North Macedonian rights sold for THE GRUMBLEBELLY CAT!

Magdalena Hai’s THE GRUMBLEBELLY CAT is a classical fairytale about a very contemporary subject that has detailed, monochrome illustrations by Teemu Juhani adding another layer to the story.

We are glad to announce that the North Macedonian rights for the title have now been sold to Antolog!
Previously, the title has been acquired by Vild Maskine in Denmark, and Dressler/Oetinger Verlag in Germany.

Download the full illustrated English pdf here!

In a barren land, when a little girl meets a gigantic cat that threatens to devour her, she makes it a smart offer. The girl leads the cat across the lands, looking for something to satiate its hunger before it eats her, but they encounter draught, destruction and people who have nothing to eat except their dreams. When the cat gobbles up the girl, she finds something in its belly, something that has made it so hungry…

THE GRUMBLEBELLY CAT won the Finnish Literature Export Prize in 2018 and was nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize in 2018 as well. Additionally, the book was nominated for the Arvid Lydecken Prize 2017 and Runeberg Junior Prize 2018.

PRAISE for GRUMBLEBELLY CAT:
A wise and fearless fairytale novel about a cat with an appetite bigger than itself. At the same time it is a story about a girl smaller in size than her soul.
– Aamulehti newspaper

A balanced, artistic fairytale, warmly recommended for anyone up from 4 years.
– Kosmoskynä magazine

Magdalena Hai’s strength is the assured handling of the wonky, absurd world. She carries the story through strange landscapes where everything is possible.
– Vakka newspaper


PS! Only 2 weeks left to apply to FILI translation grants from Finnish and Finland Swedish!

Apply now:
The unique translation grant system in Finland gives you an opportunity to finance your translation costs up to 70%. If you are translating picture books – you can also apply to a printing grant of up to 1000€, read more here:  https://fili.fi/en/grants/

The Spring application period started on 1st of April and will be closed on 1st of May.

Please note that only translations from Finnish or Finnish-Swedish to foreign languages will be supported.

Translators:
We will advise you to find the best possible translators, and in some cases, you can also translate from English.  Find more information about translators here: https://kaantopiiri.fi/en/search-translators/

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Karisto (orig.)

DENMARK: Vild Maskine
GERMANY: Dressler/Oetinger Verlag
NORTH MACEDONIA: Antolog

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.

About author


Teemu Juhani

Teemu Juhani is a Finnish illustrator, comic artist and picture book author whose illustrations have been published in picture books and children's fiction in over 20 countries. In addition to children's books Teemu has illustrated magazines and educational material. Originally from the fields and woods of North Karelia, Teemu now lives, works and eats way too many cakes in Helsinki.

Now 16 rights sold for WEIRD WEATHER!

We are very excited to let you know that WEIRD WEATHER has now sold to North Macedonian publisher Feniks! 

Publisher Feniks said:

Our Mother planet Earth needs our help! This wonderful book written by Laura Ertimo with beautiful illustrations by Mari Ahokoivu will help the readers (young and adults) to better understand why the climate is changing and how we can help and contribute towards a better future and save the planet for future generations.
– Nena Anastasovska, Publishing House Feniks, North Macedonia

Download the Full English pdf for the title here!

WEIRD WEATHER
by Laura Ertimo, illustrations by Mari Ahokoivu

Climate changes, why don’t we? Weird Weather! answers children’s tough questions about climate change, and tells how we can all fight against it.

Two clever buddies, Lotta and Kasper get tired of their parents’ evasive answers about weird weather. They decide to research what climate change is really is
about!

Weird Weather! is accurate but hopeful children’s nonfiction that explains how humans are responsible for climate change
and what we can do to ensure a brighter future. It also gives tips on how everyone can make better choices and practice climate skills every day. But climate change won’t be beaten with tiny tricks, and this book also encourages talking to children about how to make changes in society, and how working together can change everything.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Into (orig.),
DENMARK: Staarup & Co.,
ESTONIA: Avita,
HUNGARY: Ciceró Könyvstúdió Kft.,
ITALY: Edizioni Piemme S.p.a,
LATVIA: Jumava,
LITHUANIA: Obuolys,
MACEDONIA: Feniks
MEXICO (Latin American Spanish rights): Ordinal,
NORWAY: Aschehoug,
POLAND: AMBER Sp. z o.o.,
SERBIA: Odiseja,
SLOVAKIA: Ikar, SPAIN: Norma Editorial,
SWEDEN: Raben & Sjörgen,
UNITED STATES: Skyhorse Publishing

About author


Laura Ertimo

Laura Ertimo is a geographer and author. She has previously worked in publishing of geography-related non-fiction and maps, and now she writes full time, specializing in children’s non-fiction. A recurring theme in her work is the holistic worldview, the interaction between phenomena, people and nature.

In 2020, she received the prestigious Tietopöllö Award for her work as a Non-Fiction writer. Her children's title WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu, was nominated for the 2021 Finlandia Award and has also won the Tieto-Lauri award!

