German rights for THE STAGER, of River Delta series, acquired by Bastei Lübbe

We are thrilled to announce that German rights for, THE STAGER, the sixth and final book in Arttu Tuominen’s bestselling and acclaimed River Delta series have been acquired by BASTEI LÜBBE. The deal was negotiated by Martti Berner. Congratulations, Arttu, and Bastei Lübbe!

Previously THE STAGER was acquired by Modtryk in Denmark and De Fontein in the Netherlands.

A serial killer wants to be a director. You too can end up on stage. In Arttu Tuominen’s chilling detective story, the curtain is a guillotine.

A family – father, mother and primary school-age daughter – is watching TV together on a remote forest farm. The dog is lounging peacefully on the carpet at the family’s feet. What could be more idyllic? Except that they have all been killed and embalmed. Soon another family is found, equally immortalized. The Pori criminal police unit quickly realize there’s a serial killer who finds the presentation of the victims more important than the murders themselves. 

Bastei Lübbe will publish the fourth book of the series, SHAMED, in late October.

THE STAGER was the bestselling domestic book in August. The book has also once again received high praise for the author, Arttu Tuominen:

The 300-page suspense novel progresses rapidly to its resolution played out at Pori Theatre. The memorable final scene is worth waiting for.
– Jari Olavi Hiltunen, Satakunnan Kansa

The Stager is a top-notch showcase by an experienced, yet anything-but-predictable writer, demonstrating that when you have the skill, you can do anything. The book’s tension builds moment by moment toward the anticipated final bang…
–Kai Hirvasnoro, Kansan Uutiset

We invite you to click here to download reading materials for THE STAGER, and the ‘River Delta’ series!

Rights still available in: France, Italy, Sweden…

Publication Info
Lavastaja, 320 p, August 2024.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
DENMARK: Modtryk
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
NETHERLANDS: De Fontein

About author


Arttu Tuominen

Arttu Tuominen lives in Pori and works as  an environmental inspector. During the evenings, he writes dark and tough crime novels. Tuominen is skilled at giving a strong voice to both sides of the law, a humane and a recognisable voice.

Bibliography


2024, Crime & Suspense

The Stager

Arttu Tuominen


2023, Crime & Suspense

The Liberator

Arttu Tuominen


2022, Crime & Suspense

Shamed

Arttu Tuominen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Silenced

Arttu Tuominen


2020, Crime & Suspense

Jeopardy

Arttu Tuominen


2019, Crime & Suspense

The Oath

Arttu Tuominen

Tommi Kinnunen secures new international deals: ‘PINE BARK’ to Estonia and ‘DEFIANCE’ to Hungary

Following the recent success in acquisition of the Japanese rights for PINE BARK and the DEFIANCE film news, we are thrilled to share more exciting news about our award-winning #1 bestselling author, Tommi Kinnunen:

The Estonian rights to PINE BARK have been acquired by Varrak. Additionally, Hungarian rights to DEFIANCE, Kinnunen’s 2020 masterpiece, were secured by Magyar Napló Publishing Company. DEFIANCE will be translated from Finnish to Hungarian by Béla Jávorszky. These two deals were closed by Julia Bogen.

PINE BARK topped Finland’s bestseller list within a month of its debut with over 30,000 copies sold. It is a densely atmospheric and arrestingly written novel about women’s fates in times of war, the difficulty of giving up, and how the proximity of death can change a person.

Rights to Tommi Kinnunen’s previous novels have sold to 22 territories, and rights for PINE BARK and for DEFIANCE are still available in the UK/US, Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands…

We invite you to click here to download all reading material for PINE BARK.

Click here to download material for DEFIANCE.

 

Pine Bark:
Publication Info:
Kaarna, 205 p., April 2024

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
ESTONIA: Varrak
JAPAN: Shinchosha

Defiance:
Publication Info:
Ei kertonut katuvansa, 351 p., 2020

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
CROATIA: Hena
DENMARK: Gyldendal/Cicero
ESTONIA: Varrak
HUNGARY: Magyar Napló Publishing Company
LATVIA: Zvaigzne
LITHUANIA: Alma Littera
NORTH MACEDONIA: Antolog
NORWAY: Pax Forlag
POLAND: Poznanskie

About author


Tommi Kinnunen

Tommi Kinnunen (1973) was born in Kuusamo in northeastern Finland and currently lives in Turku, where he works as a teacher of Finnish language and literature. His works include novels, opera librettos, short stories, and a non-fiction title on the changes taking place in the Finnish school system.

Kinnunen’s novels give a voice to those whose stories have been kept untold. He made a stellar debut with Where Four Roads Meet (orig. Neljäntienristeys) which was nominated for the Finlandia Prize and won the Young Aleksis Prize in 2015. The following novels The Light Behind the Eyes (orig. Lopotti), The Glass River (orig. Pintti), and Defiance (orig. Ei kertonut katuvansa) have been both critical and commercial successes. His books have been translated into 20 languages.

During his spare time, Kinnunen likes to refurbish old buildings.

Bibliography


2024, Literary Fiction

Pine Bark

Tommi Kinnunen


2022, Literary Fiction

Dark Moons

Tommi Kinnunen


2020, Literary Fiction

Defiance

Tommi Kinnunen


2018, Literary Fiction

The Glass River

Tommi Kinnunen


2016, Literary Fiction

The Light Behind the Eyes

Tommi Kinnunen


2014, Literary Fiction

Where Four Roads Meet

Tommi Kinnunen

Happy Publication Day to MILO! Film updates, extended English sample, and more…

It’s official: MILO by Max Seeck, New York Times bestselling author and Spiegel bestselling author, has hit the shelves in Finland, and we’re thrilled to say it’s his best work yet!

If you’re not fluent in Finnish, don’t worry – we have a new extended English sample of 50 pages for you.

For those who don’t know, Max Seeck is one of Finland’s top selling crime authors, with over 400,000 copies sold. His popular Jessica Niemi series has sold in 40 territories and Hollywood, where Stampede Ventures is developing The Witch Hunter an international TV series. Needless to say, MILO does a great job following in these footsteps!

By the way, the launch party Wednesday night was a blast, and you can see our great photo of Elina and Max on the sidebar!

 

Also stay tuned (forgive the pun) for some film updates. But first, a little bit about the new series…

From New York Times and Spiegel bestseller Max Seeck, MILO begins a new crime series, with a complex and relatable main character, criminal profiler and art gallerist Milo Perho. Bodies with chess pieces in their mouths – Milo needs to understand the game of chess in order to catch a killer.

A body of a young woman is found painted in all-white representing a piece of chess. The chief inspector receives an anonymous letter with a short message: Bxc6. This indicates a chess move and along the location where the body was found the investigators feel that more chess moves might be on the way.

