Exploring Lena: Nature, Literature, and Birdwatching in Innlandet's Enchanting Archipelago

Located in the southwest of the archipelago of Holland, between Sweden and Finland, lies a haven for nature lovers and bird enthusiasts. This inspiring environment is where the Finnish writer, Gula Lena Lunwerg, finds her inspiration and also indulges in her second passion - birdwatching. Every year, she compiles a list of birds to discover, always striving to find a new species in this unique and abundant region.

The archipelago of Holland is home to a diverse range of bird species, making it a prime location for ornithologists and birdwatchers. According to Lunwerg, "It is much better to observe birds here than anywhere else in the world." Despite her travels to countries like the United States, Japan, and Africa, she always carries the islands of Holland in her heart.

During the summer months, Lunwerg spends her time on Chocar Island, a small island with a population of around 250 residents. It is here that she has written several works in Swedish, the official language of the archipelago, focusing on life on the island and the connection between literature and nature.

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The Literary Journey Begins

Lunwerg's passion for writing began at a young age. She recalls, "I always knew that I wanted to write. It all started when I was four years old, and my sister told me that books were written by people called writers. It was not something that was given by nature, which is what I believed back then. For a long time, I never dared to tell people that I wanted to be a writer. I would say that I wanted to be a captain of a ship."

Since then, Gula Lena Lunwerg has published over 20 novels and books of popular science. Her novel, titled "Y El Oro" in Finnish, dedicated to her birthplace island, quickly became a best-seller and was awarded the prestigious Finnish literature prize.

The Island's Icy Presence

One recurring theme in Lunwerg's work is the presence of ice. In her words, "Ice plays a significant role in this book. On one hand, it is something marvelous because it allows for easy communication with neighboring islands. People can go ice-skating or sledding, and it creates a festive atmosphere. However, on the other hand, ice has a deadly side, as it plays a crucial part in the tragedy that befalls the main character."

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The novel revolves around a Protestant pastor who seeks to start a new life on the island with his wife and young daughter. However, his dreams are shattered when the ice breaks beneath his feet, leading to his untimely demise. While the island in the novel carries a fictional name, certain locations mentioned, such as the Franciscan monastery and the rectory where the family resides, are real.

Lunwerg's connection to the archipelago and her personal experiences find their way into her writing. She explains, "This place is very familiar to me. I spent many summers of my life here, not just in this house but also on this island with the locals. It is valuable to me to know that I was born here and spent my early years. That is why I have a strange desire to show the island to visitors who come here. I want to share all of this with them."

A Writer Guiding Visitors

Often, Lunwerg takes it upon herself to show visitors around the island, giving them a glimpse into the places that were decisive in her own life and that reappear in her writing. She recalls, "My parents had sheep, and there was a specific spot where the Protestant family arrived. That is where the story of my work begins. The church dock used to be visible, but now it is almost gone. Small boats used to dock here when there was no space in the port. I process my own experiences through the ice, just like the protagonist's father, who died on the ice when I was just a year and a half old. My father was always a fictional character because I cannot remember him. That is why my book is also pure fiction."

Although Lunwerg currently resides near the Finnish city of Helsinki, she has never severed the ties that bind her to the islands of Holland and its inhabitants. Every summer, she returns, reconnecting with the land that shaped her and continuing her literary journey in the place that first sparked her passion.

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