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?!

New York Times recommends Laura Lindstedt’s US debut

Laura Lindstedt Drawing Accolades with MY FRIEND NATALIA

Finland’s most dynamic novelists, Laura Lindstedt, bursts onto the American literary scene with her novel MY FRIEND NATALIA – an erotic story of an ambitious therapist’s sessions with an unforgettable patient. The novel is published by prestigious W.W. Norton / Liveright, and translated by award-winning David Hackston. MY FRIEND NATALIA is already listed as The New York Times Editor’s choice! In addition, the review of the book in New York Times is exciting:

“— This is the book’s tease, that Natalia — eccentric, unruly, compelling — will be definitively “solved.” But she’s not a dramatic principal, not a thing able to fire real bullets. This was her psychologist’s figure of speech and as such probably tells us more about the psychologist than the patient. The deeper, indeed more layered, mystery is, it emerges, the novel’s chimerical narrator. — Laura Lindstedt’s sly, intriguing novel.” –Hermione Hoby, New York Times 

You can read the NYT review here.

MY FRIEND NATALIA is already Entertainment Weekly’s Best Book of The Month’ & ’20 Must-read Books of the Month’

“This provocative Finnish author enters the fray of American literature (thanks to translation from David Hackston) with a racy, wonderfully weird novel about a therapist’s sessions with a sex-obsessed woman.”Entertainment Weekly, 1.3.2021

MY FRIEND NATALIA is praised in BuzzFeed as one of ‘Spring Books We Couldn’t Put Down’

Laura has yesterday been interviewed by Shelf-Awareness where she reveals some secrets about what’s inspired her. Check the article from here.

Scandinavia House in New York City will host AN EVENT on Saturday 10 April for a book talk with Laura Lindstedt and translator David Hackston on MY FRIEND NATALIA, the author’s U.S. debut. The event will take place as a Zoom webinar; please ask questions in the chat or send them in advance to  info@amscan.org. Registration is required; please sign up through the link here.

The exciting literary novel will be published in 13 territories, but the rights are still available in Denmark, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey, Bulgaria, Latvia, China, Spain, Iceland, Japan etc.

Download the full English manuscript and praise sheet for MY FRIEND NATALIA by clicking here

MY FRIEND NATALIA
by Laura Lindstedt
Natalia cannot stop thinking about sex. A mesmerizing tale of one woman’s potent affliction by award-winning Finnish writer Laura Lindstedt. Narrated by an unnamed, ungendered therapist who leaps at the chance to employ their most experimental methods, My Friend Natalia offers a gripping examination of the power dynamics always present but rarely ever spoken about in therapy. “Something flared within me,” the therapist notes, “and it wasn’t merely sympathy, the emotion I feel for most of my clients. It was more like a sudden experience of harmony, wholly inappropriate given the circumstances.”

 

AUTHOR

Laura Lindstedt (b. 1976) became a critical darling with her adoption-themed debut novel Scissors (Sakset, Teos 2007), which earned her a nomination for the Finlandia Prize, the country’s most prestigious literary honour. She is currently revising her Ph.D. thesis on French author Nathalie Sarraute. Lindstedt’s second novel Oneiron (Teos 2015) is a work of speculative fiction that takes place in the mysterious moments that follow one’s death. Oneiron has continued Lindstedt’s critical success, earning her the coveted 2015 Finlandia Prize. Lindstedt’s latest novel My Friend Natalia has been a critical success and the rights have been sold to 13 territories.

 

 

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Teos (orig.)
ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat AS
FRANCE: Gallimard
GERMANY: DTV
HUNGARY: Scolar Kiado
ITALY: Elliot Edizioni
LITHUANIA: BALTO
NETHERLANDS & BELGIUM: De Bezige Bij
NORWAY: Oktober
ROMANIA: HUMANITAS S.A
SWEDEN: Norstedts
USA: W.W. Norton / Liveright

About author


Laura Lindstedt

Laura Lindstedt (b. 1976) became a critical darling with her adoption-themed debut novel Scissors (Sakset, Teos 2007), which earned her a nomination for the Finlandia Prize, the country’s most prestigious literary honour. Lindstedt’s second novel Oneiron (Teos 2015), a work of speculative fiction that takes place in the mysterious moments that follow one’s death, earned her the coveted Finlandia Prize of 2015 and was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2017. Lindstedt’s success has continued with My Friend Natalia (Teos 2019) which has earned critical acclaim and has been sold to 12 territories. Together with author Sinikka Vuola, she has authored 101 tapaa tappaa aviomies (101 Ways to Kill Your Husband, Siltala 2022) which has been nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize of 2024.

She is currently completing her Ph.D. thesis on French author Nathalie Sarraute.

Bibliography


2019, Literary Fiction

My Friend Natalia

Laura Lindstedt


2015, Literary Fiction

Oneiron

Laura Lindstedt


2007, Literary Fiction

Scissors

Laura Lindstedt

Now 12 rights sold for LITTLE MOUSE series!

