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Norstedts acquires Swedish rights to Death in Sunset Grove by Minna Lindgren!

Posted on 16.06.201619.07.2016

The prestigious Swedish publishing house Norstedts has acquired the rights to Minna Lindgren’s Death in Sunset Grove. The trilogy has been a great success in Finland and abroad and sold several reprints, the Swedish deal representing its 11th sold territory.

“Lately I have acquired books that deal with people in old age and different aspects of love and death. To these novels I can now count Death in Sunset Grove in which we get to know the three lovely little ninety-year-olds, Irma, Siiri and Anna-Liisa, and take part in their dealings with head-nurse and director at Sunset Grove. The three delightful creatures go about life light-heartedly, although their lives are full of death, funerals, illnesses and abuse of power. The critical and satirical way with which Minna Lindgren depicts old people’s care in today’s Scandinavia, with all its privatisations and profit-making businesses, makes you laugh in all its absurdity. And of course the reader can’t wait for Irma, Siiri and Anna-Liisa to take their revenge on the head-nurse and the director, since the reader feels that they have become ones friends. Let Irma, Siiri and Anna-Liisa rule the world!” – Gunilla Sondell, editor, Norstedts

About the book:
Siiri, Irma and Anna-Liisa are best friends and the queen bees of the retirement community Sunset Grove. When their comfortable world is upturned by a suspicious death at the community, they are shocked into doing something about it. Determined to find out exactly what happened and why, they begin their own private investigations.

Click here for the English edition of Death in Sunset Grove!

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND, Teos (Original publisher)
CZECH REPUBLIC, Albatros Media
DENMARK, Jensen & Dalgaard
ESTONIA, Varrak
GERMANY, Kiepenheuer & Witsch
FRANCE, Calmann-Lévy
ITALY, Marsilio
SLOVAKIA, Albatros Media
SPAIN, Penguin Random House
SWEDEN, Norstedts
WORLD ENGLISH, Pan Macmillan

READING MATERIALS:
English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian editions of book 1
English synopses of books 1-3
French, Spanish, Italian, and Finnish editions of books 1-3

Minna Lindgren

Minna Lindgren (b. 1963) is a freelance journalist and columnist known for her whimsical writing style and fearless approach to topics as strange as opera and death. In addition to novels, she has authored nonfiction books on classical music. In 2009 Lindgren won the Bonnier Journalism Prize for her article entitled “Father’s Death” (“Isän kuolema”).

Lindgren is best known for the Sunset Grove Trilogy, which has been sold to 11 territories, and the final part The End of Sunset Grow was nominated for the International Dublin Literature Award in 2019. She has also written three standalones: Angry Widow (2018), A Far Far Love (2019) and Hope Never Dies (2020).

Minna Lindgren’s books have been critical and commercial successes, in Finland and internationally.

Author page Author webpage

Bibliography

Minna Lindgren

Hope Never Dies

2020, Literary Fiction, Humor

Minna Lindgren

A Far, Far Love

2019, Literary Fiction, Humor

Minna Lindgren

Angry Widow

2018, Literary Fiction, Humor

Minna Lindgren

The End of Sunset Grove

2015, Literary Fiction, Humor

Minna Lindgren

Escape from Sunset Grove

2014, Literary Fiction, Humor

Minna Lindgren

Death in Sunset Grove

2013, Literary Fiction, Humor

Monster Nanny sold to Slovenia!

Posted on 14.06.201624.06.2016

The biggest Slovenian publisher Mladinska knjiga has acquired Tuutikki Tolonen’s wild middle-grade fantasy Monster Nanny alongside its sequel Monster Route. Mladinska’s list includes children’s classics from Astrid Lindgren and Roald Dahl to contemporary authors like Dav Pilkey. The beloved Monster Nanny duology is now sold in 14 territories!

“Monster Nanny is a warm and engaging story, written with humour and wit. Children will love the oddness of the strange nannies and enjoy the thrill in uncovering the mystery that surrounds them.” — Alenka Veler, editor, Mladinska knjiga

A blend of Where the Wild Things Are and Mary Poppins, Monster Nanny tells the story of a contemporary family whose daily routines are turned upside-down when a hairy, swamp-smelling creature said to be specializing in childcare shows up at their doorstep.