Milo struggles to form a clear picture of the killer. He soon understands that in order to help the police force to catch the killer he needs to understand the game of chess better. As much as he hates it, he decides to face the ghost of the past: her mother’s former partner Stanislav who happens to be a European champion in chess…

Book 2: The sequel to MILO will deepen the story between Milo and Stanislav and enlighten the past events that led to current situation. The main storyline will happen in the present and will be about espionage and assassination of a person of high status.

As for film updates: the adaptation is quickly progressing! Solar Films is developing this feature film targeted toward an international audience. As of Fall 2024, the film will already be in pre-production, with shooting tentatively planned for 2025/2026.

Rights to MILO have already sold to Bastei Luebbe in Germany, Mera Editions in France, and Aschehoug in Norway!

Click here to download English reading materials for MILO!

About author


Max Seeck, New York Times Best Selling Author

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

Winner of the prestigious Glass Key Award 2023 for his novel THE LAST GRUDGE.

“Another star has been added to the firmament of thriller writers,” announced Iltalehti newspaper, when Max’s debut novel was published in 2016. 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 Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! 2024 will see the release of his independent novel MILO, which is already creating buzz internationally with several rights pre-empts ahead of the Finnish publication!

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.

Bibliography


2024, Crime & Suspense

Milo

Max Seeck


2022, Crime & Suspense

Ghost Island

Max Seeck


2021, Crime & Suspense

The Last Grudge

Max Seeck


2020, Crime & Suspense

The Ice Coven

Max Seeck


2019, Crime & Suspense

The Witch Hunter

Max Seeck


2018, Crime & Suspense

The Mephisto Touch

Max Seeck


2018, Crime & Suspense

The Call of Hades

Max Seeck


2016, Crime & Suspense

Angels of Hammurabi

Max Seeck

Estonian rights for Little Mouse and the Birthday Present acquired by Rahva Raamat!

We are happy to announce that Little Mouse is going strong in Estonia, continuing the international bestselling picture book series with book 8: Little Mouse and the Birthday Present! Estonian rights were acquired by Estonian publisher Rahva Raamat in a deal closed by Julia Bogen at the Ahlback Agency.

Further news for Little Mouse is that, just before Little Mouse’s Holiday publishes in Poland, Riikka Jäntti attended the children’s literary festival there in Rabka and was then interviewed by Radio Kraków! Thank you to Poland for such a warm reception.

Finally, the best part about Little Mouse is that you can read these books as standalone titles in any order! That said, here is a little bit about Little Mouse and the Birthday Present:

At last, DING DONG! Little Mouse opens the front door for the birthday guests. Little Mouse receives delightful presents from his friends and then it is time to feast: the birthday cake and other desserts are to everyone’s taste. Games and quizzes are also a part of Little Mouse’s birthday. The next morning Little Mouse gets a present from his mother, but ends up causing a surprising amount of trouble, especially to Mom!

Rights for the series have been sold in 21 territories, but gaps for the Little Mouse series still available in the Netherlands, Norway, Greece…

Click here to download all reading materials for the Little Mouse series!

 

About author


Riikka Jäntti

Riikka Jäntti, a 2003 graduate of University of Industrial Art of Helsinki, now part of Aalto University, is a Helsinki-based illustrator and author who has created art for both nonfiction and fairy tale books for children. Her first children’s book was published in 2005. Jäntti is best known for the adorable Little Mouse series that has publishers in 20 territories, including Australia, Nepal, and China!

In her illustrations, she uses pen and ink as well as watercolor and gouache. In 2009 Jäntti won the first-ever Tieto-Lauri, an award for children’s and juvenile non-fiction, for her illustrations in Viidakkotanssi (Jungle Dance). The book was written by Markku Löytönen about the explorer Rafael Karsten in Ecuador.

Bibliography


2024, Chapter Books (3-6 Years)

Little Mouse's School Picture Day

Riikka Jäntti


2024, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes on a Cruise

Riikka Jäntti


2023, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Welcomes Spring

Riikka Jäntti


2023, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes to the Museum

Riikka Jäntti


2022, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Fables

Riikka Jäntti


2022, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse and the Birthday Present

Riikka Jäntti


2021, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes Camping

Riikka Jäntti


2020, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Summer

Riikka Jäntti


2019, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Winter

Riikka Jäntti


2018, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Holiday

Riikka Jäntti


2017, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Christmas

Riikka Jäntti


2016, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Helps Out

Riikka Jäntti


2015, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse

Riikka Jäntti

Slovakian rights to MONSTER ROUTE acquired by Arkus!

A new Slovakian rights deal is in for one of our biggest kid’s series! Slovakian publisher Arkus just acquired rights for MONSTER ROUTE (book 2 of the Monster Nanny trilogy) by Tuutikki Tolonen and illustrated by Pasi Pitkänen, in a deal closed by Martti Berner at the Ahlback Agency.

The Monster Nanny trilogy is an international bestseller with a Hollywood movie in development co-produced by Ridley Scott! It’s the whimsical, exciting combination of Mary Poppins meets Where the Wild Things Are.

For any who are late to the monster party, here’s a bit about book 1 MONSTER NANNY:

The Hellman children must make do with a nanny while their mother is away at a spa. The only problem? Their nanny is a monster.

Grah is hairy, dusty, and doesn’t talk. When the siblings discover that other neighborhood kids have been left with similar creatures, they start to wonder where the monsters came from. With the parents away, the kids work together (between bickering) to figure out the mystery of the monsters.

Tolonen seamlessly intertwines contemporary life with a world full of strange creatures. Monster Nanny is at once a refreshing change of pace and a return to timeless adventure.

 

You can click here to access all reading material for the MONSTER NANNY trilogy!

Rights are still available in the UK, Israel, Iceland, Thailand…

Publication Info:
Mörköreitti, Tammi, 300p

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
ALBANIA: Westprint
BRAZIL: DarkSide Books
BULGARIA: Robertino
CHINA: Beijing Publishing Group Co., Ltd.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Portál, s. r. o.
ESTONIA: Tiritamm
FRANCE: Robert Laffont
GERMANY: Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & CO. KG.
GREECE: Patakis Publishers
HUNGARY: Tessloff Babilon
JAPAN: SEKAIBUNKA Publishing
KOREA: Seosawon Co., Ltd.
LITHUANIA: Nieko rimto
NETHERLANDS: Luitingh-Sijthof
NORWAY: Gyldendal
POLAND: Vesper
ROMANIA: Editura Univers SRL
RUSSIA: Rosman
SLOVAKIA: Arkus
SLOVENIA: Mladinska Knjiga Zalozba
SWEDEN: RABÉN & SJÖGREN
UKRAINE: School Publishing House

About author


Pasi Pitkänen

Pasi Pitkänen has become known for his richly detailed illustrative work on several children’s books such as the extremely popular Monster Nanny trilogy by Tuutikki Tolonen. He has also worked at Rovio Entertainment as an illustrator, character designer, and graphic designer. Pitkänen is the illustrator of the popular Kepler62 series and the author of two Children's titles Monster Tournament and The Island of Lost Animals.