We are extremely pleased to let you know that Riikka Jäntti’s LITTLE MOUSE series has now found a home in Russia!
The Moscow-based publishing house Strecoza has acquired the rights to all 7 titles in the series and is really happy:

All parents have ever faced such situations: the baby grows up, learns the big world, but he is impatient, wants to be independent and something does not work out right away. These bright and colorful books are the ideal first reading for toddlers and a great tip for adults! Perfect for spending time together!

– Larisa Mavrina, chief editor of Strecoza publishing house, Russia

Download the English pdfs for the Little Mouse series here

 

The series has now been sold to 12 territories. Read more about the series and the author below:

 

LITTLE MOUSE SERIES
written and illustrated by Riikka Jäntti

A 7-book series about a little mouse living with a single mother mouse, acting as all little persons do – in the first book, it says NO to everything – to broccoli, getting dressed, washing teeth, sleeping. Other parts talk about Christmas, winter, having guests, having a holiday, summer vacation and going on an island.
This universally loved little character will be published everywhere from Nepal and Russia to France and Australia
Book 1: Little Mouse
A day in the life of a toddler is a busy one and Little Mouse’s is no exception. Between getting dressed, going to daycare, eating dinner, and splashing in puddles, Little Mouse has a lot to do … and a lot to say ‘no’ to!

Book 2: Little Mouse Helps Out
Little Mouse’s friend Pip is coming over to visit. But first, there are chores to do around the house, like cleaning, laundry and cooking lunch. Little Mouse is determined to help Mummy Mouse with all of them.

Book 3: Little Mouse’s Christmas
Christmas is coming and Little Mouse can’t wait for Christmas Eve. Luckily there are all kinds of wonderful preparations to be made, from cooking to choosing the Christmas tree.

Book 4: Little Mouse’s Holiday
Little Mouse and Mommy Mouse take the train together to the countryside to stay at their cottage on an island, pick berries, heat the sauna and cook sausages over a campfire under the starry skies. It’s a real treat for a little city mouse!

Book 5: Little Mouse’s Winter
Winter is here and Little Mouse enjoys playing outside. But his fun is interrupted by piano lessons. And why do all the other kids have
phones and lots of collectable toy figures? Luckily mom has lots of fun activities that will make him happy again.

Book 6: Little Mouse’s Summer

Summer holiday is full of fun: going to the amusement park, playing by the beach and visiting the art museum. Buying strawberries and ice cream, and going to the cinema when the weather is too hot. Little Mouse knows that one must enjoy the summer, because it doesn’t last forever.

NEW: Book 7: Little Mouse’s Goes Camping

One beautiful summer’s day, Little Mouse’s goes camping with mom.

Little Mouse helps their mother set up the tent, light the grill and prepare sausages and vegetables wrapped in foil. When it gets dark, Little Mouse listens to the sounds of the night in the tent.  In the morning, they are both very hungry but luckily the island’s restaurant is open!

 

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)

AUSTRALIA: Scribble/Scribe
CHINA: Beijing Yuntu Tech
DENMARK: ABC Forlag
ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat
FRANCE: Cambourakis
NEPAL: Kathalaya
NEW ZEALAND: Scribble/Scribe
PORTUGAL: Harper Collins Iberica
RUSSIA: Strecoza
SPAIN (Spanish): Harper Collins Iberica
SPAIN (Catalan): Harper Collins Iberica
UK: Scribble/Scribe

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, 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

HILJA-series sold to RUSSIA!

We have very exciting news today! Russian rights for all 5 titles of Hilja-series have now been sold to Russian publisher Strecoza!

This wonderful series written by Heidi Viherjuuri and illustrated by Nadja Sarell has previously been sold to Estonia and Germany.

Strecoza were really happy to introduce this new character to Russian children:

It is always so curious and fun to get a look at the big families somewhere in other countries! Do they have the same problems and how do they act in different everyday situations? Wonderfully funny and cozy stories about the most stubborn little girl who does not like boredom! A splendid mix of full-page illustrations and small-format pictures! You won’t be bored, for sure!
– Larisa Mavrina, chief editor of Strecoza publishing house, Russia

Download the English materials for the Hilja-series here.

Read more about the titles, author and illustrator below!

 

HILJA-SERIES
by Heidi Viherjuuri, illustrated by Nadja Sarell

Meet Hilja, an energetic and curious little girl, and her three granny friends! For the fans of Astrid Lindgren!

1st book, Hilja’s Summer in The Green House: Hilja is 7 years old, and she loves the summer! There’s nothing better than the freedom to climb trees, run around, go fishing and make new friends. Prone to adventures, she also gets a chance to catch a thief!

2nd book, Hello, Hilja here: Hilja is starting the first grade. Things are going well: she has practiced reading with the cows at the farm, and new friends are nice. But Hilja’s big mouth gets her into troubles every now and then.