Click here for the full English text of Monster Nanny!

RIGHTS SOLD:
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
CHINA (simplified Chinese), Beijing Children’s Publishing House
ESTONIA, Tiritamm
FRANCE, Editions Robert Laffont (two-book-deal)
GERMANY, Carl Hanser Verlag (two-book-deal)
HUNGARY, Tessloff Babilon (two-book-deal)
LATVIA, Zvaigzne
NETHERLANDS, Luitingh-Sijthoff (two-book-deal)
ROMANIA, Editura Univers
SLOVENIA, Mladinska knjiga (two-book-deal)
SPAIN (Spanish), La Galera
SPAIN (Catalan), La Galera
SWEDEN, Rabén & Sjögren (two-book-deal)
WORLD ENGLISH, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Tuutikki Tolonen

Tuutikki Tolonen is the author of several acclaimed children’s books, plays and academic articles. For Monster Nanny she received the Arvid Lydecken award. She teaches creative writing and has worked as an editor and reporter at Vinski, Finland’s only literary journal for children. Her inspiration for the Monster Nanny duology sparked during a family breakfast. “My son Leo, then six, said: ‘I heard on the radio yesterday that all moms have to go on vacation and monsters will take their places,” she says.

Tolonen is currently writing Agnes series, of which the first book "Agnes and the Garden of Dreams" won the honorary award in Runeberg Prize 2020.

Author page

Bibliography

Tuutikki Tolonen

Agnes and the Mysterious Manor

2021, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Tuutikki Tolonen

Monster Message

2020, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Tuutikki Tolonen

Agnes and the Garden of Dreams

2020, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Tuutikki Tolonen

Monster Route

2016, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Tuutikki Tolonen

Monster Nanny

2015, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

The City of Woven Streets by Emmi Itäranta published in the UK!

Posted on 09.06.201624.06.2016

Emmi Itäranta’s sophomore novel The City of Woven Streets has been published in the UK by Harper Voyager. After her prize-winning debut Memory of Water the expectations have been high and The City of Woven Streets fulfills them gracefully:

“This is her second novel and it’s a cracker – a book of almost hypnotic beauty set in a dreamlike world of a city that is constantly awash with ebbing and flowing tides. – – Fans of Margaret Atwood will adore this book as will those who revel in China Mieville’s extraordinary imagination. Itaranta is a name to watch.” – Lovereading.co.uk

“The City Of Woven streets is far more a work of literary fiction than just another mass-produced genre piece. There’s no setup to cash in on an epic series, just a single tale told expertly and eloquently, with compelling characters and a unique style, often thought-provoking and more importantly, entertaining.” – Eamo the Geek website

See also Itäranta’s interview with Civilian Reader blog here.

The City of Woven Streets will be published in the United States in November 2016 as The Weaver.

Itäranta’s first novel, Memory of Water has been sold to 22 territories to date. We are glad to announce the newest deal: the Lithuanian rights have been sold to Nieko Rimto. Congratulations!

Contact the agency for the English editions of Memory of Water and The City of Woven Streets!

READING MATERIAL:
MEMORY OF WATER
English edition
Finnish edition

READING MATERIAL:
THE CITY OF WOVEN STREETS
English edition
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
MEMORY OF WATER
Original publisher: FINLAND, Teos
WORLD ENGLISH, HarperCollins
ARABIC, Dar Al Muna
BRAZIL, Record
BULGARIA, Perseus
CZECH, Albatros Media/Plus
DENMARK, Turbine
ESTONIA, Koolibri
FRANCE, Place des Editeurs
GEORGIA, Palitra L Publishing
GERMANY, DTV/Reihe Hanser
HUNGARY, Metropolis Media
ITALY, Sperling & Kupfer
JAPAN, Nishimura Shoten
KOREA, The Book in My Life
LATVIA, Janis Roze
LITHUANIA, Nieko Rimto
NORWAY, Gresvik Forlag
RUSSIA, Text Publishers
SPAIN, Ediciones B.
SWEDEN, Modernista
TURKEY, Dogan Egmont
FILM RIGHTS, Bufo

RIGHTS SOLD:
THE CITY OF WOVEN STREETS
WORLD ENGLISH, HarperCollins
BRAZIL, Record
FRANCE, Place des Editeurs
GEORGIA, Palitra L Publishing
HUNGARY, Metropolis Media
JAPAN, Nishimura Shoten

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 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 was sold to 21 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 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 lives in Canterbury, in the United Kingdom.

