Rights sold in Romania to Finlandia Junior Prize winner Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff!

Maresi_newsletter_Nov202014We are excited to announce that Romanian rights to Maresi (Schildts & Söderströms 2014) by Maria Turtschaninoff,which won the Finlandia Junior Prize earlier this month, have been acquired by Editura Univers. Among other titles published by Editura Univers are works by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, J.D. Salinger and Jostein Gaarder.

“Reminiscent of The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Maresi draws its inspiration from real problems encountered by real women today. The story is captivating and empowering, and contains some of the most likable and endearing female characters we have seen in a YA book in the last decade. The reader feels like hugging these girls and protecting them to make sure that no-one ever hurts them again. This book also addresses the magic of reading and knowledge – a message we should send to teens.”
– Editor Diana Crupenschi, Editura Univers

Please contact the Agency for a full English text of Maresi!

“Fierce and gentle, violent and tender, poetic and full of action – not one or the other, but both. Maresi instills a sense of will, hope and optimism in a reader and encourages her to walk towards the light without fear.”
– Director and writer Johanna Vuoksenmaa in the Finlandia Junior Prize announcement

About the Red Abbey Chronicles by Maria Turtschaninoff:

Maresi, Book I: The Red Abbey, located on the island of Menos, is a refuge and a community for women and girls. At the Red Abbey everyone is given the freedom to pursue and develop their own talents and areas of interest. Maresi, the main character and narrator, has realized that reading and learning are the two things closest to her heart.

One day Jai, a frightened girl, arrives on the island. It is gradually revealed that Jai is running from her father’s senseless fury; she has seen her sister get buried alive for speaking to a young man, and now her father and a crew of thugs are after her. The bravery of Maresi and her friends is put to the ultimate test when they have to fight to defend both Jai and their community.

A prequel to Maresi, Book II (Schildts & Söderströms) will tell the story of the First Sisters, and how they came to flee a harem in the faraway Eastern Lands and eventually establish the Red Abbey.

A sequel to Maresi, Book III (Schildts & Söderströms) will follow Maresi after she leaves the Red Abbey and sets out to establish a school in the oppressed province of Rovas.

RIGHTS SOLD: Maresi
Original publisher: FINLAND, Schildts & Söderströms
DENMARK, Turbine
FINLAND, Tammi
ROMANIA, Editura Univers
SWEDEN, Berghs

Reading materials: The Red Abbey Chronicles
Book I, Maresi:
Full English text
Swedish edition
Book II, sequel to Maresi:
English synopsis

Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com

About author


Maria Turtschaninoff

Maria Turtschaninoff is known for crafting lyrical, historically inspired fantasy stories starring strong female protagonists. In addition to J.R.R. Tolkien, she counts Philip Pullman, Ursula K. Le Guin and C.S. Lewis among her favorite authors. She is a two-time winner of the Society of Swedish Literature Prize, winner of the Swedish YLE Literature Prize, winner of the Thank You for the Book Award, a nominee for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (2020-2024), and winner of the 2014 Finlandia Junior Prize. In 2024, Maria Turtschaninoff won the Eeva Joenpelto Literary Prize (10,000 euro award) for her literary masterpiece Inherited Land.

Her Red Abbey Chronicles YA trilogy has been sold into 30 languages, while her first adult novel Inherited Land has been sold to 23 territories. Maria has a Master of Arts in human ecology and works full-time as a writer.

Bibliography


2024, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

The Manticore

Maria Turtschaninoff


2022, Literary Fiction

Inherited Land

Maria Turtschaninoff


2018, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Maresi: Red Mantle

Maria Turtschaninoff


2016, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Naondel

Maria Turtschaninoff


2014, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Maresi

Maria Turtschaninoff