3rd book, Adventure calls, Hilja: The long-awaited fall break is here. Hilja and the neighborhood grannies all squeeze into a tiny car and take a trip to the big city. The city is full of things to do, but are the grannies taking care of Hilja – or the other way around?

4th book, Hilja and the operation Christmas magic Hilja’s sister Veini claims that Christmas is just a publicity trick, but Hilja decides to prove that Christmas is real and magical. A secret operation begins

5th book, Hilja and the Perfect Winter Day Snowball fights, skiing trips, ice-fishing competition and other winter adventures become so wild that Mom needs to put an end to it. But Hilja knows how to make even the most boring day fun!

 

Don’t forget to apply for FILI Grants for translations from Finnish/Finland Swedish!

Apply now:
The Spring application period started on 1st of April and will be closed on 1st of May.
Please note that only translations from Finnish or Finnish-Swedish to foreign languages will be supported.

The unique translation grant system in Finland gives you an opportunity to finance your translation costs up to 70% and even cover part of your printing costs – read more here:  https://fili.fi/en/grants/

Translators:
We will advise you to find the best possible translators, and in some cases, you can also translate from English.  Find more information about translators here: https://kaantopiiri.fi/en/search-translators/

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Mäkelä (orig.)

ESTONIA: Eesti Raamat
GERMANY: WooW Books
RUSSIA: Strecoza

About author


Heidi Viherjuuri

Heidi Viherjuuri lives in Cologne, Germany, where she writes about things big and small and also everyday life situations. She loves green tea, weekdays, history, traveling by train and having silly laughs with her son. Heidi´s works have rich language and are straight-to-the-point at the same time and one of her favorite books is the Finnish thesaurus.

About author


Nadja Sarell

Nadja Sarell is an illustrator living in Helsinki, Finland. She graduated with MA in Dance from Theatre Academy Helsinki. Soon after that she moved to a small town in North Wales to study children’s book illustration. She graduated from North Wales School of Art and Design with BA in Illustration for Children’s Publishing in 2004.

Since then she has worked as a freelance illustrator for children’s publishing in Finland and abroad. She loves to teach art, illustration and dance for both children and adults. She is also passionate about surface pattern design and enjoys creating charismatic, expressive book characters.
If Nadja was an animal, she would be a cat living in an old mansion with a large fireplace and a comfy sofa. Her favourite things are her family, music, dancing, black coffee and chocolate.

Now longer sample available for THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD! Read the Italian praise!

THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD is a new eye-opening non-fiction title by experienced investigative journalists Hannu Sokala and Juha-Pekka Raeste. It covers 50 companies that comprise a large part of global market forces. They determine what kind of a world we all live in.

The book was published in January to excellent reviews and has already sold out two print runs, with a third on the way!

We now have a longer English sample of over 100pp download it here!
The English sample now also includes chapters about Google, Gazprom, Deutsche Bank and Disney!

The Hungarian rights for the title were recently pre-empted by Scolar and the Italian rights have just been acquired by Newton Compton!  They were very happy to acquire this thought-provoking title:

THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD is a a book that is not afraid to name things. an investigation that will change the perspective of many on who they are ruling the future of the world and how little we can trust them. It is terrible to realize for certain that money has become more important than people’s well-being. Investigations like this on, accurate and rigorous, renew the sense of the publisher’s profession
– Martina Donati, editor, Newton Compton, Italy
Hungarian publisher Scolar pre-empted the title immediately after reading and they said:

When reading this we are sitting behind Ikea desks, using Microsoft laptops, maybe even drinking Coca-Cola. After the Covid times we plan to travel with Ryanair on a Boeing airplane. But until we cannot travel, we advise to read this book, which can bring closer to the understanding the world around us. We are happy to present to the Hungarian readers this undoubtedly exciting reading.
– Andras Kozma, Foreign Rights Manager, Scolar Kiadó, Hungary
FINNISH PRAISE:

The book’s title 50 Most Dangerous Companies is a compelling lure. It makes you think of an excavator hoisting out the biggest crooks one by one. In truth, journalists Juha-Pekka Raeste and Hannu Sokala deliver multifaceted analyses of the powerful companies. …/ Raeste and Sokala deliver excellent journalism. It takes initiative, it’s thought-provoking, entertaining, and appropriately polemicizing. 
– Mikael Kosk, Hufvudstadsbladet Newspaper


THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD
by Hannu Sokala and Juha-Pekka Raeste
Otava/Nemo, January 2021Large multinational corporations influence how we think, what we eat, who we meet, how we spend our time and even who we vote for. As those businesses grow, their influence and power over people and governments also grows. To make sure that the future is not dictated by corporations, but by people, we need to know more about them.

This exciting non-fiction title by experienced financial journalists Hannu Sokala and Juha-Pekka Raeste covers 50 companies that comprise a large part of global market forces. They determine what kind of a world we all live in.