Among Pitkänen’s hobbies are quantum physics, people-watching, B-movies, insects and baking.

About author


Tuutikki Tolonen

Tuutikki Tolonen is the author of several acclaimed children’s books, plays and academic articles. She teaches creative writing and has worked as an editor and reporter at Vinski, a Finnish literary magazine for children. For Monster Nanny she received the Arvid Lydecken award.  Her inspiration for the Monster Nanny trilogy 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.

Her other bestselling series is the Agnes-series, of which the first book "Agnes and the Garden of Dreams" was in 2021 nominated for the Arvid Lydecken Award, received an honorable mention for the Runeberg Junior Award, and won the Luku Varkaus Award. Tolonen tells that the inspiration for Agnes comes for her interest for weird and inexpicable tales, ghost stories and mysteries: "I wanted to write a book my daughter Aili, then nine, would like to read - not too long, not too scary, but very curious."

Polish rights for THE HORNED GOD by Magdalena Hai acquired by GREG!

We’re thrilled to announce that Polish rights for THE HORNED GOD by Magdalena Hai were acquired by Polish publisher GREG, in a deal closed by Martti Berner at the Ahlback Agency!

THE HORNED GOD quickly became a bestseller in Finland, with 6000 copies sold, and now this atmospheric YA horror is available in 9 different languages.

It won the Finlandia Prize for children’s and YA literature of 2023, and was nominated for the Topelius Prize of 2024, with this praise from the jury:

17-year-old Lauri wakes up in hospital after a car accident. His mother has deceased, and father is in a coma in hospital. The horror story beautifully links the descriptions of recovering from a big loss, the grueling presence of awful things, the guilt caused by mistakes and the act of letting go. The novel which influences the reader on many levels also describes in a lively matter the everyday life of teenagers, experiences of mental health struggles, and racism. Below the horror elements there is an undercurrent that ties people together. At times in a painful way.

We invite you to click here to download all reading materials for THE HORNED GOD

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

Publication Info:
Sarvijumala, Otava, 162p.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
DENMARK: ABC Forlag
ESTONIA: Päike & Pilv
HUNGARY: Metropolis
NORWAY: Gursli Berg Forlag
POLAND: Greg
SLOVENIA: Didakta
SWEDEN: Epix
UKRAINE: Bohdan

About author


Magdalena Hai

Magdalena Hai is an award-winning author, lover of cross-genre fiction and all things strange. Her fiction often combines elements of sci-fi, fantasy and horror.

Her Little Shop of Nightmares series has been sold to 30 territories around the world. Among Hai's many accolades are winning the Finlandia Prize for children's and YA literature and the Finnish Literary Export Prize, and being nominated  the Nordic Council Children & Young People's Literature Prize.

Besides being an author, Hai teaches writing and is an active member and editor in the publishing co-operative Osuuskumma.

Bibliography


2023, Chapter Books (6-9 Years)

Little Shop of Nightmares 4: The Crystal Skull

Magdalena Hai


2023, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

The Horned God

Magdalena Hai


2021, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

The Spell of Iset

Magdalena Hai


2021, Chapter Books (6-9 Years)

Little Shop of Nightmares 3: Sticky the Horrible Snowman

Magdalena Hai


2020, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Miss Swift’s Weird and Wonderful House

Magdalena Hai


2019, Chapter Books (6-9 Years)

Little Shop of Nightmares 2: The Mystery of the Missing Teeth

Magdalena Hai


2018, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

The Third Sister

Magdalena Hai


2018, Chapter Books (6-9 Years)

Little Shop of Nightmares 1: The Terrible Tickling Powder

Magdalena Hai


2017, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Grumblebelly Cat

Magdalena Hai


2012, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

The Beggar Princess

Magdalena Hai

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS rights sold to Germany in a two-book pre-empt deal!

The Kristinestad Murders by Kaisu Tuokko is on a roll, with German rights just pre-empted by Aufbau Verlage in a two-book deal! Aufbau has established themselves over the years as a huge crime/thriller publisher, so we know  REVENGE and ALONE will be in the best of hands. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at the Ahlback Agency.

If you haven’t heard the news, Swedish (and Finnish-Swedish) rights were recently acquired by Förlaget so we’re thrilled to see The Kristinestad Murders continue its hot streak.

The series has been a huge domestic success at over 30,000 copies sold, and with all the new readership it’s only going up, fast.

We invite you to click here to download all reading materials for THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS!

Rights to THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS still available in the US/UK, Italy, Norway and Denmark…and Film & TV rights are available!

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS began with REVENGE in 2023, followed by ALONE in 2024. You can read more about each title below:

Book 1: REVENGE
The body of a young man is discovered in the sea, and the criminal investigator Mats Bergholm is responsible for the case. At the same time, journalist Eevi Manner is sent to dig out a scoop of the event for the local newspaper. Both are surprised to find each other on the grim beach: the two have a past together – a past which they now need to set aside to solve the case.

Eevi is contacted by a young woman, and it becomes clear that the death is just one link in a chain of events unfitting the picturesque town. The full picture becomes clearer and clearer, although the secrets of the locals are buried deep. Social media and recordings can offer help in solving the case, but the lies and muddy memories of the people involved cast doubts in every direction.

Book 2: ALONE
An elderly woman is found dead in Kristinestad, malnourished, dirty, and abused. She’s wearing the socks of the local nursing home, but the people there don’t recognise her. No one knows who she is.

Mats, the local police officer, starts investigating the case with his team, but establishing the identity of the murder victim proves tricky. Mats also has issues in his personal life, and same goes for the journalist Eevi, who struggles to get pregnant. While Eevi uncovers harsh truths about the treatment of the elderly in Kristinestad, Mats and his team find another body – and it seems Mats’ brother is also involved in the crime.

 

Publication Info

Book 1: Kosto, 298 p., June 2023
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.), Förlaget (Finnish-Swedish), SWEDEN: Förlaget, GERMANY: Aufbau

Book 2: Yksin, 300 p., June 2024
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.), GERMANY: Aufbau

About author


Kaisu Tuokko

Kaisu Tuokko’s aim is to create a series where interpersonal relationships and the idyll of a small town are mixed with cruel events – using psychological tension to build stories about how badly we know the families or friends of our neighbors, of our loved ones. Everyone has secrets, but some of them are more dangerous than others.

Tuokko loves the stories of strangers, secrets of small towns, rainy autumn evenings, and the Swedish language. She lives in Helsinki, and has named her main character after her grandparents.

Bibliography


2024, Crime & Suspense

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #2: Alone

Kaisu Tuokko


2023, Crime & Suspense

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #1: Revenge

Kaisu Tuokko

Czech rights for PUSH, PACE, POSITION, PRAY by Miika Nousiainen sold to Host!

