Deals round-up: monsters, goddesses, and rave reviews

Summer is starting and we’ve had an exciting spring also in the children’s and young adults’ book front with many deals and good reviews. See below for the exciting news, and don’t forget to get in touch with us for reading materials!

Monster Nanny sold to Turkey
SEV Redhouse Kidz has acquired the Turkish rights to our middle-grade hit: “Monster Nanny is one of the books that draw the reader instantly into its unordinary world where some children are looked after by reluctant monster nannies. There is a lot of humour that makes you smile and lots of moments – like Monster Nanny and Mimi’s hugs! – that touch your heart. Such emotions in such a rich and well-structured text filled with great adventure…” said editor Gökçe Ateş Aytuğ on acquisition. The second book in the series, Monster Route, was also just published in France!

Freya published in the U.S. and sold to Poland
Matthew Laurence’s Freya, a YA adventure starring the Norse goddess Freya fighting her enemies in the modern world, was published by Macmillan to great reviews: “Move over, Percy Jackson, there’s a new girl in town,” wrote Booklist. After Bologna Book Fair the novel’s Polish rights were snapped by the renowned YA publisher Jaguar.

Maresi’s follow-up Naondel sold to Estonia
Varrak, Maria Turtschaninoff’s Estonian publisher has acquired the rights to Naondel, the prequel of the “Finnish feminist fantasy”Maresi. The UK edition of Naondel has received nice reviews in the press: “A prequel that introduces the founding sisters of the all-female Red Abbey… their interwoven stories told with unflinching clarity, rise to a vengeful climax with the glow of the red moon, and will stay with the reader long after the book is closed,” wrote Guardian.

Arabic rights of Sisterland sold to Arab Scientific Publishers
Following the Sharjah Book Fair in the UAE we closed a deal for the Arabic rights of Salla Simukka’s middle-grade novelSisterland. This marks the ninth deal for the novel, which will be published later this year in English by Random House US.

Bookwitch published in Finland
The YA duology Bookwitch/Witchbook by Anne Leinonen belonged to one of our most requested titles at the Bologna Book Fair. The combination of love, real life teenager issues and magic in a parallel city of Helsinki hasn’t left the reviewers cold: “Bookwitch feels like a true literary celebration. […] Leinonen nicely weaves the literary classics into the story, playing with references to familiar stories and books.” (Luetaanko tämä blog)

Little Brother’s Magnificent Expedition gathers great reviews
Leena Parkkinen and Jussi Karjalainen’s collaboration children’s novel finds its readers in Finland. “Parkkinen’s language is rich and entertaining, the characters deliciously built. Jussi Karjalainen’s illustrations capture the exciting atmosphere of the story very nicely,” writes Lastut blog.

About author


Anne Leinonen

Anne Leinonen (b.1973) is a multiple-award winning, key author, tutor and editor of Finnish science fiction and fantasy. Her most recent publication is the first volume of a YA urban fantasy duology, Bookwitch (Kirjanoita), which will be followed by Witchbook (Noitakirja) in 2018.

Leinonen’s short stories have been published in magazines and anthologies, earning her several Atorox awards (voted for by fans). Her science fiction novels, Viivamaalari and Ilottomien ihmisten kylä were published to positive reviews, as well as a trilogy, Routasisarukset, written in collaboration with Eija Lappalainen, In addition to writing YA and adult fiction, she has now started to work on audio and television dramas.

Anne Leinonen moves fluidly between science fiction and fantasy. Her texts deal with themes of otherness and unfamiliarity, as well as conflicts between the community and the individual. Nature plays an important part in her work, as a vehicle for the story, the stage of action and on a symbolic level. Leinonen’s prose is taut, with no superficial descriptions. Instead, she takes her readers right in to the middle of events and the lives of her characters. Her use of language shows talent and uniqueness, favouring experimentation with different styles and often works on several pieces at the same time. She is especially renowned for her collaborations with other writers.

About author


Jussi Karjalainen

Jussi Karjalainen is a graphic designer, illustrator and co-founder of Napa Books. His distinctive artwork has featured widely across books, music and print media, and been exhibited at showrooms and galleries.

About author


Leena Parkkinen

Leena Parkkinen has authored three prize-winning adults’ novels set in 20th century Europe, often about people living at the margins society. Her skillful use of detail is often imbued with an element of suspense. She has also written two children’s story books.

Parkkinen has received numerous literary awards, such as Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize for the best debut (2009), Academic Bookshop’s Bestselling Debut Prize (2009), Laila Hirvisaari Award (2010) and the Kalevi Jäntti Prize (2013), in addition to being nominated for the Tulenkantaja Export Prize 2017. Her works have been translated into seven languages to date.

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.

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.