Some of the companies in the book are relatively unknown (Zhōngguó Yāncǎo Zǒnggōngsī and BlackRock) some predictable (Google, Amazon), some may seem surprising (Ikea and Disney) and some inevitable (Gazprom and Chevron). Some of the companies benefit from our everyday needs (Cargill, Coca-Cola), some from our vanity (Bytedance, Facebook), and some from our greed (Goldman Sachs, Berkshire Hathaway).

The book reads like a thriller, but it is non-fiction. It offers a comprehensive and often startling perspective on the most important, and dangerous, companies in the world.


Don’t forget to apply for FILI Grants for translations from Finnish/Finland Swedish!

The Spring application period started today 1st of April and will be closed on 1st of May.

The unique translation grant system in Finland gives you an opportunity to finance your translation costs up to 70% and even cover part of your printing costs – read more here:  https://fili.fi/en/grants/

Apply now:
The new FILI grant application period is now open starting January 1st, until February 1st. Please note that only translations from Finnish or Finnish-Swedish to foreign language will be supported.

Translators:
We will advice you to find the best possible translators, and in some cases you can also translate from English.  Find more information about translators here: https://kaantopiiri.fi/en/search-translators/

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Otava/Nemo (orig.)

HUNGARY: Scolar
ITALY: Newton Compton

About author


Juha-Pekka Raeste & Hannu Sokala

Juha-Pekka Raeste covers international and domestic business for Helsingin Sanomat, the biggest newspaper in Finland. He focuses on the biggest corporations and the IT industry.

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.

Bibliography


2021, General Nonfiction, History & Politics

The 50 Most Dangerous Companies in the World

Juha-Pekka Raeste & Hannu Sokala

FACELIFT to be published in Germany! English sample for CHARMING DUKE!

We are delighted to announce that Kein & Aber AG will publish the German edition Miika Nousiainen’s bestselling novel FACELIFT in the fall 2021 as one of their lead titles! Award-winning translator Elina Kritzokat has translated the German edition. Advance buzz around the book in Germany has started:
 
Praise from the German publisher:

“I must say that this new book really exceeds our expectations. I loved each character of the book, I loved its subtle humour, its lightness while at the same time it manages to address difficult and quite topical subjects. I think that this is quite a strength of the book: it works as entertainment, but it is also psychologically smart and social criticism in its most wonderful, discreet form.”
– Patrick Sielemann, Editor, Kein & Aber AG

Praise:

“Facelift is a perfect feel-good novel. It meets the high expectations that we have learned to expect from Nousiainen: it’s funny, dark, entertaining and very timely.”  – Helsingin Sanomat newspaper

FACELIFT is #6 on the official Finnish Bestseller list

Download English sample here.

FACELIFT
By Miika Nousiainen

Sami has a dream: he desperately wants to be a father. His biological clock has been ticking for the past 15 years so loudly that sometimes it’s hard to hear his own thoughts. But it’s not so easy to become a father, first of all, you need to find a suitable future mother candidate.

But when Sami’s latest future-mother-candidate rides off with a biker guy, he makes a series of bad choices that cause him to anger the local motorcycle gang. How to fix a life where everything seems to go wrong? Sini, a wellbeing blogger with perfectly instagrammable life arrives to offer a solution.

__________________________________________

English sample for CHARMING DUKE now available

CHARMING DUKE
by Sara Medberg

“Bridgerton meets Jane Austen in 19th century Sweden”
The lady of Blackthorn Castle, beautiful Arabella, has been widowed and fallen into poverty. In the midst of all adversity, she is encouraged by Jane Austen’s literary heroines. However, the shadows of the past won’t leave Arabella alone: she encounters a dazzling English duke who claims to know a fatal secret about Arabella’s late spouse.
This enchanting novel takes place in the social circles of Helsinki and in the court of Stockholm in 1816.

Download English sample here.

__________________________________________

Don’t forget to apply for FILI Grants for translations from Finnish / Finnish Swedish!

The Spring application period started today 1st of April and will be closed on 1st of May.

The unique translation grant system in Finland gives you an opportunity to finance your translation costs up to 70% and even cover part of your printing costs – read more here:  https://fili.fi/en/grants/
Apply now:
The new FILI grant application period is now open starting January 1st, until February 1st. Please note that only translations from Finnish or Finnish-Swedish to foreign language will be supported.
Translators:
We will advice you to find the best possible translators, and in some cases you can also translate from English.  Find more information about translators here: https://kaantopiiri.fi/en/search-translators/

FACELIFT
Rights sold
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
ESTONIA: Eesti Raamat
GERMANY: Kein & Aber
NORWAY: Vigmostad & Bjørke
RUSSIA: Livebook Publishing
SERBIA: Odiseja

 

CHARMING DUKE
Rights sold
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

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.