Author page

Bibliography

Emmi Itäranta

Moonday Letters

2020, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Emmi Itäranta

The Weaver

2015, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Emmi Itäranta

Memory of Water

2012, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Salla Simukka’s Sisterland sold to Latvia!

Posted on 07.06.201627.06.2016

Salla Simukka’s wonderful Sisterland, the middle-grade fantasy novel echoing The Snow Queen and Alice in Wonderland, has been sold to Zvaigzne in Latvia! Zvaigzne is also the publisher of Simukka’s 52-territories-selling YA thriller, the Snow White Trilogy, and they are happy to continue the collaboration with her new novel for younger audiences.

Rights to Sisterland are available: click here for the English sample and synopsis of Sisterland!

World English rights to Sisterland were pre-empted last week by Random House USA/Crown Books: “…Just as she has shown in her As Red As Blood teen series, Simukka continues to prove that she is one of today’s most talented children’s writers.” – Phoebe Yeh, VP, Publisher, Crown Books for Young Readers

Also Simukka’s Macedonian publisher Bata Press has acquired the rights for the second and the third installment in the Snow White Trilogy – As White As Snow and As Black As Ebony. Congratulations!

About Sisterland:
The 11-year-old Alice falls through the snow and lands in the summery world of Sisterland – and in a much-awaited adventure! In the heart of Sisterland lies a garden full of all kinds of peculiar creatures: wind faeries, dream weavers and asking flowers. Together with her new friend Marissa they must find the queen who rules Sisterland to end the snowfall in their own world.

The Finnish edition will be published by Tammi in October 2016 with delicate black-and-white illustrations by Saku Heinänen.

About the author:
Salla Simukka (b. 1981) is one of Finland’s most internationally successful authors and a winner of the Finland Prize and Topelius Prize. She writes books for young adults and children, and travels the world talking about them.

RIGHTS SOLD: Sisterland
FINLAND, Tammi (Original publisher)
LATVIA, Zvaigzne
UNITED STATES, Random House

Salla Simukka

Salla Simukka is the author of the international success story The Snow White Trilogy: rights are sold in 52 territories and in Hollywood. She has written several novels for young readers and her accolades include the Topelius Prize 2013 and the Finland Prize 2013.

Previously Simukka has written book reviews for the newspapers, translated all kinds of texts into Finnish, worked an editor at a literary magazine and as a screenwriter for a popular TV show for young audiences. These days she writes books for young adults and children, and travels the world talking about them.

Author page Author Facebook

Bibliography

Salla Simukka

Detained

2020, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

Turn off the Lights! Turn on the Lights!

2018, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

Sisterland

2016, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Salla Simukka

As Black as Ebony

2014, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

As Red as Blood

2013, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

As White as Snow

2013, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

Elsewhere

2012, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

Without a trace

2012, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Random House U.S. pre-empts Sisterland by Salla Simukka!

Posted on 01.06.201627.06.2016

We’re very proud to announce that Random House in the U.S. has acquired the World English rights of Sisterland by Salla Simukka in a pre-empt.

The Crown Books for Young Readers, imprint of Random House Children’s Books, will also newly publish Simukka’s YA hit, The Snow White Trilogy: As Red As Blood, As White As Snow and As Black As Ebony, which is sold in over 52 territories. Now they are spellbound by Sisterland, the middle-grade fantasy novel, echoing The Snow Queen and Alice in Wonderland:

“It is so wonderful that now Salla Simukka brings her richly evocative voice to middle grade readers. Sisterland is magical writing at its best. When readers enter into the Garden of Secrets, they will be treated to a mysterious fantasy world full of whimsy and wonder, the stunning backdrop for an adventure that will test the bounds of courage and the bonds of friendship and loyalty. Just as she has shown in her As Red As Blood teen series, Simukka continues to prove that she is one of today’s most talented children’s writers.”
– Phoebe Yeh, VP, Publisher, Crown Books for Young Readers

About the book:
The 11-year-old Alice falls through the snow and lands in the summery world of Sisterland – and in a much-awaited adventure! In the heart of Sisterland lies a garden full of all kinds of peculiar creatures: wind faeries, dream weavers and asking flowers. Together with her new friend Marissa they must find the queen who rules the Sisterland to end the snowfall in their own world.

