Who is the creator behind The Elf Letters?

Hi, I’m Malin

I have always been a creator and storyteller.

When my two boys were little, stories became a way for us to step into other worlds together. I created treasure hunts, adventures, little mysteries and eventually a Christmas tradition that would grow far beyond our own home.

In 2018, I wrote the first Elf Letters for my sons. In Sweden, children often receive a small Advent gift each day in December. With two children, that meant finding 48 little presents every Christmas — expensive, time-consuming and, to me, not nearly as magical as a good story.

So instead, a little Christmas elf moved in. In Sweden, we call him Nisse.

He wrote letters to my boys, told them about the strange things that happened while they were sleeping, introduced them to his peculiar friends and occasionally created a little mischief around the house.

They loved the letters. And so did many other families.

The letters were published in Sweden in 2018 and over the years the story grew into several Christmas adventures and an entire world of characters.

Today, Nisse is setting off on a new journey. For children around the world, his name is Alfie.

The stories themselves were written with imagination, care and a great deal of love — long before AI-generated writing became commonplace.

Now I hope Alfie and his friends will become part of Christmas memories in homes far beyond Sweden.

Because children may forget many of the things we buy them. But magical traditions have a habit of staying with us.