Great news coming from one of our longtime authors: Czech rights for PUSH, PACE, POSITION, PRAY by Miika Nousiainen have been acquired by Host! The deal was closed by Martti Berner at the Ahlback Agency.

Here’s a bit about this humorous and charming anti-midlife crisis novel based on the author’s real-life experiences, blurring the lines between literary and autofiction:

When a man turns 50, he either gets a motorcycle or he does a 400 meter run. For Miika Nousiainen, who does not have a driver’s license and is not interested in rebellion, the only option is the track tour and his goal: the 400m run World Championship in Gothenburg.

Will Miika shape up into a real lightweight frequency runner? Even become the Finnish record holder in his age group?

For any of you who love running or simply relate to the “what do I do now?” of aging, we hope you enjoy PUSH, PACE, POSITION, PRAY.

You can click here to download all reading material for this book. We also recommend you check out his novels ROOTS and FACELIFT for more of Miika Nousiainen’s tragicomical cleverness.

Rights to PUSH, PACE, POSITION, PRAY still available in all territories except Finland and Czechia.

Publication Info:
Ratakierros, Otava, 300 p.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.), CZECHIA: Host

About author


Miika Nousiainen

Miika Nousiainen writes sharp, gentle and often tragicomical novels about surprising themes like long-distance running, the desire to be Swedish, and dentistry. He works as a journalist and writes also for television.

Bibliography


2024, Commercial/Upmarket, Humor

Push, Pace, Position, Pray

Miika Nousiainen


2020, Commercial/Upmarket, Humor

Facelift

Miika Nousiainen


2016, Humor

Roots

Miika Nousiainen


2007, Humor

Raspberry Boat Refugee

Miika Nousiainen

Japanese rights for PINE BARK sold to Shinchosha; DEFIANCE adapted to film by Oscar nominee Selma Vilhunen!

We have lots of exciting news to share about our award-winning #1 bestselling author of PINE BARK and DEFIANCE, Tommi Kinnunen:

First up, Japanese rights to PINE BARK have been acquired! Our co-agents at Tuttle-Mori Japan loved the title from the start and, in their able hands, PINE BARK found its home with the renowned publisher Shinchosha, who are especially passionate about literary fiction. This deal was closed by Julia Bogen at the Ahlback Agency.

PINE BARK topped Finland’s bestseller list within a month of its debut with over 30,000 copies sold. It is a densely atmospheric and arrestingly written novel about women’s fates in times of war, the difficulty of giving up, and how the proximity of death can change a person.

Segueing to another masterpiece by Tommi Kinnunen, Oscar-nominated Finnish filmmaker Selma Vilhunen will adapt Kinnunen’s novel DEFIANCE for the big screen with production company Dionysos Films and distributor Nordisk Film! It is under the title She Did Not Show Remorse, a more literal translation of the original Finnish title Ei kertonut katuvansa.

One of the biggest magazines in the entertainment industry, Variety, interviewed Selma Vilhunen and discussed the upcoming film plans. Click here to read the full article!

Speaking to Variety, Vilhunen was “won over by Kinnunen’s angry and sometimes merciless’ novel. ‘The women in the story only have bad options to choose from. In this film, I feel I’m opening the door to all the anger and despair that is also true in this world and in myself.'”

Rights to Tommi Kinnunen’s previous novels have sold to 22 territories, and rights for PINE BARK are still available in Germany, France, the Netherlands…

We invite you to click here to download all reading material for PINE BARK.

Click here to download material for DEFIANCE.

Publication Info:

Kaarna, 205 p., April 2024

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.), JAPAN: Shinchosha

About author


Tommi Kinnunen

Tommi Kinnunen (1973) was born in Kuusamo in northeastern Finland and currently lives in Turku, where he works as a teacher of Finnish language and literature. His works include novels, opera librettos, short stories, and a non-fiction title on the changes taking place in the Finnish school system.

Kinnunen’s novels give a voice to those whose stories have been kept untold. He made a stellar debut with Where Four Roads Meet (orig. Neljäntienristeys) which was nominated for the Finlandia Prize and won the Young Aleksis Prize in 2015. The following novels The Light Behind the Eyes (orig. Lopotti), The Glass River (orig. Pintti), and Defiance (orig. Ei kertonut katuvansa) have been both critical and commercial successes. His books have been translated into 20 languages.

During his spare time, Kinnunen likes to refurbish old buildings.

Bibliography


2024, Literary Fiction

Pine Bark

Tommi Kinnunen


2022, Literary Fiction

Dark Moons

Tommi Kinnunen


2020, Literary Fiction

Defiance

Tommi Kinnunen


2018, Literary Fiction

The Glass River

Tommi Kinnunen


2016, Literary Fiction

The Light Behind the Eyes

Tommi Kinnunen


2014, Literary Fiction

Where Four Roads Meet

Tommi Kinnunen

Swedish rights for The Kristinestad Murders #1: REVENGE sold to Förlaget!

Happy news for one of our bestselling authors Kaisu Tuokko: Swedish rights in Sweden and Finland for The Kristinestad Murders #1: REVENGE by Kaisu Tuokko have been acquired by Förlaget! This deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at the Ahlback Agency.
Kaisu Tuokko is on a roll, recently having been named an honorary citizen of Kristinestad and titled Finland’s Camilla Läckberg. This debut crime series has been a huge hit (no pun intended), having sold 30,000 copies in total!

We invite you to click here to download all reading materials for THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS!

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS began with REVENGE in 2023, followed by Alone in 2024. You can read more about each title below:

Book 1: REVENGE
The body of a young man is discovered in the sea, and the criminal investigator Mats Bergholm is responsible for the case. At the same time, journalist Eevi Manner is sent to dig out a scoop of the event for the local newspaper. Both are surprised to find each other on the grim beach: the two have a past together – a past which they now need to set aside to solve the case.

Eevi is contacted by a young woman, and it becomes clear that the death is just one link in a chain of events unfitting the picturesque town. The full picture becomes clearer and clearer, although the secrets of the locals are buried deep. Social media and recordings can offer help in solving the case, but the lies and muddy memories of the people involved cast doubts in every direction.

Book 2: ALONE
An elderly woman is found dead in Kristinestad, malnourished, dirty, and abused. She’s wearing the socks of the local nursing home, but the people there don’t recognise her. No one knows who she is.

Mats, the local police officer, starts investigating the case with his team, but establishing the identity of the murder victim proves tricky. Mats also has issues in his personal life, and same goes for the journalist Eevi, who struggles to get pregnant. While Eevi uncovers harsh truths about the treatment of the elderly in Kristinestad, Mats and his team find another body – and it seems Mats’ brother is also involved in the crime.

