You might wonder if there is anything that Ingileif Friðriksdóttir can’t do. This powerhouse author, journalist, musician and LGBTQAI+ activist sat down with GayIceland to talk about her latest novel, Ljósbrot (Refraction). Published recently, it tells the story of the loves and lives of two young women.
“The novel tells two stories at once. On one hand we have the story of Kolbrún, a presidential candidate that has to ask herself difficult questions when she meets a young woman in the elections,” says Ingileif. “On the other hand we have Dóra, a high schooler that falls in love with her best friend. In both stories the women have to choose between the path they strive to be on or being true to themselves.
The book revolves around self reflection, how we navigate fitting in with the norm but also staying true to ourselves and how much of an inner struggle it can be to look in the mirror and accept the person we see there. I also really wanted to write about women falling in love with other women.”
Authenticity and lived experience are a crucial factor in accurately representing the queer lived experience in any art form. Speaking about her inspiration for the novel, Ingileif shares that some of her own emotional experiences around being a queer person made their way onto the pages.
“A lot of the feelings I describe in the book are feelings that I’ve felt myself. Having to choose between the truth or an image was a big thing for me for a long time.
A lot of the feelings I describe in the book are feelings that I’ve felt myself. Having to choose between the truth or an image was a big thing for me for a long time. But I couldn’t close the lid on who I was. That ruins people in the end.
The inspiration of the characters and their feelings comes from my own personal experiences and the experiences of women around me. We have all been through deep personal struggles and experiences when coming out and I think that’s something a lot of straight people don’t necessarily think about. The book is a novel of course so it’s not based on actual events even though I draw inspiration from different stories. But I wanted to write about these experiences and hope the book can open some people’s eyes and be a glimpse of hope for others.”
From speaking with the author it’s clear that, to her, representation of queer people in media matters and has been a key theme in her writing, previously publishing a children’s book focused on equality and diversity.
“I’m very passionate about telling diverse stories, both to children and adults. It’s actually a big thing for me personally to create the content I would’ve needed to see when I was younger and I hope it can help some people out there.
When I was a kid there were not many people here in Iceland that I could relate to that were very public with their queerness. But I hope that I can be that for kids and young people today and that I can leave something for future generations to see themselves reflected in.
I think it’s also very important to make space for more diversity because it can prevent prejudice and bullying. We don’t understand what we don’t see.”
Going back to her new novel Ljósbrot, although Ingileif first and foremost hopes that people will enjoy the story, and that queer people will see themselves reflected in it, her aim is also to reach people who don’t already understand the queer experience.
“I hope it can benefit both people who share similar experiences and also people who don’t necessarily understand them at all. I hope it will move some people and make them better understand the struggles queer people go through just to be able to be themselves and how difficult it has been for so many of us. But first and foremost I want them to enjoy the story and have fun reading it.”
Ingileif is also keen to stress the importance of reading in the Icelandic language and of young people spending time away from the digital world, and taking a step into the fictional one.
“I’m also passionate about the Icelandic language and really want to encourage young people especially to read more. It’s such a nice thing to forget time and place and get sucked into a fictional world. For me it’s a mindfulness practice in these times where we live where society moves so fast. So I think most people could benefit from sitting down and putting their phones away and getting lost in a book.”
I hope it will move some people and make them better understand the struggles queer people go through just to be able to be themselves and how difficult it has been for so many of us. But first and foremost I want them to enjoy the story and have fun reading it.
Considering how important queer representation and literature are to Ingileif, we couldn’t let Ingifleif of the hook without asking her what other queer writers inspire her the most.
“There are so many amazing queer writers out there that have captured our reality so beautifully. I have to mention The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth, Girls Can Kiss Now by Jill Gutowitz and Untamed by Glennon Doyle. We also have Icelandic writers such as Lilja Sigurðardóttir, Júlía Margrét Einarsdóttir and Jónína Leósdóttir that I’ve read everything by. Hannah Kent is also amazing!”
Ingileif’s debut novel is bold and ambitious, holding a mirror up to the queer experience and inviting those who don’t understand to slip into a fictional world that has been reality for so many. To find more about the book click HERE.