The Finnish edition will be published by Tammi in October 2016 with delicate black-and-white illustrations by Saku Heinänen.

With these wonderfully happy news the Agency is thrilled to celebrate its 7^th Anniversary and warmly congratulates Finland’s most internationally acclaimed author, translated in 52 territories, the Finland Prize winner, Salla Simukka!

Click here for the English sample and synopsis of Sisterland!

RIGHTS SOLD: Sisterland
FINLAND, Tammi (Original publisher)
UNITED STATES, Random House

RIGHTS SOLD: The Snow White Trilogy
FINLAND, Tammi (Original publisher)
ALBANIA, Botime B-Books
ARAB WORLD, Arab Scientific
ARGENTINA, Nuevo Extremo
AZERBAIJAN, Qanun
BELGIUM, Clavis
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA, BTC Sahinpasic
BRAZIL, Novo Conceito
BULGARIA, Egmont
CANADA (French), Hachette Livre
CATALAN, La Galera
CHINA, Modern Press
CROATIA, Znanje
CZECH REPUBLIC, Egmont
DENMARK, Gyldendal
ESTONIA, Pegasus
FAROE ISLANDS, Bókadeildin
FRANCE, Hachette Livre
GEORGIA, Bakur Sulakauri
GERMANY, Arena
GREECE, Metaixmio
HUNGARY, Athenaeum
ICELAND, Forlagid
INDONESIA, Gramedia/Bhuana Ilmu Populer
ISRAEL, Yedioth
ITALY, Mondadori
JAPAN, Nishimura
KOREA, Gimm Young
LATVIA, Zvaigzne
LITHUANIA, Alma Littera
MACEDONIA, Bata Press
MALAYSIA, Buku Fixi
MONTENEGRO, BTC Sahinpasic
NETHERLANDS, Clavis
NORWAY, Gyldendal
POLAND, Foksal/WAB
PORTUGAL, Presença
ROMANIA, Trei
RUSSIA, Eksmo
SERBIA, Vulkan
SLOVAKIA, Verbarium
SLOVENIA, Mladinska
SPAIN, La Galera
SWEDEN, Rabén & Sjögren
TAIWAN, Emily Publishing
THAILAND, Nanmee Books
TURKEY, Altin Kitaplar
UNITED KINGDOM & COMMONWEALTH, Hot Key Books
UNITED STATES & CANADA, Random House
VIETNAM, Alpha Books

Salla Simukka

Author page Author Facebook

Bibliography

Salla Simukka

Detained

2020, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

Turn off the Lights! Turn on the Lights!

2018, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

Sisterland

2016, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Salla Simukka

As Black as Ebony

2014, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

As Red as Blood

2013, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

As White as Snow

2013, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

Elsewhere

2012, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Salla Simukka

Without a trace

2012, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

New author Max Seeck debuts with The Angels of Hammurabi

Posted on 31.05.201606.07.2016

We are excited to announce that the agency has signed a new author, Max Seeck. The newcomer’s debut thriller The Angels of Hammurabi has created unparalleled buzz before its August publication and praised as gripping, unputdownable, and simply – cool.

The story centers around Daniel Kuisma, a military intelligence officer, and Annika Lehto, a Foreign Office analyst who are sent to investigate the disappearance of an employee of the Finnish Embassy in Zagreb. The investigation gets complicated when the mysteries start to unravel: something hidden happened in Daniel Kuisma’s days as a peacekeeper during the Yugoslav Wars. Everything seems to boil down to a group called The Angels of Hammurabi. Who are they – and who is killing them off, one by one?

