"Philly to Sweden: A Literary Love Story" with Kim Golden | Golden Creatives Talk

Описание: In our latest episode of Golden Creatives Talk, I sat down with USA Today bestselling author Kim Golden. We explored her 20-year journey as an American “anomaly” in Malmö, the shift from literary fiction to “complicated” romance, and her decision to bypass traditional gatekeepers in favor of Substack sovereignty.


The journey from the city of brotherly love to Malmö


Kim’s story is a “sweep you off your feet” love story that began in 1993 when a “handsome Swede” eventually convinced her to move to Stockholm. We discussed the culture shock of moving from the individualism of the United States to a society that prioritizes the collective.


The “internal passport” stamps: Kim detailed the friction of learning a new language (it took about two years) and navigating a culture that values silence over small talk.


The Philly connection: Despite two decades in Sweden, Kim still carries her “Philly feistiness” and a deep nostalgia for Dalessandro’s cheesesteaks (https://dalessandros.com/) and Amish scrapple. (I was kind of expecting the cheesesteak response, but I’m intrigued by the scrapple, and want to taste this pork-and-apple experience!)


The right to nature: A powerful moment in our talk focused on allemansrätten—the Swedish common right to access nature—and how it contrasts with the “at-risk” feeling many Black and Brown people experience in the American outdoors.





“Write what you know you enjoy reading, because that’s what you’re going to enjoy writing.” — Kim Golden





The craft of writing and embracing “complicated” romance


Kim read an excerpt of her Substack work. And, while I was expecting a boy-meets-girl romance, I was pleasantly surprised by the layers in her opening paragraphs. I suppose I could have done my homework and expected more nuance and complexity from an Master’s in Fine Arts graduate. Kim’s work revolves around interracial and multicultural love stories featuring smart, complex Black women.


For all the writers on Substack and beyond, Kim dropped loads of … ahem… Golden nuggets of wisdom, such as…


Writing advice: Her thesis advisor gave her the ultimate green light: stop writing what you should and start writing what you love.


The writing process: Kim is a “visual person” who uses Pinterest mood boards and deep character “interviews” to build her worlds. I’ve heard about mood boards, but I liked the way she described her character interview process.


Erotic tension versus plot: She was refreshingly candid about why she refuses to include “gratuitous” scenes unless they move the story forward.


The Substack factor: “You-Read-As-I-Write” serial approach to writing fiction


Kim turned to serialization as a way to find her “writing mojo” again after profound personal loss, choosing the “soft community” of Substack over more aggressive platforms.


We spent time discussing her current work, A Piece of My Heart, which is a serialized novel published exclusively on Substack. You can pick up on Chapter 1 here:


The story follows Alex, a “cuddle therapist” in Vermont, and Sasha, a grieving widow navigating a family that takes up too much space .


Where to Find Kim Golden


The Hunters Grove universe: Subscribe to Kim’s Substack to read (https://kimgoldenmalmgren.substack.co...) A Piece of My Heart (https://kimgoldenmalmgren.substack.co...) as she writes it.


Official website: Explore her full catalog at kim-golden.com (http://kim-golden.com) .


Upcoming release: Mark your calendars for February 28 for the re-release of her novella, Marry Me—a standalone story that’s also part of the Hunters Grove world.


The Golden takeaway


For Kim, living in Sweden and writing “indie” isn’t just a lifestyle choice—it’s about narrative sovereignty. She is a reminder that you don’t have to be “everybody’s cup of tea” to be a USA Today bestseller; you just have to be your own.


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