Emmi Itäranta’s breakthrough hit Memory of Water published in the Czech Republic

Newsletter_Itaranta_CzechApr242014We are happy to announce that Emmi Itäranta’s hit debut novel, Memory of Water (Teemestarin kirja, Teos 2012), has been published by Albatros Media/Plus in the Czech Republic this month. The lyrically written speculative fiction novel, translated into Czech by Michal Švec, has already earned accolades from local critics.

“The novel is an ingenious combination of science fiction and traditional utopia, reflecting the social and environmental issues of our time,” praised Literární Noviny, a major local weekly.

Rights to Memory of Water have been sold in 14 languages to date. Beyond Finland and the Czech Republic it has so far been published in Estonia by Koolibri in February. The Arabic edition will be published this spring by Dar Al Muna, while the Spanish edition will be published by Ediciones B. in June.

In late May Itäranta will visit Book Expo America in New York to celebrate the U.S and UK publication of the book (May 6th and June 10th, respectively) by HarperCollins. This month the novel received its first starred review in Publishers Weekly (read it here). City of Woven Streets, Itäranta’s independent follow-up, is scheduled for a 2015 publication.

Set in a dystopian future where water has become a prized commodity, Memory of Water tells the story of 17-year-old Noria who is set to become the next tea master in her village. When her father dies, she assumes the dangerous responsibility of guarding a hidden spring.

RIGHTS SOLD:

MEMORY OF WATER
WORLD ENGLISH, HarperCollins (2-book deal)
ARABIC, Dar Al Muna
BRAZIL, Record (2-book-deal)
CZECH, Albatros Media/Plus
DENMARK, Turbine
ESTONIA, Koolibri
FRANCE, Place des Editeurs (2-book deal)
GERMANY, DTV/Reihe Hanser
HUNGARY, Metropolis Media (2-book deal)
ITALY, Piemme
JAPAN, Nishimura Shoten (2-book deal)
SPAIN, Ediciones B.
TURKEY, Dogan Egmont

CITY OF WOVEN STREETS
WORLD ENGLISH: HarperCollins
BRAZIL: Record
FRANCE, Place des Editeurs
HUNGARY: Metropolis Media
JAPAN: Nishimura Shoten

PRIZES:
Young Aleksis Kivi Prize 2013
Kalevi Jäntti Literary Prize 2012
Teos Fantasy and Sci-Fi Literary Contest 2011
Nominated for the Tähtivaeltaja science fiction award 2013

Original publisher: FINLAND, Teos

Reading material:
English edition
German edition

Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com

About author


Emmi Itäranta

Emmi Itäranta (b.1976) holds two MA degrees, one in Drama and another in Creative Writing. Her award-winning debut novel Memory of Water (Teemestarin kirja) was published in Finland in 2012 to great accolades, followed by The Weaver (Kudottujen kujien kaupunki) in 2015. Her latest novel The Moonday Letters (Kuunpäivän kirjeet) was published in September 2020.

Itäranta’s writing has been compared to that of Ursula K. Le Guin. Her honours include the Young Aleksis Kivi Prize 2013, the Kalevi Jäntti Literary Prize 2012 and first place in the Teos Fantasy and Sci-Fi Literary Contest 2011.

Memory of Water has sold to over 25 languages to date, and it has also been nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award, the Arthur C. Clarke Award recognizing the best science fiction novel published in the UK in 2014, and the Golden Tentacle award. In addition, Itäranta has been included on the Honor List of the Otherwise Award (formerly James Tiptree, Jr. Award).

Itäranta’s CV is an eclectic mix of writing-related activities, including stints as a columnist, theatre critic, press officer and dramaturge. Her poems, short stories, articles and essays have appeared in anthologies, film magazines and science fiction magazines in the UK and Finland. She now lives in Finland after 14 years in the United Kingdom.

Bibliography


2020, Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Moonday Letters

Emmi Itäranta


2015, Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Weaver

Emmi Itäranta


2012, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Memory of Water

Emmi Itäranta