I'm Jo Nesbo, best-selling crime writer and author of the Harry Hole series. Ask me anything.

Hei Jo! I absolutely love your books, and after I started learning Norwegian last year, I have even read the last two in Norwegian :) I also got a friend hooked on your books. Keep it up!

I actually have two questions. First, your books tend to be very international, with lots of international travel, international characters and cross-border crime. What would you say is the impact of globalization on Norwegian crime fiction and on your writing in particular?

And second, despite the very dark descriptions of Oslo in your books, I always think I perceive a great love for the city in your writing. In one sentence, how would you describe Oslo?

Tusen takk! Anne

Oslo is a small and shy city. She is like the girl that will smile to you and be beautiful when no one else looks. Oslo may not be everybody's cup of tea, but it's my city.

Hi, could you clear up once and for all, phonetically, how your name is pronounced so we can get it right? I saw you being interviewed by Richard and Judy in the UK and they just called you Jo to sound like Joe but that isn't right is it? I like recommending your books to people but feel silly not knowing how to pronounce your name properly! Helen x

I've given up trying to make people pronounce it perfectly. So I've settled for the English sounding, Joe, which is what my father, who grew up in Brooklyn, NY, called me.

Mr. Nesbø,

I am such a huge fan. I began reading the Harry Hole books when I was pregnant and soon after I finished two of them, suddenly your name was everywhere. I've even read Headhunters which was brilliant. I'm saving Fart Powder to read to my son.

When the Hole series completed, I walked around in an emotional fog for days feeling as if a tumultuous relationship had ended and it was best for it to be over but I felt a hole (pun intended) was left. That is how beautifully written and constructed his character is. Harry is so complicated.

That said, what do you think accounts for the sudden explosion of Scandinavian mysteries abroad? What do you think separates them from the English mysteries?

You are immensely talented all around and I am a lifelong fan! I am so excited at the possibility you might see this that I can hardly type!

Sort of a lame answer... but I really don't know. Hopefully, it has something to do with the quality.

Hi Jo. First off, I absolutely love your books, many happy hours spent reading, so thank you!

My question is about Harry Hole. What I find intriguing about Harry he as a real counter-culture vibe about him. Are the references to music from your own love as a musician or are they purely for the character?

Many thanks

Sarah x

Hi Sarah. It's a combination of both. My only regret is that Harry doesn't seem to have any interest in my band. x

Ah maybe you should sneak them in!. I have picked up some new bands from the books myself. 'Her Kommer Vinteren' by Jokke and Valentinerne being a favourite.

Interesting. Where are you from?

So have you ever hung out with Karl Ove Knausgård?

We have communicated on books but not hung out.

I seem to think more and more that Scandinavia has got to be one of the coolest (set of) countries; I love the music, novels, styles etc. that come out of it.

As an insider, is there a country that you think is particularly cool or awesome in some way?

Also you're a sick novelist, keep it up!!

I tend to think that Iceland and Norway are pretty cool.

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To me they are different animals but I think most writers will always allow themselves the illusion that they are improving as a writer.

Just one small question Jo. Are you planning on continuing the Harry Hole series ? As all the fans know the ending of The Police was suggesting the next book :) Thank you very much for your work as i absolutely love all your books :) Greetings from Poland!

I haven't really decided, but that's normally the situation after having just finished a book. And the saga of Harry is not over, so we'll see.

In Phantom there was a brief reference to the television show Mad Men, and how the 1960s were a time when what didn't kill you made you stronger. How has what hasn't killed Harry Hole (alcohol, cigarettes, serial killers...) made him stronger?

I didn't say that they were right about it in the 60s.

Your books are the type of books that I just want keep reading....just wondering will there be an end to Harry? Do you write for an international audience or a Norwegian audience?

I write for myself and two friends. At least that's who I have in mind when I'm at my laptop.

what was your favorite moment from your footballing career. ever think of adding that aspect into your novels?

Probably when I was 17 and I played the first match together with my childhood heroes. No, I haven't really thought of using football in the novels, but that all depends on the story. It certainly will not be a starting point for a story. Then again, it's in my kids book Doctor Proctor and The Gold Robbery. There's a football match in it, and even an easily recognizable football star in it.

When will you be releasing your DiDerre albums in the US?

I can't really see that happening.

Can you tell us something about Occupied? Are you involved in it with basic concept or will be there more of your input?

I just contributed with the basic idea in an outline. From there on, the makers of the TV series have developed it without my interference.

