out I felt so inspired I edited all of them! Although the novel still needs work, I’m very happy with the progress I made during my stay in Canada.
What does a regular creative practice look like for you?
It very much differs from day to day or week to week. As well as writing/journalism, I do live storytelling events, so my creative practice depends on whether I’m focusing on writing or storytelling. Essentially, no week is the same. This week, e.g. I’m doing two spooky Hallowe’en tale events, which involves travelling to different parts of London, bringing a few props and going on stage. It’s a nice contrast to the silent, solitary practice of writing. I tend to write best in the early morning, but if I feel inspired, I usually carry on all day and sometimes into the evening.
Why were you drawn to a residency at The Hideout?
As my novel is partly set in the Maritimes, I specifically wanted to revisit the region. Although I’m very familiar with New Brunswick and also parts of Nova Scotia, I had not visited Prince Edward Island before, so that was a major draw for me. I loved the look of The Hideout. It ticked all the boxes in terms of a scenic, secluded and peaceful location, without being too remote.
And what were the highlights of your time on PEI?
Oh, so many highlights! First and foremost, ample time to write in quiet, comfortable surroundings. Also the chance to discover different parts of PEI and connect with the local creative community. Participating in Sharing the Field, a festival organised by River Clyde Arts in New Glasgow, enjoying my first Caesar cocktail since 2019 and much else besides!
What projects are you working on next and where can folks find your work?
For the time being, I’m continuing work on the novel and hope to have the final draft ready by the end of the year. My 30th book, Feline Folk Tales, was published spring ’26 and my second full-length solo storytelling show (based on the book) will take place here in London next spring, which means it’s rehearsal time this autumn/winter. I’m also still doing shows and giving talks based on my previous book, Swedish Folk Tales. Many of my books are available via my website. And the folk tale books—Feline Folks Tales and Swedish Folk Tales can be found via my publisher.
___
Anna Maria Vilhelmina Hellberg Moberg is a UK-based multilingual writer, journalist and storyteller, originally from Sweden. She is the author of more than 25 books, as well as numerous features for the British and international press. Her works include travel and culinary books focusing on Scandinavia and Latin America, a fairy tale for adults, two collections of short stories and several books about cats (fiction and creative non-fiction). Her most recent books are two compilations of folk tales – Swedish Folk Tales and Feline Folk Tales – published by The History Press. She writes, gives talks and tells stories in English, Swedish, Norwegian and Spanish.
For more information about her work see: https://amhellbergmoberg.co.uk/
All photos courtesy of Anna Maria Hellberg Moberg.
