Meet Nina

Hi, I am Nina and the mother of a 4 year old girl and a 2 year old boy.

I have created these Create A Book For A Child courses because I think there are few things more enjoyable than writing and illustrating picture books about and for kids.

What is my background?

I am a professionally trained actress and theater director so I understand and have a passion for story telling. I have performed in London's West End and have directed theater that has toured the UK. I also love kids and have adapted children's stories into plays and directed theater for children, as well as having had years of experience working with kids as a drama teacher, an assistant in a kindergarten (and a nanny while studying).

Where did the idea for Create A Book For A Child come from?

I discovered the joy of writing and illustrating books once I became a mum. The idea came to me because I wanted to capture all those quirky little things my daughter likes and does before she grew up and I forgot them. I wanted her to be able to read a book in which she was the main character, in which she was celebrated. I wanted to create something that would not only mean something to her now but would bring her joy in many years to come, something that hopefully she will share with her own children.

When I began with my storybooks my daughter was two and a half and my baby boy was six months old. I wanted to find a way to show my daughter how much she means to me even though so much of my time was taken up with taking care of her baby brother.

At this point in time I also found myself craving a creative outlet (if you have children you have probably experienced the craving for something other than changing nappies and playing the games they made up). I also wanted to play, and the way I ‘played’ was by writing and illustrating a couple of books about and for my little girl (and her then baby brother).

And so I did.

Writing and illustrating a storybook solved so many desires and needs I had at the time.


After I discovered how amazing it is to write and illustrate picture books for my kids I started to teach other parents how to do the same and we all had a ball.  It was so rewarding for everyone I developed a course to teach people what I have learned and haven't looked back since.

Where do I come from?

Well, this bit is a little complicated! I was born in England to English parents but grew up in Melbourne, Australia.  I studied acting and theatre directing in London, England where I met and I married a Swede. I now live with my family in Gothenburg, Sweden.  I am told I have an English accent!

A few of my other interests and dreams (a tongue in cheek stream of consciousness)!

I love yoga and have been practicing it for about 15 years.  I played with the idea of becoming a yoga teacher for a while but theatre and stories won out!

I like to sit and work in busy coffee shops, to go to the movies and to watch 'So You Think You Can Dance' on TV.  I have a secret dream of becoming a professional dancer, but I can't really dance, so that dream may have to wait until my next life. 

When I was little I dreamed of being a princess with blonde hair and blue eyes (this now makes me laugh, especially as my 4 year old daughter, who has blonde hair and blue eyes, just wants to have red hair and freckles like Mummy, and thinks monsters are much more fun than princesses!). 

I love being in nature and hope to one day live in a big house in the country. 

Looking after the environment is a number 1 priority for me.

Oh, and I'd love to be 'cool', and have even half heartedly attempted it, but as you have probably realized by now (if you have managed to read this far!) I wasn't very successful. I am more the cheezy, idealistic type.

If you would like to ask me a question please feel free to send me an email.

nina@createabookforachild.com

Warmly,

Nina Aksell