Hi! I want a Harry Hole playlist, one for each book, in correct order of appearance. Will you make one? Or even make cover songs with your band? And, I love your work. Got hooked when reading Snowman, and have read everything since. Huge fan!

You have to contact Oyvind Pharo at Aschehoug for those playlists.

Jo. Such as huge fan here in the US! After Redbreast, I have not stopped reading your books. Thank you for writing. Harry Hole never bores me. Would you say that life in Norway is representative in the Hole series? Is the drug problem as bad at is seems in the latter of the Hole series? I guess my overall question is how much of the setting and details are an inspiration for your books?

Oslo has becomes one of the characters in the series. 90% of the Oslo in the books is the real Oslo, but I do add stuff that I need for the story. Oslo has a pretty ugly drug problem.

Hi Jo, I have enjoyed all of your books and am looking forward to "The Son." Will this be a one time story or the beginning of a series?

I haven't decided yet. There is a sequel in my head, but I will have to take a close look at it.

Fender or Gibson? Taylor or Martin or Takamine?

I have a Fender and a Taylor and 2 Takamine. But right now, I use a Larrivee and I'm really happy with it.

I made the awful mistake of starting the Harry Hole series out of order. Someone gave me The Snowman and I just started reading it - no questions asked - and then picked up The Leopard. Now I feel like I just need to start over and read the whole thing. I'm incapable of seeing scary movies, but genuinely appreciate and love your stories that terrify me, make me sleep with the lights on, and make my pulse race. So thanks for that.

I guess I'm just interested in the research goes into starting a new novel? How do you develop these intricate stories and characters? Do you start backwards with an ending or an idea and see what happens? You provide such detail and weave all your content into such a climax. It's truly impressive.

That question requires a really long answer. Short one would be that I have no rules of how to construct a story.

Who is writing really good mystery novels currently—besides you—who we should keep on eye out for?

If you're curious and want something a little different, check out Tore Renberg's latest.

Hi Jo! I'd like to know whether you're planning a trip to South Africa any time soon? I have many books for you to sign :-)

I've been to Johannesburg and Cape Town and I'd love to go back, but I haven't planned anything of yet.

Hi Jo! greetings from Brazil. Now, whos the best, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane or Charles Mingus?

Difficult. A bit like asking who's the greatest Pele, Maradona or Messi. Only you left out Miles Davies.

And I of course left out Zico. Won't happen again.

Have you considered doing a transmedia novel? Something like Night Vision where you take some liberties with the traditional detective novel format?

If the right idea comes along, I might try something.

Hey Jo, massive fan of your books and cant wait to read The Son.

My question: You write some pretty messed up things when it comes to murders/death, do you ever feel weird when writing such graphic scenarios? Do you have any scenes that you have written that have stayed with you after writing them?

Thanks for the AMA..please come to Bath, England on your next tour!

Yes and yes and let's see.

Which crime genre authors do you like and which have influenced you?

Jim Thompson. I read The Killer Inside Me and Pop 1280.

Just read The Son, terrific. Given he walks off in the end, is he likely to return in another book? Plus, some early books, eg. Karusellmusik and White Hotel have either/or not been translated or published in English; is this ever likely?

About Karusellmusik and White Hotel ... I haven't really thought about that.

Hi, I'm Janisa and I'm from Poland - big fan, read all your books. Propably You had been asked this many times but I still don't know how to pronounce Hary Hole. Is it Ho-leh or Hoo-la?

Hard to explain in writing, but it's not that far from the English pronunciation.

Jo, such a huge fan here in Ukraine. Lots of questions to you, but I will try to simplify: 1. What impact if any have Stephen King books had on you? And if you read his works, could you please name your favorite ones, top-3. 2. Did you have a moment while reading a novel when you thought "ok, that's what I would also like to put on a piece of paper in my own way" 3. Please name 5-10 books you recentely read or went through?

Thank you and sorry for such nerdy questions))

Yea the last several times when reading writers like Knut Hamsun, Ernest Hemingway, Charles Bukowski, Vladamir Nabakov, Ray Bradbury.

Hello JO,

Im halfway through writing my first crime-novel. I have received extremely positive feedback from a known danish author (I can't mention the name), and also people who read some chapters, always ask for more. Yet financially Im finding it difficult to juggle writing with working. Is it possible to send a half-finished novel to an agency, and maybe write up a contract or do they only take a fully finished novel seriously?

I don't know. I don't think there are any rules. Just try. Worst thing is they return it, and want you to finish it. Sorry worst thing is of course that they hate it and tell you to never contact them again.