HM Holten

Born in Denmark I grew up in a scholastic family with Croatian, Swedish, and German ties. My family took a large interest in literature and music. Academia didn’t attract me but I learned to read and played several instruments before I started school. After I graduated as an opera singer, I spent years performing and teaching, which I still do. I’ve worked in all wakes of life, starting as a ground hostess in the Copenhagen Airport. After moving to London I took on Pizza Hut as well as The Danish Embassy as a cook. I also worked as an assistant dry cleaner and in a candle shop. In between I took an education in Body Massage (ITEC). I’ve designed costumes for several productions at a Children’s Opera, and managed more than one chamber music group. A favourite pastime has always been painting and I had a showcase in Guildford. Performing and teaching gave me a keen eye for details and so has travelling and living abroad. My reading habits were always versatile, something I regard as decisive, when I started to write. I kept up writing diaries, poetry, short stories and other observations, until it sparked my interest in composing a full-scale novel. My family history presented the setting and influenced the storyline of Snares and Delusions. I moved to Germany a few years ago but preserve strong connections with the UK.