Publication Info

Book 1: Kosto, 298 p., June 2023
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.), SWEDEN: Förlaget

Book 2: Yksin, 300 p., June 2024
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

About author


Kaisu Tuokko

Kaisu Tuokko’s aim is to create a series where interpersonal relationships and the idyll of a small town are mixed with cruel events – using psychological tension to build stories about how badly we know the families or friends of our neighbors, of our loved ones. Everyone has secrets, but some of them are more dangerous than others.

Tuokko loves the stories of strangers, secrets of small towns, rainy autumn evenings, and the Swedish language. She lives in Helsinki, and has named her main character after her grandparents.

Bibliography


2024, Crime & Suspense

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #2: Alone

Kaisu Tuokko


2023, Crime & Suspense

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #1: Revenge

Kaisu Tuokko

Film rights optioned by SOLAR FILMS for internationally bestselling THE STORY OF AINO AND ALVAR AALTO!

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Solar Films Inc. Oy has optioned the Film & TV rights for Heikki Aalto-Alanen’s unique, internationally bestselling THE STORY OF AINO AND ALVAR AALTO! This is the love story of the world-famous, pioneering design couple Aino and Alvar Aalto, written by the Aaltos’ grandson and based on Aino and Alvar Aalto’s previously unpublished correspondence, photography, and drawings from 1921 to 1949. The book has been published in Japan, Italy, Hungary, Estonia, and in English and French by Phaidon Press, the world’s most prestigious art publisher. This deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at the Ahlback Agency.

With great enthusiasm and respect, we set out to develop a love story about the union between Aino and Alvar, two passionate artists, but very different people.
– Jukke Helle, managing director at Solar Films

Alvar and Aino Aalto are internationally celebrated for their architecture, furniture, glassware, and other interior design, but their personal lives have been relatively unknown – until now. This book, written by the Aaltos’ grandson, stands apart from countless other works on the Aalto’s lives and careers. It contains photos, sketches, and personal letters between Aino and Alvar, beautifully illustrating how inseparable this couple was both in work and love, and bringing a deeply human element to their story.

International Praise:

This characteristically elegant Phaidon publication, lush with images, is remarkably personal … A beautiful and important contribution to architecture and design history.
– Booklist, Starred Review

A love story, enriched not just by personal photographs and images of their modernist designs, but by the couple’s letters to each other.
– NPR.org

Unique … Such an intimate level of access is possible thanks to the fact that the author is a grandson and has done much to preserve the designers’ legacy.
– Interior Design

A poignant glimpse into [Aino and Alvar’s] deep bond.
– Metropolis

Rights still available in Germany, Scandinavian territories, Holland…

The Story of Aino and Alvar Aalto
Heikki Aalto-Alanen

Orig. publication:
RAKASTAN SINUSSA IHMISTÄ
Aino ja Alvar Aallon tarina
Otava, September 2021, 450 pp.
Approx. 50-80 photographs & drawings

Reading material:
English & French editions
Italian edition

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.), ESTONIA: Postimees, FRANCE: Phaidon Press, HUNGARY: Európa Könyvkiadó, ITALY: Salani, JAPAN: Soshisha, WORLD ENGLISH: Phaidon Press

About author


Heikki Aalto-Alanen

Heikki Aalto-Alanen is the grandson of architects Aino and Alvar Aalto, who has previously served as vice chairman of the Alvar Aalto Foundation, been a member of Artek’s Board of Directors, member of the Alvar Aalto Academy Board, and held other positions maintaining Aino and Alvar Aalto’s artistic work and heritage. Today he is serving as the chairman of the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation, established in 2020 to preserve Aino and Alvar Aalto's early masterpiece. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Alvar and Aino Aalto Estate Ltd. Heikki Aalto-Alanen is a lawyer by profession and has worked in the Nordic financial market.

His book tells the story of Aino and Alvar Aalto, depicted through their previously unpublished correspondence from 1921-1949, photographs and drawings.

Bibliography


2021, General Nonfiction, Memories & Biographies

The Story of Aino and Alvar Aalto

Heikki Aalto-Alanen

The Kristinestad Murders author Kaisu Tuokko named 15th honorary citizen of Kristinestad!

Warmest congratulations to Kaisu Tuokko, author of the bestselling THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS series, who has been named an honorary citizen of Kristinestad, Finland! According to Syd-Österbotten, one of the newspapers reporting on it, “The criteria for being elected as an honorary citizen are that the person has done something good for business, tourism or culture.” With sales over 27,000 for the series, multiple award nominations, and four more titles planned, Kaisu Tuokko is certainly spreading the culture of Kristinestad! She also started a city tour that takes people to places featured in her first book, REVENGE

For anyone unfamiliar with the series, THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS is Kaisu Tuokko’s debut work, earning her the title of “Finland’s Camilla Läckberg”. Each title is a love letter to this old town on the west Finnish coast, diving into complex relationship drama and small town secrets behind the murders.

Kaisu Tuokko’s thought-provoking style is solid and convincing, reaching behind the crimes and into the background. ALONE is the strong next title of the Eevi Manner series.

–Anna-Leena Ekroos, Ilkka-Pohjalainen newspaper

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS began with REVENGE in 2023, followed by Alone in 2024. You can read more about each title below:

Book 1: REVENGE
The body of a young man is discovered in the sea, and the criminal investigator Mats Bergholm is responsible for the case. At the same time, journalist Eevi Manner is sent to dig out a scoop of the event for the local newspaper. Both are surprised to find each other on the grim beach: the two have a past together – a past which they now need to set aside to solve the case.

Eevi is contacted by a young woman, and it becomes clear that the death is just one link in a chain of events unfitting the picturesque town. The full picture becomes clearer and clearer, although the secrets of the locals are buried deep. Social media and recordings can offer help in solving the case, but the lies and muddy memories of the people involved cast doubts in every direction.

Book 2: ALONE
An elderly woman is found dead in Kristinestad, malnourished, dirty, and abused. She’s wearing the socks of the local nursing home, but the people there don’t recognise her. No one knows who she is.

Mats, the local police officer, starts investigating the case with his team, but establishing the identity of the murder victim proves tricky. Mats also has issues in his personal life, and same goes for the journalist Eevi, who struggles to get pregnant. While Eevi uncovers harsh truths about the treatment of the elderly in Kristinestad, Mats and his team find another body – and it seems Mats’ brother is also involved in the crime.

Publication Info

Book 1: Kosto, 298 p., June 2023
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

Book 2: Yksin, 300 p., June 2024
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

 

About author


Kaisu Tuokko

Kaisu Tuokko’s aim is to create a series where interpersonal relationships and the idyll of a small town are mixed with cruel events – using psychological tension to build stories about how badly we know the families or friends of our neighbors, of our loved ones. Everyone has secrets, but some of them are more dangerous than others.

Tuokko loves the stories of strangers, secrets of small towns, rainy autumn evenings, and the Swedish language. She lives in Helsinki, and has named her main character after her grandparents.