“Sometimes, very rarely though, while reading an unpublished manuscript, you get a feeling of astonishment and disbelief: this is too good to be true, this has to be a skillful modification of something already published. But you just cannot put your finger on exactly which books and authors.
The further I went into the manuscript, this feeling was completely replaced by another notion. No, this is too skillful. Too well written. Too original. Very aware of the thriller and crime fiction tradition, yes, but has effectively went a long way into its own powerful direction.
My years in publishing have made me cautious of the saying “I could not put it down”. I wish I could have been able to say it more often. When it is true, you definitely want to share it with other people. Because you are certain they will enjoy it too.”
— Hannu Harju, Publishing Manager of Finnish Fiction, Tammi Publishers

Max Seeck (b. 1985) works in sales and marketing during the day and writes thrillers in the night-time. The Angels of Hammurabi is his first novel.

READING MATERIALS:
Finnish manuscript
English synopsis
English sample coming soon!

Click here to request reading materials!

Max Seeck, New York Times Best Selling Author

Max Seeck - New York Times Bestselling Author of THE WITCH HUNTER.

“Another star has been added to the firmament of thriller writers,” announced Iltalehti newspaper, when Max’s debut novel was published in 2016. Four years and four books later, Max Seeck’s novels have been sold to more than 40 countries, including US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries and as far as Korea!

His debut trilogy following protagonist Daniel Kuisma sold over 40,000 copies in Finland. His new Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! In Faithful Reader, AKA The Witch Hunter (US title), book 1 of the Jessica Niemi series, Helsinki Police Detective Jessica Niemi hunts an occultist serial killer. In Evil’s Net, AKA Ice Coven, Jessica and her team follow clues hidden on Instagram to solve the disappearance of a young influencer and a manga artist. He is currently writing the 3rd book of Jessica Niemi series.

Max Seeck has a background in sales and marketing, and has lately been able to dedicate his time to his lifelong love of writing. His interests include well-conducted research, reading Nordic Noir and listening to movie soundtracks as he writes.

Author page Author webpage Author Facebook Author Instagram

Bibliography

Max Seeck

Bad Blood

2021, Crime & Suspense

Max Seeck

The Ice Coven (a.k.a. Evil's Net)

2020, Crime & Suspense

Max Seeck

The Witch Hunter (a.k.a. Faithful Reader)

2019, Crime & Suspense

Max Seeck

The Mephisto Touch

2018, Crime & Suspense

Max Seeck

The Call of Hades

2018, Crime & Suspense

Max Seeck

Angels of Hammurabi

2016, Crime & Suspense

Q & A with Katri Lipson about Detroit, love, dreams and ice-hockey

Posted on 26.05.201607.07.2016

We had a chance for a chat with the author of the critically acclaimed Detroit, Katri Lipson. The story of unrequited love, set in the world of NHL, was published in Finland in March. The versatile author’s previous novel, The Ice-Cream Man, was awarded the 2013 European Union Prize for Literature, and sold to 11 territories. Now she’s back with an examination of shattered dreams: Detroit.

What made you choose NHL as the setting of Detroit?
– Ice hockey has been my burning passion since I was a little girl and NHL is the best, toughest and most magical professional sports league in the whole universe. My first novel Cosmonaut was a story about two Russian boys dreaming of space travel, where as inDetroit I asked myself how the dream of two young men would look like in North America.

Your novels have taken place in various locations, for example in the Czech Republic, in the Soviet Union and now in the U.S. Do you think that some themes are universal, or do nations differ from each other when it comes to love, for example?
– Love is naturally an example of an endless, universal theme. It is so huge that over and over again it has to be examined in various circumstances and environments, which all bring new aspects to our existence, identity, sexuality, gender issues, etc. The locations in my novels are very important, almost as protagonists themselves, and many times they are locations of my own personal history.

You have been praised for your narrative style. Sometimes it’s been described as cinematic, sometimes compared to the Russian masters. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
– Definitely from my characters. Each time, in a wonderful and merciless way, they force me to learn a totally new dance, and that is probably why my novels are so different from each other. Each time I am struck by these odd and wild souls with their seemingly distant worlds, but each time during the writing process they manage to show me why they chose me to tell their story, which, to my horror or exultation, turns out to be my story, too.

Your books have been awarded prizes, translated into foreign languages and praised by critics and readers alike. What goals do you still have on your career you’d want to achieve?
– My goal is to be a guinea pig. I want language to make mysterious, impossible and illegal experiments with me. I want to go somewhere I was not supposed to go.

Contact the agency for the English sample & synopsis of Detroit: info@ahlbackagecy.com!