Mats Strandberg is one of Sweden’s most acclaimed suspense and horror writers, often dubbed “Sweden’s Stephen King.” He writes for adults and children in all formats: books, film, TV, stage and musical. 
How do you come up with the idea for the Frank the Monster series?
The book came to me when my friends got a fluffy little dog, who throws herself at anyone’s feet and demands to be petted. We started joking about how it can be hard to believe that all dogs are descended from wolves, and that got me thinking of the werewolf mythology. What kind of creature would you become if, instead of being bitten by a wolf, you were bitten by a fluffy and honestly quite ridiculous little dog? It wasn’t long before I realized this story could contain bigger themes, like the fear of the unknown, how quickly it spreads and what it does to people.
What do you think children love about Frank the Monster?
Frank is very much an underdog when the trilogy begins. He doesn’t have friends at school—no one shows up to his birthday party in the first chapter!—and he even feels like a bit of an outsider in his own family, though he loves them. When Frank becomes a monster, he gets secret powers, and access to a whole secret society of outsiders. He finally finds real friends, and a place where he belongs. Most of all, he learns to accept himself, both as a monster and as a human boy. And through that process, he also manages to make humans and monsters understand each other better. Not only his kind but clueless parents—he actually changes the whole town.
As a kid, you’re so powerless. You have so little control over your own life. I think that’s why most kids love stories about someone their age being an unexpected hero, chosen by destiny to have all sorts of exciting adventures, and standing up for what’s right. I know I did.
Which character in the Frank the Monster series is most like you?
Frank is very much based on who I was at that age. I never really felt like I belonged with my
peers and often dreamed about having secret powers—like a Clark Kent scenario. Also, I was
terribly afraid of the dark. 
How do you and illustrator Sofia Falkenhem work together?
I asked Sofia to work with me on this project before I even started writing. I wanted her to feel involved, and we really inspired each other’s process. It was so much fun. There are recurring side characters in the illustrations that aren’t even mentioned in the text, and lots of small creatures hidden in the pictures.
How have children around the world responded to these books?
The response has been amazing. Meeting kids who read the books is so much fun. They’re the most honest critics and always have the best questions. I’ve been to so many schools that have done art exhibitions and performances based on the books.
When did you write your first book?
I wrote my autobiography when I was five, ha ha! It was called MATS. When I was sixteen, I wrote my first novel, and it was actually almost published. It was a terrible book, and I would have become really obnoxious if I had been a published writer in my teens. I tried writing other novels through the years, but in 2004 I started freelancing as a journalist and columnist. That was when I wrote what would later become my debut novel, Hunting Season.
How do you create your characters?
I want characters that have many differences, so there’s fertile ground for clashes, and different views
on what happens to them. I also want characters with both “good” and “bad” traits. They also have
defined goals and drives. I try to find out as much as I can about them before I start writing. For example, I make playlists for them with music I think they would like. I think about their backgrounds: what their parents were like, their social group, what they were like in school, their political views, stuff like that. The more I know, the more I know how they will react to any given situation. But of course, they also tend to surprise me when I start writing, and that is part of the fun.
Which do you enjoy most, writing for kids, young adults or adults?
They are all equally fun and challenging. But there is something special about writing for kids and young adults, since the books you read and love at a young age stay with you forever. They become a part of you.
Watch Mats Strandberg introduce the Frank the Monster series.
