Uutiset

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

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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’. 

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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

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

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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.

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Bibliography


2024, Narrative Nonfiction

Putin's World War: Russia's Covert Operations to Destroy the West

Jessikka Aro


2019, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, History & Politics

Putin's Trolls

Jessikka Aro

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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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Hungarian deal for THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS FAMILIES IN THE WORLD

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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!

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.

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Bibliography


2023, General Nonfiction

The 50 Most Dangerous Families in the World

Hannu Sokala

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

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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.

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Bibliography


2024, Crime & Suspense

Wolf Cub

Johanna Holmström

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

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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.

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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

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

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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