Heli Laaksonen published his first nature book, in which he examines the wonders of nature in his own humorous way. In the book, Laaksonen, known for his dialect, uses universal language.
The reason is that book sales have dropped like a cow’s tail. Laaksonen says he is a writer who likes his books to be read.
– When more and more people have told me that they don’t read anymore, I thought that I won’t write anymore.
Although Heli Laaksonen is Finland’s most widely read poet, the sales of his books have clearly decreased. Only 5,000 copies of the first work.
– Surely an economist here would scream that a good person should change his field now, Laaksonen laughs.
From poet to nature advisor
When the corona pandemic hit, Laaksonen went to study at Livia Vocational College to become a nature and environmental advisor.
– I had to come up with something to do so that I wouldn’t get bored and stop sighing, he explains his decision to study.
Laaksonen says that he has always been a nature person and feels that he is just as much nature as, say, an apple tree.
The professional degree made the wonders of nature blossom into an even bigger flower.
– The more you know about nature, the more you develop a great affection for it. Nature starts to open up like a new book when you study it enough.
A sketch is a sketch of nature
The nature advisor’s studies made Heli Laaksonen’s poetic vein pulsate towards a new conquest of territory.
His latest book is a poetic nature book, which is mainly written in common language.
Laaksonen, who is known for his dialect, says that he is sometimes tired when people only want to talk to him about dialects.
– When you have been talking about dialect issues for 22 years, sometimes you feel like talking about something else, even nature.
Heli Laaksonen celebrated the publication of his new book with a combined nature evening and 50th birthday celebration. The packed Turku City Theater was chosen as the venue.
– Age is just a number, but it does give some indication of what you are capable of. I can’t be a ballet dancer anymore at this age.
However, in Laaksonen’s opinion, he can maintain his own ability to function if he wants to.
– Less lying on the sofa and more jogging in nature, then you will be a younger person.
But how serious was Heli Laaksonen in the end that he would really stop writing?
– After my degree, I would now have the option to stop writing. But because I love writing, I can’t give it up.
Laaksonen says that in the end the decision to continue writing was really clear.
– I have a passion for the Finnish language and preserving dialects, and you can’t preserve them unless you do something about it, for example publish it.