Bibliography


2024, Crime & Suspense

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #2: Alone

Kaisu Tuokko


2023, Crime & Suspense

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #1: Revenge

Kaisu Tuokko

Latvian rights for THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER sold to Zvaigzne!

Omedetou gozaimasu (Warmest congratulations) to Mia Kankimäki, as Latvian language rights to her top-selling travel memoir Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster were just acquired by Zvaigzne ABC Publishers! This deal was closed by Julia Bogen at the Ahlback Agency.

Zvaigzne also published Mia Kankimäki’s other bestselling travelogue of badass women in history: The Women I Think about at Night: Travelling the Paths of My Heroes  and we are very happy she has found a forever home in Latvia!

In Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster, Mia Kankimäki quits her job and embarks on an adventure. She travels to Kyoto to research Sei Shonagon, a Japanese writer and lady-in-waiting who wrote about her life in the court of Heian era Japan. Mia doesn’t speak a word of Japanese, and isn’t quite accustomed to scientific research, but her endeavor produces the most wonderful book about Japan, Sei Shonagon, and a middle-aged woman’s solo travels.

Despite her struggles and initial culture shock, Mia finds herself mesmerized by temples, cherry blossoms, kabuki theater, Zen meditation and tearooms. She reads The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon and finds a soul sister – a modern woman who loves making lists of all things charming, annoying, elegant, and things that make one’s heart beat faster.

 

Rights still available in the US/UK, France, Scandinavian territories (Denmark, Sweden, Norway)…

Click here to download all reading materials for Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster!

Orig. publication:
Asioita jotka saavat sydämen lyömään nopeammin, Otava, Finland

380 Pages

Reading Material:
English sample & synopsis, German & Italian PDFs

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Albatros Media / Motto
ESTONIA: Varrak
GERMANY: BTB
ITALY: Piemme
JAPAN: Soshisha
LATVIA: Zvaigzne

About author


Mia Kankimäki

Mia Kankimäki is the author of two best-selling books which blend travelogue, memoir, biography, and women’s history. After taking a master’s degree in comparative literature at the University of Helsinki and working diligently in Finnish publishing, in 2010 she left her job and traveled to Japan to write her first book. Her books have received several literary awards, for example the Best Travel Book of the Year 2013, the HelMet Award 2015, and Otava Book Foundation’s Non-Fiction Award 2020. She currently lives in Helsinki, Finland, whenever she’s not traveling for her next book project.

Mia has been enthusiastic about Japanese culture for years and is a qualified ikebana teacher of the Sogetsu school. Her first book Things That Make One’s Hear Beat Faster took her to Kyoto where she has spent long periods of writing and making research ever since. Kankimäki’s second book The Women I Think About at Night has sold over 55,000 copies in Finland and the translation rights have been sold to 21 territories, including USA and China.

Mia's both books have been aqcuired by Japanese publisher Soshisha:

"I am delighted to share that Mia Kankimäki’s debut title, THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER, is embraced and loved by many Japanese readers. A cross between an autobiography and a travelogue, the author finds an emotional connection with a woman geographically far apart and from a different era and tries to discover who she really was. I believe this style is reflected in THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT as well. Though some of the female figures in this second book might not be well-known locally, I am looking forward to seeing how our readers will react to their lifestyles." - Daisuke Watanabe, Editor, Soshisha

Bibliography


2018, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

The Women I Think About At Night

Mia Kankimäki


2013, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

Things That Make One's Heart Beat Faster

Mia Kankimäki

Martta Kaukonen joins bestselling crime authors, former Prime Minister, and former FBI director, at the UK’s Harrogate Festival!

Back in May we announced that Martta Kaukonen, international bestseller of FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY (Pushkin Press), joined the superstar lineup invited to the big Harrogate Festival in the UK this July…and that day has finally arrived!

It was an amazing weekend, and we were able to get some great photos – among them other bestselling authors, a former FBI director, and Scotland’s former prime minister, and more.

She also attended the New Blood panel, officially described: “This perennial Festival favourite provides a showcase for outstanding first-time authors and this year it comes with a twist. Some of the UK’s top crime fiction critics have selected four terrific debuts and the authors will discuss them with 2024 Festival Programming Chair, Ruth Ware.”

Now for the festival photos! Clockwise, from left to right:

1. Martta with Scotland’s former prime minister Nicola Sturgeon, 2. Martta with the former director of FBI James Comey, 3. The New Blood panel attendees: From left to right: Jonny Sweet, panel chair Ruth Ware, Claire Coughlan, Colin Walsh, 4. Martta with bestselling crime writer Harriet Tyce, 5. Martta with CBE Lynda La Plante, 6. Martta with bestselling crime writer Erin Kelly,  7.  Martta with bestselling crime writer Peter James

                                                                 

About author


Martta Kaukonen

Martta Kaukonen (1976) lives in Helsinki. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a film critic, whose reviews have been published in both Finland’s biggest newspaper Helsingin Sanomat and a popular women’s weekly magazine Me Naiset. Martta has a master’s degree in arts. She has interviewed the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Justin Bieber. Martta met her husband at his second hand bookshop and fell in love. Alongside writing, Martta loves psychological thrillers, film noir, flea markets, abandoned houses and travelling. Martta’s debut novel FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY was published in March 2021. FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY is an Instagram sensation in Finland, and the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper released a highly-praising review of it. During the first two months, the audiobook was listened to an awe-inspiring 2000 times and over. FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY  has been compared to Gillian Flynn’s novel ‘Gone Girl’. 

Bibliography


2023, Crime & Suspense

Meet Me in the Darkness

Martta Kaukonen


2022, Crime & Suspense

In Your Shadow

Martta Kaukonen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Follow the Butterfly

Martta Kaukonen

Jessikka Aro international Courage Award for work against Putin’s terrorism; and Polish deal for PUTIN’S WORLD WAR

We have much great news to share about our brilliant author Jessikka Aro!

First, we are excited to announce Transatlantic Foundation have acquired Polish rights to Putin’s World War: Russia’s Covert Operations to Destroy the West. We would like to thank them for their enthusiasm, and these lovely words of praise:

“We are immensely proud to announce the forthcoming Polish publication of Putin’s World War by Jessikka Aro, a groundbreaking exploration of Russia’s operations against the West. Jessikka Aro’s global recognition as a foremost expert on this subject has profoundly influenced our decision to bring her insights to a Polish audience. Publishing Jessikka’s book is not only a significant milestone for Transatlantic Foundation Sp. z o.o. but also marks our commitment to introducing influential international narratives to our readers. We are honored to have this seminal work as our first international publication in Poland.”

Patryk Wachnik, Transatlantic Foundation, Poland

More international recognition for this important work of investigative journalism: we are so proud to announce that Jessikka Aro has received the A Woman of Courage Award from the Embassy of the United States of America in Helsinki, Finland. We were lucky to get great photos, one with Ambassador Hickey and another with Elina!

