Life-Writing Salons for Seniors in Stockholm's Most Elegant Venues

Karyn McGettigan

Founder & Salonnière

I am a Stockholm-based writer and communications specialist with a Master of Arts in French Language & Literature. As a dix-huitiémiste (a specialist in 18th-century France), I have long been drawn to the idea of literary salons: intimate circles where people gather to share ideas and stories.

I graduated from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Broadcast Journalism and Media Communications, and I have worked as a journalist in both Canada and Europe. Since 2010, I have also had the privilege of working as an International Correspondent with the Foreign Press Association of Sweden. I am a published author, translator, and editor, and over the years I have edited, translated, and contributed to more than fifteen books. My writing has been translated into eight languages, and I wrote Pathfinders: In Their Own Words, a collection of life stories from 21 of the most inspirational people who graduated from the Stockholm School of Economics.

Over the years, I have had the honour of interviewing people from many walks of life: including world leaders, captains of industry, Olympic athletes, and cultural figures. Some of the journalists I most admire and respect have joked that I am never afraid to ask the right questions and that I can gently pull out the heart of anyone’s life experience. I receive this kind of praise with gratitude, and I credit those who taught me the power of listening and the importance of not being afraid to write the truth.

Interviewing people and writing their life stories has convinced me that we all have stories worth telling — and many of us simply need a gentle, guiding hand to help us find the words. SALON DE VIE grew out of my desire to create a warm, dynamic place in some of Stockholm’s most beautiful venues, where guests are welcome to connect over delicious food, share their thoughts and ideas, and let their stories live on forever.