About author


Sara Medberg

Sara Medberg is a historian currently writing her doctoral dissertation about the education of highborn girls in the 18th century. The ideas for her novels come from her research. In her thesis she studies young womens' conduct manuals in Sweden in the 18th century from the perspective of the modernising ideals for women and the upbringing of girls.

Sara has received academic scholarships from the Swedish Cultural Foundation, Waldemar von Frenckell's Foundation and the Swedish Literature Society. Including others, her literary work is sponsored by the Finnish Author Association and Otava's Book Foundation.

Medberg enjoys costume dramas, fashion from the past, castles, mansions, shopping and running. In Finland, her novels have already sold over 43,500 copies.

German 3-book deal for ANNI THE FRIEND TAMER series

“Shy people of the world, unite!” We are very happy to announce that German rights for ANNI THE FRIEND TAMER and the next two books in the series have been sold to Loewe Verlag in a pre-empt. These are the first foreign rights sales to this new book series. Congratulations to author Kaisa Paasto!

Finnish author Kaisa Paasto and her debut ANNI THE FRIEND TAMER have been shortlisted for the LukuVarkaus Award, honouring books targeted at readers under 12 years old. The winner will be announced in June.

Praise from the German publisher:

“Kaisa Paasto manages to carry out the inner emotional world of shy children, but at the same time effortlessly portrays the heroine likeable and self-confident. What immediately convinced us was the sweet little pig, which reflects the development of the protagonist: At first scared, strange and a bit out of place, in the end an open, lovable friend. What a wonderful story!“
– Laura Hänel, Editor, Loewe Verlag

Review:

“Anni the Friend Tamer succeeds in showing how a person can be quite different in different environments: at home Anni is happy and confident, at school she’s shy and clumsy. The crucial understanding comes when Anni realizes that instead of taming a friend, she needs to tame her own school self. She needs to learn how to be herself. In this first part of a new children’s novel series there’s plenty of humour both in the text and in the pictures.
– Helsingin Sanomat

Download Full English manuscript here.

Book 1: ANNI THE FRIEND TAMER
by Kaisa Paasto

Anni is a 10-year-old girl. When her friend Miisa moves abroad, Anni has a chilling realization: she has never had to find a new friend. Is it too late to learn how to make friends? Obviously no-one can learn a skill this big when they’re 10. Can they?

At home Anni has a different sort of problem: her new pet pig is refusing to be trained. He just wants to stay in his safe place, under the table. Good thing that Anni’s brother has just had a major back operation, as this means he has lots of time to lie in bed and dole out great advice. Anni’s parents are also alright as far as parents go, even if they do laugh a bit too much at their own jokes. So it’s not all too bad – she just needs to become a ‘friend tamer’!

Book 2: ANNI THE FRIEND TAMER ON THE RED CARPET

In the second part Anni wants to do good. Her class is shown a news clip about a hurricane in Brazil. In the clip Anni sees a girl who has a T-shirt, exactly like the one that Anni has in her closet. Anni feels a strong desire to do something to help. With her friend Riia they will make a movie, show it in the library auditorium and raise money for charity work in Brazil.

Book 3: ANNI THE FRIEND TAMER (UNTITLED)

Anni learns how to deal with difficult people. Anni’s family spends the summer in a small island near Turku with Anni’s uncle and his family. Anni has never spent much time with her cousin, but oh boy, he turns out to be a pest. He’s mean and sly and prone to temper tantrums.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author Kaisa Paasto

Kaisa Paasto (born 1979) spent her childhood in the north of Finland and now lives in Espoo with her husband, two children and several pets. But sadly, no pigs.

Kaisa has a Master’s Degree in Comparative Literature, and she has previously worked as translator, audiovisual translator and entrepreneur. She is now working as a marketing content specialist. For the joy of her publishing editor, she herself has also done some work as a publishing editor.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)

GERMANY: Loewe Verlag

About author


Kaisa Paasto

Kaisa Paasto spent her childhood in the north of Finland and now lives in Espoo with her husband, two children, bunnies and a shih tzu. 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 domestic thrillers for adults by Storytel Original.

Bibliography


2024, Chapter Books (6-9 Years), Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Prankenstein

Kaisa Paasto


2022, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Anni the Friend Tamer in Salty Waters

Kaisa Paasto


2021, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Anni the Friend Tamer on the Red Carpet

Kaisa Paasto


2020, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Anni the Friend Tamer

Kaisa Paasto

Now Italian rights sold for 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD!

We are really glad to let you know that Italian rights for THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD have been acquired by Newton Compton!

This bestselling non-fiction title by experienced financial journalists Hannu Sokala and Juha-Pekka Raeste covers 50 companies that comprise a large part of global market forces. They determine what kind of a world we all live in. The book was published in January with excellent reviews!

A few dozen business giants could challenge the foundations of democracy, destabilize institutions, and determine the state of the environment.

