Stieg Larsson - Author of the Bestselling Millenium Book Series

Before becoming a bestselling author, Steig Larsson was a Swedish journalist and writer. He was the second bestselling author in the world in 2008 and by March 2010, his book had sold 27 million copies in over 40 countries. What a lot of people don't know, however, is that Larsson is no longer around to enjoy the royalties from these books or experience the fame. His novels were published after his death in November 2004.

Always dedicated to political journalism, Stieg Larsson dedicated much of his job as the editor of the magazine Expo towards exposing the Swedish extreme right and racist organizations. He made a big difference by publicly debating and lecturing on the subject and as a result received many death threats from the organizations that he criticized. At age 50, he died of a massive heart attack in Stockholm. Rumors that he his death was caused by one of his many enemies has been suspected by those close to him, but no evidence of foul play was found.

Upon his death, the completed manuscripts of all three books in the Millenium Trilogy, which include The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. Larsson had made no effort until right before his death to get the books published. The books have been met with remarkable success and movies are now being made for them as well. But the question of who the royalties belong to is a questionable one.

Stieg had been the long term partner of Eva Gabrielsson, but they had never married because Swedish law requires the public release of your address, which Larsson thought would aid his enemies with their death threats. Instead, he asked for government help in masking his identity, location, government number, and other personal information as well as those of Eva. These were granted and assured more security with his job as a journalist.

As a result of being unmarried, Eva was not entitled to any of Larsson's estate after his death. A will was found by him requesting that all of his money be left to his political party: The Socialist Party. However, this will was unwitnessed so it was not valid under Swedish law. Instead, his estate and future royalties all went to his brother and father. These individuals have cut Eva Gabrielsson out of any sort of control of the books, which she resents.

The books have been translated into English, among other languages, and been met with success all around the world.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stieg_Larsson