Ambassador Douglas Hickey hosted a formal lunch in honor of Jessikka, where he officially awarded her, stating: ”In recognition to her combatting Russian disinformation and her groundbreaking contributions to a resilient global information environment.”

Recently Voice of America, the largest US international broadcaster, wrote an article about the award and a deeper dive into Jessikka Aro’s work against Vladmir Putin’s terrorism. We invite everyone to read it here: https://www.voanews.com/a/journalist-finally-recognized-for-work-combating-russian-disinformation/7660851.html

It is no exaggeration to say that publishing Jessikka Aro’s work is helping the world at large, and we are honored to represent an author contributing to international justice.

As always, you can see where rights have sold in the top left corner, and we have current gaps in the US/UK, the Ukraine, France…

In the meantime, we invite you to click here to download reading materials for PUTIN’S WORLD WAR.

Original Publication:
WSOY/Johnny Kniga, 2024
352 Pages

Reading Material:
English sample & summary & table of contents
German pdf
Finnish edition

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY/Johnny Kniga (orig.)
GERMANY: Goldmann Verlag
CZECHIA: N Media
HUNGARY: Corvina
POLAND: Transatlantic Foundation
SWEDEN: Sensor Förlag

About author


Jessikka Aro

Jessikka Aro is an award-winning reporter with Yle, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, specializing in Russia, extremism and information warfare. In 2014 and 2015, she published a series of articles on pro-Kremlin social media trolls and their influence outside of Russia’s borders. Due to her investigations, Jessikka became the target of a severe and still ongoing international propaganda and hate speech campaign, which she recounts in Putin’s Trolls.

In 2019, the US State Department awarded Jessikka the International Women of Courage Award, but the award was mysteriously rescinded by the Trump administration, allegedly due to her social media criticism of then President Trump. On December 1, 2020, Jessikka Aro received the International Women’s Media Foundation Courage in Journalism Award, presented in partnership with the Washington Post and hosted by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. Jessikka was recognized for her award-winning investigative reporting of Russian information warfare. Jessikka lives in Helsinki, Finland.

Bibliography


2019, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, History & Politics

Putin's Trolls

Jessikka Aro

Danish rights for THE MANTICORE sold to Bogoo!

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.

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.

Hungarian deal for THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS FAMILIES IN THE WORLD

Hungarian fans of THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD will be happy to hear that their publisher, Scolar Kiado have acquired Hungarian rights to Hannu Sokala‘s independent bestselling sequel: THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS FAMILIES IN THE WORLD! This deal was closed by Julia Bogen at the Ahlback Agency.

We have an English sample available featuring 5 of the dangerous families: Musk, Rotenberg, Guriev, Grimaldi, Wallenberg

Click here to download all materials for THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS FAMILIES IN THE WORLD.

Many of the most important big companies around the world are still owned or controlled by their founding families. However, despite wielding significant economic and political power, these families would rather like to remain away from the limelight. What kinds of challenges might these families present for equality and democracy?

In THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS FAMILIES IN THE WORLD, investigative journalist Hannu Sokala presents a unique insight into the possessions of 50 different families all over the world. The reader might already be familiar with the Rockefellers, the al-Sauds, the Windsors and the Toyodas, but many others, including the Quandts, the Safras, and the al-Nahyans, remain mostly unknown. Hannu Sokala’s book reads like a thriller novel and reveals the twists and turns in the history of these absurdly wealthy and powerful families.

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

Maailman 50 vaarallisinta sukua
Otava/Nemo, 2023

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava/Nemo (orig.)
HUNGARY: Scolar

About author


Hannu Sokala

Hannu Sokala has worked as a financial journalist for over 30 years, starting at the daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat and, lastly, as an investigative reporter for the Finnish National Broadcasting Company YLE. He enjoys digging into the biggest banks and corporations and the most powerful industries.

Hannu’s latest books (The 50 Most Dangerous Companies in the World, with co-author Juha-Pekka Raeste, and The 50 Most Dangerous Families in the World) are bestsellers in Finland.

Hannu resides with his wife, daughter, and two huskies in Tuusula, a 40-minute train ride north of Helsinki. The four seasons start at the front door of their house, which is surrounded by big trees.

In addition to books, Hannu is into music (he is only one short of seeing 30 Bruce Springsteen concerts; his most recent big favourite is the amazing Welsh artist Ren), television (do not get him started, but everything by Stephen Poliakoff and Dennis Potter, in addition to Heimat, Seinfeld, The Sopranos, Gomorrah, Lost, Better Call Saul, etc.), and movies (just don’t).

His ambition is to write nonfiction in a way that inspires people to get interested in the big questions about money, economics, and democracy.

Bibliography


2023, General Nonfiction

The 50 Most Dangerous Families in the World

Hannu Sokala

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

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.

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?!

Introducing award-winning author Johanna Holmström and first-class thriller WOLF CUB!

Introducing award-winning author Johanna Holmström and first-class thriller WOLF CUB!

Pre-publication news:

We are excited to present our newest author: the award-winning Johanna Holmström and her forthcoming, atmospheric literary thriller WOLF CUB (Vargens unge), which will publish this August with Albert Bonniers Förlag and simultaneously in Finland by Otava and Förlaget.

There’s no greater feeling than seeing a publisher so passionate about our hottest title of the Fall season! Here’s what Helene Atterling, publisher at Albert Bonniers had to say:

“Surely the greatest pleasure a publisher can have is to discover a book that is truly unexpected!  When I received the manuscript of Johanna Holmström’s latest book, I expected well-crafted prose – but not a crime novel. And I was drawn into a world of suspense from the very first page, when we encounter the silent child in the Sadeniemis’ tulip bed, the little boy who says nothing and is missed by no one. Wolf Cub is a nail-biting novel one can’t help but devour at speed. Readers of Johanna’s previous books will recognise her voice: intelligent, elegant, suffused by violence, dark. But this time she’s added pace and mystery, creating a first-class thriller with an authority that commands admiration. I envy those who haven’t yet read this book for the experience you have ahead of you.”

Wolf Cub

Johanna Holmström

An atmospheric literary crime novel about desire and fanaticism by an award-winning fiction author

Johanna Holmström is the winner of the Karin Boye Literature Prize 2023, Svenska Dagbladets Literature Prize 2009, The Svenska Yles Literature Prize 2009 and was nominated for the Runeberg Prize in 2018 and in 2023

One day, a dirty and unfamiliar little boy stands in Seija’s tulip bed. Upon seeing his open eyes, her motherly heart overflows, but the boy refuses to say a word–only a memory card is found in his mouth. Police Inspector Minna and her sidekick Timo are called, but no one has reported a missing child. Who is the boy and where does he come from?

