Karen Strandbygaard holds a master’s degree in rhetoric and works in the publishing industry. She made her literary debut in 2017 with Don’t Look Away, which was shortlisted for the Bogforum Debutant Prize. In 2021, she published Something You Don’t Know About Longing, a quiet, emotionally resonant novel about a married couple struggling to conceive.
With her third novel, Seal Safari, published in 2025, Strandbygaard shifts into darker territory. Set during a family sailing trip in the idyllic Swedish archipelago, the story gradually takes on an unsettling tone as deeper tensions rise to the surface. Several critics have noted her skill at balancing calm, detailed settings with underlying unease. Politiken called Seal Safari “a real surprise,” while Jyllands-Posten praised her ability to build tension from seemingly small details into a haunting and memorable conclusion.
Strandbygaard’s writing often explores human vulnerability, social dynamics, and the quiet disintegration of appearances. With a growing body of work and a distinctive voice, she is steadily establishing herself as an author to watch in contemporary Danish fiction.
Books
Fiction
