Hörður investigates brutal murders

“I am doing fine, the workday is a bit long these days, but anything is possible,” says Stefán Máni, a crime novelist from Ólafsvík, after his latest novel was published on Friday. The book is called Hungur, or Hunger in English.

“This year I decided to publish my novel in October, which is earlier than most books that are published closer to Christmas, but it’s been good. People are reading now in the darkness and there’s just less stress. People are also willing to buy books in October. ” Stefán Máni became  an overnight sensation in Iceland when he published his first book, Black’s game at the turn of the century, a novel that was later turned into a movie with the same name.

- What is going on in Hunger and how was it writing another crime novel based an Icelandic reality?

“Is is going well, actually. Hörður is investigating very serious crimes, very brutal murders, and this book is very squishy. Hörður gets the assignment to put together an investigative team and create an FBI-style “profile” of a murderer who is on the loose,” says Stefán Máni, who has already released dozens of books about the eccentric red-haired policeman from Súðavík, Hörður Grímsson.

Does not write itself

“I neededto do a lot of research work for this book, so it was a quite a bit of  homework for me, but I’m just so happy to write about Hörður. I love the man so much because we get along. We have a lot in common,” says Stefán Máni, who has previously suggested in interviews with mbl.is that Hörður Grímsson is some kind of an alternate self of himself.

“Of course, you often hit some walls, because novels don’t write themselves,” says Stefán Máni, laughing. What about writer’s block? Are some days not harder than others?

“Well, of course it happens sometimes. But it’s just like exercising or running, the stamina goes up and down. It’s the same with writing. In between, there are days when the spirit leaves me and I don’t fret about it, it’s just something that every writer experiences,” Stefán Máni replies.

At the time, in an interview with mbl.is not long ago, Stefán confessed that he liked to write his books backwards, first find a final scene and then write himself back. Does that still apply?

Stefán Máni once said in an interview with mbl.is that he liked to write his books backwards, first find a final scene and then write towards the beginning. Does he still do that?

“Yes, in a sense, it does, but the idea for Hunger came from American crimes this time. However, I’m always thinking about Hörður, what is he doing or what is he doing wrong?” says Stefán Máni, laughing. “He’s like a snowball that only grows as he rolls longer. Often, though, I’ve forgotten how the ideas start, but I’m content to work out how Hörður gets the bad guy and what he does with him.”

Hörður shows a new side of himself

How, then, has the relationship of Hörður Grímsson and Stefáni Máni developed during all these books, if that is safe to ask?

“Yes you can ask that,” Stefán answers, grinning at his tooth “but it’s been a great success. I always like having Hörður inside my head. He’s matured and changed of course, and in this book he’s showing a new side of him that I find exciting and I am looking forward to receiving feedback from readers on that,” says Stefán Máni.

How does he communicate with his readers now that the pandemic has ended and things are almost back to normal in the world?

“It’s mostly through social media and then you also just bump into people in the street. Someone might say: “My wife is a fan of yours,” and of course it’s very nice. I also often hear fun stories from third parties which is very rewarding,” he says.

- Was it different back in the good old days?

“Yes, in a way it was. At the time I was writing Hotel California and Black’s Game, I was really trying to get into the media to get interviews. But then you also talked to readers much more in relation to public readings. It felt in some ways more lively back then.”

Film deal for The House

But Stefán Máni can’t really make up his mind whether he misses those old times. “There’s always just yes and no, I’m not that nostalgic type of guy who says everything was better in the old days. Now things are just different. Stefán Máni, who wrote at Black’s Game does not exist today. I couldn’t write that book today. The old me and you don’t exist anymore, it’s all some existential wisdom,” says Stefán Máni quite seriously.

Two sequels of Black's Game in the works

When asked what lies ahead he says that he will keep on writing.”I’ve just done a film deal on Húsið (The House) and I’m involved in the process which is very exciting Then the producers of Black’s Game were just announcing that they wanted make two sequels, so I’m just answering phone calls and emails. There’s so much going on that there won’t be any time for boredom in the next few years.”