Middle-Grade

Danish rights for THE MANTICORE sold to Bogoo!

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We are thrilled to announce that Danish rights for our illustrated middle grade novel THE MANTICORE by award-winning and internationally bestselling Maria Turtschaninoff and illustrator Peter Bergting have been acquired by Bogoo! The deal was negotiated by Elina Ahlbäck at Ahlback Agency. Congratulations, Maria & Peter, and Bogoo!

Here are some kind words from Bogoo’s acquiring editor Julie Pedersen:

“We’re extremely excited about publishing Mantikoran in Denmark. The book portrays all the right elements of horror and dark fantasy (nicely balanced) that we were looking for in a supernatural thriller for children; from the exciting characters to the eerie atmosphere depicted through this well-woven tale written by Maria Turtschaninoff, which has been splendidly illuminated through the beautiful illustrations by Peter Bergting. We’re absolutely thrilled to add this title to our list.”

THE MANTICORE is a supernatural thriller told from the perspective of a young girl called Li who starts suspecting that her stepmother is in fact a Manticore, an ancient monster intending on devouring the protagonist and her baby brother. She realizes that no one can help her because no one would believe her.

So as the Manticore starts fattening up the children, the protagonist hunts for a way to defeat her. She soon realizes that the only way to kill a Manticore is with a mythical object: the horn of a unicorn. But where can she possibly find one?

Rights still available in the US/UK, France, Germany…

Download the fully illustrated English reading materials here!

Orig. publication:
Mantikoran, Förlaget, Finland and Rabén & Sjögren, Sweden: September 2024.

Illustrations by Peter Bergting, approx 60 illustrations (b/w + 4-colour). 96 pp.

Reading Material:
Full English & full Swedish illustrated PDF

Rights sold:
SWEDEN: Raben &Sjögren/Förlaget (orig.), FINLAND: Tammi Finnish), Förlaget (Swedish), DENMARK: Bogoo

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.

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About author


Peter Bergting

Peter Bergting is one of Sweden’s most renowned comic book artists and fantasy and children book illustrators. His career began in the late ’80s, providing art for games such as Mutant Chronicles, Dungeons & Dragons, Vampire, and Shadowrun. In 2006 he released his first comic book for Image Comics, followed by a run on Strange Girl with Rick Remender. After several graphic novels for IDW, working with Richard Morgan, Alex Irvine, and Joe R. Lansdale, Peter landed his first job for Dark Horse Comics, providing artwork for the Hellboy Roleplaying Game.

Since 2013, Peter has been working with Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden on various titles in the Mignolaverse, such as Baltimore, Joe Golem: Occult Detective, and Frankenstein – to date, more than 44 comic books and eight graphic novels. Peter is the author and/or artist of more than 50 books, including 20 graphic novels. In addition, Peter has provided hundreds of comics, children's, and fantasy books with covers and interior artwork for authors such as Clive Barker, Philip Pullman, J. R. R. Tolkien, Michelle Paver, and Frank Frazetta. For Swedish publisher Semic, Peter has written and illustrated a total of eleven fantasy novels and artbooks.

Peter has been nominated for the August award twice, for “Kråkorna”, and “Vi kommer snart hem igen”. In addition, he has won the Adamson statuette.

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Two-book World Spanish (excl. Spain) deal for PRANKENSTEIN 1+2!

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We are thrilled to announce that Mexican publisher VR Editoras has acquired World Spanish rights (excl. Spain) in a two-book deal for PRANKENSTEIN books 1 + 2 by Kaisa Paasto and Mari Ahokoivu! The deal was negotiated by our wonderful co-agent Anna Ascolies at IMC Agencia.

Download the full English PDF for Prankenstein 1 here!

PRANKENSTEIN 2 is slated for release in Spring 2025, but until then here’s a sneak peek showing us that, despite appearances, Elmeri’s prank-ventures aren’t quite over:

 

The very popular Prankenstein is back!
Well, not quite. Since the whole debacle last spring Elmeri has sworn off pranks.

No more pranks. At all. Zilch.
But then there’s a development. Someone is pranking principal Ruustinen and making it look like it was Elmeri. And it gets worse.

Elmeri was excited for the big trip to Stockholm with Mima (the girl next door who’s “ok”) and the other student council members. But now, as punishment, Principal Ruustinen has banned Elmeri from going!
Obviously the one doing the framing is Elmeri’s arch-enemy Leo – or is it?

The original Prankenstein has to come out of retirement. You can’t rest on your laurels when great deeds await.

 

For fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Kaisa Paasto’s hilarious writing and Mari Ahokoivu’s engaging art make this highly illustrated middle grade a delight to read!

Rights still available in the US/UK, France, Italy…

PRANKENSTEIN
Tammi, March 2024, 112 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi
POLAND: Greg
WORLD SPANISH (excl. Spain): VR EDITORAS Mexico

About author


Kaisa Paasto

Kaisa Paasto spent her childhood in the north of Finland and now lives in Espoo with her husband, two children and Saku the dog. Kaisa has a master’s degree in Comparative Literature and has previously worked as translator, content specialist and entrepreneur. Apart from the Anni books she has published psychological thrillers for adults by Storytel Original.