When the photographer Gloria moves into a collective in the forest, she feels that she has found her home. She enjoys the freedom and companionship, blind to what is going on around her. And when the truth is finally revealed, it is too late for her to escape.

This relentless thriller is set in Kuhmo, northern Finland, in a wilderness as wonderfully beautiful as it is terrifying.

Rights sold:
SWEDEN: Albert Bonniers Förlag (orig.),

FINLAND: Förlaget & Otava

About author


Johanna Holmström

Johanna Holmström is one of the most successful Finnish-Swedish writers of her generation. Her works have been published in over 10 countries.

She made her debut at 21 years old with the short story collection Inlåst och andra noveller in 2003, and was nominated for Sveriges Radio’s award.

She had her literary breakthrough in 2009 with her fourth book, the short story collection Camera Obscura, which received both Svenska Dagbladet's literature prize in Sweden and Svenska YLE's literature prize in Finland.

Her novel Asfaltsänglar (2013) has been published in seven countries, and Holmström attended the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2014 where Finland was the Guest of Honor.  With Själarnas ö (2017), her acclaimed novel centered around women in a mental hospital in the Finnish archipelago from the late 1800s-1962, Holmström achieved her first public success, and the novel was nominated for the prestigious Runeberg Prize in 2018. Her latest book, the short story collection Handbok i klardrömmar (2022) was the first Finnish-Swedish title to receive the Karin Boye prize in Sweden.

In her writing, Johanna Holmström explores the darker sides of human nature in a psychologically credible way. She writes about relationships and power structures within the family and society. Holmström is one of Finland's most skilled at environmental portrayal, and for her the environment is at least as central as the characters when it comes to creating drama. She has a narrative drive that few can match, without forgetting to maintain a top class and wayward language.

Bibliography


2024, Crime & Suspense

Wolf Cub

Johanna Holmström

Starred review for Elina Backman’s HOW TO FACE DEATH (Saana Havas #4)!

This just in–a starred review from Finland’s biggest daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat for HOW TO FACE DEATH by Elina Backman, the fourth entry of the Saana Havas thriller series!

Here’s a snippet from the review:

ELINA BACKMAN (b. 1983) differs from a lot of Finnish crime writers in that although her  protagonists live in Helsinki, the books take place in different parts of Finland, rather than in one specific city or region. This brings variety and local colour to the works. (…) Backman is a talented crime writer who is able to pleasingly combine classic detective novel features with modern elements. For instance, Saana Havas is a former journalist, now crime blogger, whose most important tools are her mobile phone and her laptop. Saana solves crimes which happened a long time ago, and her boyfriend, police detective Jan Leino, often ends up joining in her investigations.

In HOW TO FACE DEATH, Saana heads to an unusually sunny setting for Nordic crime novels, renovating her aunt’s friend’s villa and getting to know the mysterious neighborhood. However, when the midsummer celebrations end fatally, the dark history of the island begins to unravel.

We recommend you start at the beginning of this internationally bestselling series–and soon to be TV show!–with book 1: ALL THE KING’S MEN. Click here to download reading materials for the Saana Havas series!

 

Rights sold for ALL THE KING’S MEN:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Grada
DENMARK: Gyldendal
ESTONIA: Varrak Publishers
FILM & TV RIGHTS: Aurora Studios
FRANCE: HarperCollins France
GERMANY: Piper
HUNGARY: Maxim
ITALY: Newton Compton
LITHUANIA: BALTO
NETHERLANDS: Cargo
NORWAY: Cappelen Damm
POLAND: Czarna Owca
ROMANIA: Lebada Neagra
RUSSIA: Mann, Ivanov and Ferber
SLOVAKIA: Arkus Vydavatelstvo
SWEDEN: Bokfabriken

 

Rights sold for STILL WATERS RUN DEEP:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
DENMARK: Gyldendal
ESTONIA: Varrak Publishers
FILM & TV RIGHTS: Aurora Studios
GERMANY: Piper
HUNGARY: Maxim
ITALY: Newton Compton Editori
NETHERLANDS: Cargo
NORWAY: Cappelen Damm AS
POLAND: Czarna Owca
RUSSIA: Mann, Ivanov and Ferber
SLOVAKIA: Arkus
SWEDEN: Bokfabriken

Rights sold for BEFORE THE POLAR NIGHT FALLS:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
DENMARK: Gyldendal
GERMANY: Piper
ITALY: Newton Compton Editori
SLOVAKIA: Arkus
SWEDEN: Bokfabriken

Rights sold for HOW TO FACE DEATH:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

About author


Elina Backman

Elina Backman is an author and a media & marketing professional living in Helsinki. Elina loves books (all sorts), traveling, cycling and is a host of a Book & Wine Club. She is a creative soul with a commercial mind, and her goal is to find readers globally.

Her debut novel All the King's Men was published in 2020 and immediately gained an enormous amount of attention from the Finnish media, including a praising review by the biggest daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. The Havas series is now a best-selling series in Finland and an international TV series is in development. Elina's books have sold over 100 000 copies in Finland.

Together with Heidi Holmavuo, Elina has also narrated the true crime podcast Ratkaisematon (Unsolved), which turned into a full-length audio book as the two crime writers started investigating the murder of a young girl in 1955. They were able to uncover new evidence and their research led the police to reopen the investigation. This story is narrated in the book Unsolved - The Case of Elli Immo.

Bibliography


2024, Crime & Suspense

How to Face Death

Elina Backman


2022, Crime & Suspense

Before the Polar Night Falls

Elina Backman


2022, Crime & Suspense

Unsolved - The Case of Elli Immo

Elina Backman


2021, Crime & Suspense

Still Waters Run Deep

Elina Backman


2020, Crime & Suspense

All the King's Men

Elina Backman

Celebrating Ahlback Agency’s 15th anniversary with Editors’ Week!

How lovely that the Ahlback Agency’s anniversaries always coincide with attending Editors’ Week! This time around, editor guests joined us at our agency: Thille Dop (Luitingh-Sijthoff), Lena Frenzel (Mixtvision), Véronique Haïtse (L’Ecole des Loiris), Pavla Nejedlá (Host), Julie Pedersen (Bogoo), Francesca Segato (Camelozampa), Katarzyna Węgierek (Widnokrąg), and Vita Yevstifeieva (The Old Lion Publishing House).

There were many inspiring and lively discussions about excellent Finnish children’s and YA titles – thank you to our international guests and FILI!

We are happy to share some photos we have from the event as well:

Pavla Nejedlá from Host and Elina

Francesca Segato from Camelozampa and Elina

Vita Yevstifeieva from The Old Lion Publishing House and Elina

Véronique Haïtse from L’Ecole des Loisirs and Elina

Thille Dop from Luitingh-Sijthoff and Elina

Lena Frenzel from Mixtvision and Elina

Katarzyna Węgierek from Widnokrąg and Elina

Julie Pedersen from Bogoo and Elina