R.A. Akerlund was born in Stockholm in the deepest darkest winter. Brought up by divorced parents alongside her three siblings she learnt to fend for herself from an early age.

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As a child, Akerlund enjoyed reading and playing instruments. Devouring her Mothers vast library until the last jacket had been opened she discovered her love of books. A fast mind and an overactive body challenged the tranquillity needed for writing, but the urge for storytelling made her sit down and write. An oasis of calm in her fast pace.

 

At 16 years of age, she moved to London and joined a band. Backing sang for her supper and spent a few years selling her soul to MTV, presenting videos and interviewing musicians. She gave it up and returned to her first love, songwriting and playing the guitar. After too many years playing dingy dives in Camden town, she decided to give up the music as lugging equipment around lost its charm. With years of short stories backed up on her laptop, she decided to take a course in novel writing. A slight hitch of child-rearing stopped her in her tracks, but she kept tapping until "I am Ed" was completed. She lives in London with her husband, kids and two dogs.

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It's Mayhem, just how she likes it.