She becomes the country's first regional author

The idea is that they will build literary networks and promote and strengthen literature throughout the region. With this, Vimmerby becomes the first in the country with a position as regional author. The investment is part of the ongoing literature assignment that the municipality has received from the Kalmar Region.

- It feels fantastic that we are now in goal and I feel confident that Tove Folkesson and Ami Andersson will complement each other and together contribute to the strengthening of literature and literary creation in Kalmar County, says Anna Mellergård, operations manager.

Tove Folkesson lives in Gärdslösa on Öland and has been working for a few years in principle full time as a writer. She is a trained folk high school teacher in Swedish and has published, among other things, the triology of Kalmar's hunter women.

- I hope that the assignment as a regional author can eradicate the myth of the lone genius and to spread inspiration, knowledge and community to all the aspiring writers of the county. Of course, it would also be fun if this could lead to a strong collective of active writers in Kalmar County who put us on the literary map, says Tove Folkesson.

Ami Andersson lives in Ljungbyholm outside Kalmar. She is a trained journalist and writer. Among other things, she sits on the board of the Småland Writer's Society and has published four books.

- I'm used to working all over the county, with different people, different origins and different stories. The assignment as a regional author feels both important, exciting and absolutely necessary, says Ami Andersson.