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About author


Mari Ahokoivu

Mari Ahokoivu is a Finnish illustrator and a comics artist. She’s been drawing professionally for over 10 years, mainly drawing graphic novels and comics for children, including Sanni & Joonas and Lola Olifante. Ahokoivu loves everything cute and scary. She lives and works in Copenhagen. 

Mari Ahokoivu won the Puupäähattu Comic Book Award 2023, and together with Laura Ertimo, they won the Tieto-Lauri Award 2022 and were nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2021 for WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO?!

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The Ahlback Agency CHILDREN’S & YA Spring 2024 Rights Guide!

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We are thrilled to present our Children’s & YA Catalogue for Spring 2024: creative picture books about secret creatures, middle-grade novels about pranks and friendship, and stories about outsiderness.

We’ve picked some of the hottest titles from the catalogue for you – check them out below!

View the Spring 2024 Children’s Catalogue here!

The Secret Ones

Tuutikki Tolonen, illustrated by Anne Vasko

Unleash your creativity and discover the creatures who live right next to you in secret! 

This charming picture book invites its readers to play a game: could there be secret creatures, living side by side with humans in ordinary homes? They leave signs to those who know where and how to look.

Why are there crumbs on the kitchen floor? Perhaps you have a crumbscraper living with you! The creature itself is so shy, you can rarely see it. How about the holes in your socks; did you know they might be the result of a lintbug?
And when the remote control is lost again, maybe the amnesianos have stolen it.

PRANKENSTEIN

Kaisa Paasto, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu

If you could become a prank legend at school, is it worth going for it at any costs? This highly illustrated, bold story encourages even the most reluctant reader to keep on turning the pages!

✓  For fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid

The fifth grader Elmeri has never seriously considered a career as a prankster. But he manages to do a superbly great prank – completely accidentally. Elmeri’s cousin Robin thinks his chance has come and becomes Elmeri’s Personal Prankster Trainer. With his coaching, Elmeri will be the amazing Prankenstein and his best prank will be remembered by future generations!

Elmeri realizes that pranks may be a good opportunity to impress Mima, who lives on the same street and is quite OK. The pranks also help when Leo, the bully at school, needs to be dealt with. But when a planned prank involves a famous magician and the president of Finland, Elmeri has to ask himself: can you take it too far?

The Secret Staircase

Salla Simukka, illustrated by JP Ahonen

What would you do if you found a secret room in your house? 

✓  Grounded fantasy with a classic feel for fans of Michael Ende and Maria Gripe

An exciting and touching novel about two boys, who live in the same house but in different realities. Can their friendship cross the border separating two worlds?

10-year-old Alexis’ family moves to a house where he gets the attic room. Another 10-year-old-boy, Max, moves to a house, where a great basement room is waiting for him. Soon the boys notice something weird in their houses: Alexis hears voices under the floor, even though they don’t have a basement. Max’s ears pick up someone playing an instrument from the attic, even though no one is there.

When the two boys finally meet, they realize that they can visit each other’s worlds at night time. But will their friendship endanger everything when the worlds start to blur into each other?

The Invisibles

Sanna Isto

A haunted house. An Invisible boy. A summer of mystery and self-discovery.

✓  Nominated for the Finlandia Prize 2023 and Topelius Prize 2024

Spending her vacation away from the city and her friends was not what Pii had in mind for the summer. And then even the holiday house turns out to be strange and peculiar. Who is the boy who moves around the house as if it were his own, and why can’t anyone else see him?

Pii’s experience of being an outsider turns into a strength, because she sees things that others don’t notice. Soon she finds herself in the middle of a secret that overshadows the sunny idyll of the small village. Are the thefts of vacation homes and the unsolved death that happened half a year ago related? And what does the mysterious boy in the green cap have to do with all this?

Pii has to look for answers deep below the surface, and while diving for them, she also has to face herself. A vacation Pii expected to be boring turns into a journey of self-discovery, and in the end nothing – not even the ghosts – is what it seemed at first.

SALAISET
WSOY, March 2024, 40 pp.
Age group: 3+
Reading materials: Full English text, Finnish edition

Rights sold: FINLAND: WSOY(orig.)

 

PRANKENSTEIN
Tammi, March 2024, 112 pp., b&w illustrations
Age group: 7+
Reading materials: Full English text, Finnish edition

Rights sold: FINLAND: Tammi(orig.)

 

POIKA ULLAKOLLA, POIKA KELLARISSA
Tammi, March 2024, 200 pp., b&W illustrations
Age group: 9+ years
Reading materials: English sample and synopsis, Finnish edition

Rights sold: FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)

 

NÄKYMÄTTÖMÄT
Tammi, April 2023, 293 pp.
Age group: 12+ years
Reading materials: English smaple & synopsis, Finnish edition

Rights sold: 
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)