Download the English sample, praise sheet and Finnish manuscript by clicking here

Hungarian publisher Scolar pre-empted the title immediately after reading and they said:

When reading this we are sitting behind Ikea desks, using Microsoft laptops, maybe even drinking Coca-Cola. After the Covid times we plan to travel with Ryanair on a Boeing airplane. But until we cannot travel, we advise to read this book, which can bring closer to the understanding the world around us. We are happy to present to the Hungarian readers this undoubtedly exciting reading.
– Andras Kozma, Foreign Rights Manager, Scolar Kiadó, Hungary
FINNISH PRAISE:

The book’s title 50 Most Dangerous Companies is a compelling lure. It makes you think of an excavator hoisting out the biggest crooks one by one. In truth, journalists Juha-Pekka Raeste and Hannu Sokala deliver multifaceted analyses of the powerful companies. …/ Raeste and Sokala deliver excellent journalism. It takes initiative, it’s thought-provoking, entertaining, and appropriately polemicizing. 
– Mikael Kosk, Hufvudstadsbladet Newspaper


THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD
by Hannu Sokala and Juha-Pekka Raeste
Otava/Nemo, January 2021Large multinational corporations influence how we think, what we eat, who we meet, how we spend our time and even who we vote for. As those businesses grow, their influence and power over people and governments also grows. To make sure that the future is not dictated by corporations, but by people, we need to know more about them.This exciting non-fiction title by experienced financial journalists Hannu Sokala and Juha-Pekka Raeste covers 50 companies that comprise a large part of global market forces. They determine what kind of a world we all live in.Some of the companies in the book are relatively unknown (Zhōngguó Yāncǎo Zǒnggōngsī and BlackRock) some predictable (Google, Amazon), some may seem surprising (Ikea and Disney) and some inevitable (Gazprom and Chevron). Some of the companies benefit from our everyday needs (Cargill, Coca-Cola), some from our vanity (Bytedance, Facebook), and some from our greed (Goldman Sachs, Berkshire Hathaway).The book reads like a thriller, but it is non-fiction. It offers a comprehensive and often startling perspective on the most important, and dangerous, companies in the world

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Otava/Nemo (orig.)

HUNGARY: Scolar
ITALY: Newton Compton

About author


Juha-Pekka Raeste & Hannu Sokala

Juha-Pekka Raeste covers international and domestic business for Helsingin Sanomat, the biggest newspaper in Finland. He focuses on the biggest corporations and the IT industry.

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.

Bibliography


2021, General Nonfiction, History & Politics

The 50 Most Dangerous Companies in the World

Juha-Pekka Raeste & Hannu Sokala

Now 20 publishers worldwide for the LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES!

We are over the moon to announce that Slovak rights for Magdalena Hai’s LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES series have been sold to IKAR!

This year, the rights have been sold also to Gilbutschool in Korea, Dioptra in Greece, Emas in Bulgaria, Odiseja in Serbia and Briedis in Lithuania, altogether the series has sold to 20 countries!

What a milestone!

SLOVAK PRAISE:

The book trilogy by the Finnish duo M. Hai and T. Juhani is full of sincere laughter; natural comic book rhythm; incredibly fantastic, a bit scary adventure; and unique characters that readers will love immediately even without reading the story (visualization is simply magnificent!).
– Lucia Hlubenova, Editor-in-chief for children’s literature, IKAR,  Slovakia

The wonderful younger middle-grade series illustrated by Teemu Juhani has already sold to 20 countries, but rights are still available in Poland, France, United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Slovenia, China, etc.

Download the Full English pdfs for all 3 titles in the series here.

We were captivated by the hilarious and heartwarming stories of the main characters and monsters. Many children will gain confidence and energy through Nina’s adventures in solving problems actively.
–  Gilbutschool Publishers, Korea

Enchanting series, well-written, with funny illustrations, stimulates children’s imagination.
A delightful blend of fantasy and humor. The amazing illustrations in each page feature dynamic characters and unexpected goosebumps!

– Lindy Galatis, Editorial Director, Dioptra, Greece


THE LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES
by Magdalena Hai, illustrated by Teemu Juhani

Nina is a is a clever, 9-year-old girl who goes to work in the Little Shop of Nightmares. During the course of the trilogy, she has to solve a mystery with tickling powder, find the lost teeth of a vampire and discover the reason why suddenly it just doesn’t stop snowing. The Little Shop of Nightmares is a mystery full of fascinating and fun characters that make young readers both wonder and laugh!

 #1  THE TERRIBLE TICKLING POWDER
When Nina, 9 years old, enters The Little Shop of Nightmares in hopes of getting a job, she is
greeted by an odd sight: shopkeeper Mr. Kook is rolling on the floor, unable to stop laughing.
With a little help from a ghost called Paddy, they start looking for the untickling powder to help
him, but things are certainly not made easier by Mr. Kook’s world-domination-planning pet octopus
Squishy McGoo, who is a bit too quick about getting into trouble with rollerblades on its tentacles.

