Mikael Niemi

Mikael Niemi (born 13 August 1959 in Pajala, Norrbotten County) is a Swedish author. He wrote the novel Populärmusik från Vittula (in English as Popular music from Vittula). It is the story of a young boy, Matti, growing up in Pajala in the 1960s and is recounted in a humorous way. It became a best-seller in Sweden and was subsequently translated into 30 languages and made into a film in 2004 by Reza Bagher.
Niemi has also written Svålhålet (approximately The rind hole), Kyrkdjävulen (The church devil), Mannen som dog som en lax (The man who died like a salmon) and Blodsugarna (The bloodsuckers).
He first became famous by writing poetry, and he has published many collections of poetry, such as Änglar med mausergevär (Angels with mauserguns), Med rötter här uppe (With roots up here) and his very first, Näsblod under högmässan (Nosebleed during the high mass). He has also written many works for the theatre.
Many of his books contain some Meänkieli language, the local variety of Finnish.
Niemi was educated in Luleå but currently resides in Pajala.

• Popular Music from Vittula (Swedish: Populärmusik från Vittula, 2000) (trans. into English by Laurie Thompson, ISBN 978-0-00-714550-8)
• Astrotruckers (Swedish: Svålhålet, 2004), (trans. by Laurie Thompson, ISBN 978-1-84343-278-4)