It all started on a blog.......a blog in Sweden....which
Backman writes. The character first introduced proved
popular. On Backman's blog, he wrote about situations involving his dad. For example his experience at Ikea:
"...and there was something wrong with the cart so I
kept bumbling into him & he kept telling me I "drove
it wrong." So I let him drive it & he drove it straight into
me. Four years later he still insists I can't drive Ikea
carts & that there was "nothing wrong with the cart," that
the "floor was leaning."
People identified with these stories. Backman stated in
an interview that Ove's "best qualities are from my dad,
and all of his worst characteristics are from me or someone else. Mostly me."
When Backman decided to write his novel:
"I sat at my computer and wrote it. People keep asking me, "How do you write a
novel? but I keep answering "By writing it at your desk, until it's finished.""
Backman describes himself as "a tad grumpy himself at times," like Ove. His editor suggested
that he create Ove less grumpy, a little warmer around the edges - Backman
disagreed. His gut feeling proved correct.