Charlotte Larsen - Taking Readers on a Journey With Some Unexpected Twists

Charlotte Larsen is a bestselling Scandinavian author of more than twelve books, including the bestselling crime thriller GAME OF GREED, and a series of management books. A graduate of Aarhus University and University of New South Wales, Charlotte is highly recognized as a specialist in managerial issues. Besides working on her next novel, she serves as a high-end management consultant for high performing industries such as the legal profession, finance, and defense. Charlotte keeps a blog on creativity, writes for a Danish broadsheet, and is generally an opinion maker in the Danish business community. She lives and writes in the Danish countryside and keeps a closet full of business suits in a flat in Copenhagen. As our Author of the Day, Larsen tells us all about her book, Game of Revenge.

Please give us a short introduction to what Game of Revenge is about.

In 1944 a snitch denounced a couple and their eldest son for resistance activities. The mother was separated from her husband and son and sent to Bergen-Belsen. The husband and son sent to Dachau. None of them returned.

Years later, their grandson, James takes on a revenging role towards the affluent descendants of the snitch. One by one he takes them down.

But along the way, Francis Scott-Wren picks up the scent and sends in his agent Jo Vermeer to stop the destructive rampage of James.

However, the relationship between her and her target brings her a dilemma of loyalty, that unstable her significantly.

As we travel with the characters through Copenhagen, Marrakesh and into a jungle monastery in Sri Lanka, we must ask ourselves: What are our true values? And how far will we go to defend them?

What inspired you to write about a journey of revenge?

I find revenge to be a fascinating and so very human emotional response to hurt; and yet it is not something we talk about. But who hasn’t entertained revenge fantasies if they are honest with themselves?

Tell us more about Jo Vermeer - what makes her so special?

She cannot easily connect with the world; her ability to trust is very undeveloped. It takes someone like James to contain the wildness, the power and the strength in her.

Readers say that the book made them think - there were times when they couldn't figure out who was on the right side. Was this intentional?

No - that is exactly what I love about writing: that the characters get me into trouble; they lead me along and all of a sudden, I need to find a new way for them to go because they have led me - and themselves – to a cul de sac.

Give us three "Good to Know" facts about you

I meditate, I swim in the Ocean in winter (the Nordic winter that is) and I have two large dogs; an Alsatian and a Weimeraner.

Was there a single defining moment or event where you suddenly thought, 'Now I'm an Author,' as in—this is now my career?"

YES! And it was momentous. It happened in Greece, on the island of Crete, where I spent a week on a leadership course. It was then, I suddenly heard myself say out loud, that I was an author after having written three books. The title of “author” has tremendous meaning for me.

Your book takes readers on a journey through Copenhagen, Marrakesh and into a jungle monastery in Sri Lanka. How did you manage to describe the locations with so much detail?

Thank you! I have spent a lot of time all these places. Specifically, I spent a month meditating in the very monastery that is one of the locations in Game of Revenge and also in Game of Greed.

When starting on a new book, what is the first thing you do?

I dream and fantasize and have extensive internal dialogues to let characters slowly grow until they are substantially enough to put on paper.

What are you working on right now?

I am in the early process of a sequel in the Game of … series. This next one, are set in the financial world of bankers.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

I love to communicate with my readers. The best way to reach me is on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcharlottelarsen/ If readers are interested, they can find the prequel to game of Revenge here: https://www.amazon.com/Game-Greed-engrossing-Thriller-Scott-Wren-ebook/dp/B07GD2C3RP/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=charlotte+larsen&qid=1557735952&s=gateway&sr=8-1