Maria Eriksson

Based on a true story: life on the run

 

The pseudonym Maria Erikssson’s story has moved readers the world over. Mia worked at a bank and helped out at a center for refugees who came to Sweden after persecution in their home countries. But the situation became reversed – Mia was the one who had to flee from persecution.

 

Mia married a man who began to physically abuse her right from the start. She was forced to flee in order to protect herself and her children.

 

How Mia managed to survive and go on is a miracle in itself, but when you read her story, you will discover her above average strength and courage. It’s liberating to see how even in the darkest day, there’s a possibility to find a brighter tomorrow. Since then, Mia has helped women who are seeking help and must find new identities. She tells about this work in her book Mias systrar (Mia’s Sisters).

 

About the Series

Gömda (Buried Alive), the first book based on Mias experiences has sold over a million copies in Sweden alone. This is a tumbling book about violence, rape and abuse in the home. Maria Eriksson wrote this book with Liza Marklund.

 

The second book, Asyl (Asylum Granted) deals with the historic judgment in the United States court system when Mia and her children were granted asylum. No woman before had ever been granted asylum on the grounds Mia’s case was based on. Since she was under such great threat, Sweden could no longer guarantee her safety, nor that of her children and closest relatives, from her husband’s serious threats.

 

The third book, Mias Hemlighet (Mia’s Secret), describes the great secret Mia had to live with during all these years, as well as keep from the rest of her family, and even from her readers. She had been forced to leave her first-born son behind in Sweden! The crises this creates for her entire family then becomes the setting for the fourth book, Emma -  Mias dotter (Emma - Mia’s Daughter).

 

Bibliography

• 2008 - Emma, Mias Dotter (Emma – Mia’s Daughter)
• 2007 - Mias systrar (Mia’s Sisters), with Kerstin Weigl
• 2006 - Mias hemlighet (Mia’s Secret)
• 2007 - Asyl (Asylum Granted), with Liza Marklund
• 2000 - Gömda (Buried Alive), with Liza Marklund
• 1995 - Gömda (Buried Alive), original edition, with Liza Marklund

 

Rights for Maria Erikssons books have been sold to Denmark, Finland, Germany, Holland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.