Seppo Jokinen will not abandon Tampere
Seppo Jokinen sits in a familiar and comfortable environment, the Hervanta Library. It was here, at the gatherings of Hervanta book lovers, that Jokinen's writing career began. A supportive group of writers and library director Liisa Hakanen encouraged Jokinen to continue even when the manuscript of his first long novel was returned by publishers with a rejection letter.
– I wrote about my experiences in Australia in the early 1970s. The text was praised for its fluency, but the events and places were considered implausible, Jokinen laughs.
However, short stories and newspaper articles were written, and in 1996, his first published novel, Siimamies, saw the light of day. Koskinen became the main character of the book by chance.
– Originally, Siimamies was about a father whose daughter is murdered and who ends up seeking justice with his own hands. Detective Koskinen, who was investigating the case, was a minor character who rose to prominence. After three books, I promoted him to inspector. I had no idea that there would eventually be thirty Koskinen detective novels. Otherwise, I would have made him younger; in the first book, he was already in his forties.
His first name, Inspector Sakari Koskinen, came from Jokinen's second first name. According to Jokinen, there are many similarities between Koskinen's character and values and his own, but Koskinen is not Jokinen's alter ego.
Tampere beat Australia
Shortly after completing his military service, Jokinen left for Australia on a work visa, where he spent four years doing various jobs. Apart from that period and his time in the army in Parolannummi, he has lived in Tampere his entire life.
– I had to get back to Tampere from Australia. Tampere is in my heart, I don't want to leave here.
Jokinen was born in Viinikka, but spent his childhood in Amuri, where his father was a janitor at the art museum. He has fond memories of his childhood adventures, and there was plenty of life at home, too, as artists liked to visit and tell stories over a bottle of red wine. His mother, who worked as a handicrafts teacher in a workshop for people with developmental disabilities, often had students visiting.
The Jokinen family moved to South Hervanta in 1983, where he still lives today. At that time, Jokinen was still working at the Tampere City IT Center, and he continued to work there for ten years after the publication of his first book.
– We had a mortgage to pay, and interest rates were sky-high in the 1990s. I didn’t dare quit my day job, even though the first Koskinen sold 5,000 copies. Without the income from the books, we probably wouldn’t have made it, he recalls.
Jokinen's colleagues at the time also made it into his books, even though he tried to avoid linking his characters to real people. His coworkers were happy to be included, and those who didn't make it into the books tried to bribe the author with coffee and pastries so that they would at least be mentioned.
Jokinen enjoyed his work, but in the end he had to choose between his day job and his writing career. Being at work had given the author the necessary touch of everyday life.
– Even as a full-time author, I haven't become a recluse, and I've made new friends to go along with my old circle. Crime writers stick together in Finland, and we've had some great get-togethers where we've been able to talk freely about work. The evenings have often turned into real nights out, he laughs.
Jokinen says he knew nothing about police work beforehand. However, an old army buddy who worked as a police officer gave him good guidance. Koskinen's descriptions of police work are considered credible.
– I was at an event talking about my books, and the audience couldn't believe that I wasn't a police officer. One literary critic ended his review by asking whether all former police officers should become crime writers.
Jokinen does not say no outright
Jokinen is happy to give credit to those who have helped him along the way. From the TV series, he mentions producer Timo Kivinen and director-screenwriter Riku Suokas in particular.
After the first book, there were plans to make a TV series about Koskinen. Director Pekka Parikka was serious about the project, but it fell through due to Parikka's untimely death. Later, plans at Yle were already well advanced, but that project also fell through. However, a radio drama series about Koskinen was made for Yle.
Finally, Kivinen got in touch and drew up such a credible production plan that Neloskanava became interested. During his time as theater director at Suokas, Koskinen had gained access to the TTT stage, and he assembled a cast of actors. However, Kivinen's production company was too small for Neloskanava, so he sold the concept to Aito Media. Everyone was excited that at least one season of Koskinen could be made.
– Of course, we secretly hoped that we could make a second season, but we were happy with just one. We probably didn't even dare to imagine five seasons, Jokinen reflects.
Almost all of the Koskinen books will soon be available as TV series, and Jokinen has published his thirtieth Koskinen detective novel, in which the hero retires. He is mysterious about the future.
– Koskinen is retiring, but Jokinen is not. I have ideas in mind, and it's not good to be categorical. I won't say no to any suggestions straight away, Jokinen assures us.