 #2  MYSTERY OF THE MISSING TEETH
Nina goes to buy ice cream after her first work day at The Little Shop of Nightmares.
But at the ice cream shop she discovers a vampire – without teeth! Nina decides to help
vampire Lucas to find his teeth from Mr. Kook’s shop. But for some reason all the vampire
teeth seem to have disappeared. It seems like somebody has hidden them on purpose…

 #3  STICKY THE TERRIBLE SNOWMAN
Same awesome monsters. New blizzardy trouble. The Little Shop of Nightmares is
getting buried in snow! Nina and Paddy are trying to find the cause of the snowstorm,
but that’s easier said than done. A well-meaning but horribly clumsy snowman keeps
getting in their way and stopping their every effort to stop the snowing inside.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR

Author Magdalena Hai is a lover of cross genre fiction and all things strange, and her fiction often combines elements of sci-fi, fantasy and horror. Besides writing Hai teaches writing and is an active member and editor in the publishing co-operative Osuuskumma.

Illustrator Teemu Juhani is Finnish illustrator, comic artist and graphic designer currently based in London, UK. Born and raised in a land of snow and northern lights, he grew up reading comics, holding pencil in his hand and dreaming of superhuman powers. Teemu has studied graphic design and illustration at Karelia University of Applied Sciences in Finland and Academie Minerva in the Netherlands. Currently he’s working as a freelance illustrator and designer and creating his first children’s book and graphic nove

Rights sold

FINLAND:
WSOY (orig.)

BULGARIA:
Emas
CZECH REPUBLIC:
Euromedia
DENMARK:
Vild Maskine
ESTONIA:
Postimees Publishing
GERMANY:
Egmont Schneiderbuch
GREECE:
Dioptra
HUNGARY:
Cerkabella
ITALY:
Terre di Mezzo
KOREA:
Gilbutschool
LATVIA:
Latvijas Mediji
LITHUANIA:
Briedis
NETHERLANDS:
De Vier Windstreken
NORWAY:
Fontini
RUSSIA:
KompasGuide
ROMANIA:
Editura Univers
SERBIA:
Odiseja
SLOVAKIA:
IKAR
SWEDEN:
Hegas
TURKEY:
Epsilon

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.

About author


Teemu Juhani

Teemu Juhani is a Finnish illustrator, comic artist and picture book author whose illustrations have been published in picture books and children's fiction in over 20 countries. In addition to children's books Teemu has illustrated magazines and educational material. Originally from the fields and woods of North Karelia, Teemu now lives, works and eats way too many cakes in Helsinki.

Three new deals! CARGO and SWING now sold in 11 territories!

We are excited to announce that our spring crime highlight “Cargo“, and its sequel “Swing” by new Nordic Noir supercouple A.M. Ollikainen have now been acquired by publishers from 11 countries in three weeks!

The first title of the Paula Pihlaja series – CARGO – will be published in Finland by Otava as their lead title in May 2021.

The latest publisher to join A.M. Ollikainen publishers’ family is Czarna Owca in Poland that won a very exciting auction (Czarna Owca is Polish publisher for Stieg Larsson, Camilla Läckberg, Elina Backman etc)

That is not all, The Turkish rights for both of the titles were acquired by April and Latvian rights were acquired by Zvaigzne (Latvian Jo Nesbø, Stieg Larsson publisher)

Cargo is the first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Paula Pihlaja series, which has previously been acquired by excellent Nordic Crime publishers: Host in Czechia, Varrak in Estonia, Bastei Lübbe in Germany, Animus in Hungary, Baltos lankos in Lithuania, HarperCollins Holland in the Netherlands, Aschehoug in Norway, and Didakta in Slovenia.

Download the English sample and long synopsis for CARGO here.

The rights for this very exciting award-winning title and series are still available in Italy, France, Spain, Denmark, Russia, Sweden, France, US, UK, Bulgaria, Spain, China, Korea etc.

„Cargo” is a fast-paced story with suspense until the end and well-drawn main character—an intelligent, empathetic and pragmatic police commissioner, Paula Pihlaja. The other characters also have clear psychological outline and natural dialogues which fuel the reader’s curiosity. All those things make „Cargo” impossible to put down. I am glad that Polish readers will be able to take part in this criminal feast.– Dominika Dudarew-Osiecka, Czarna Owca, Poland

Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. You need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series. CARGO is outstanding.
– Marco Schneiders,  Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe


A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to 15 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Host
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
HUNGARY: Animus
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
LATVIA: Zvaigzne
(2-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)
NORWAY: Aschehoug
(2-book-deal)
POLAND: Czarna Owca
(2-book deal)
SLOVENIA: Didakta
(2-book deal)
TURKEY: April
(2-book-deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

MY FRIEND NATALIA by Laura Lindstedt published in the US today

We are extremely happy, as today is the US publication day for one of Finland’s most dynamic novelists, Laura Lindstedt, who bursts onto the American literary scene with her novel My Friend Natalia – an erotic story of an ambitious therapist’s sessions with an unforgettable patient. The novel is published by prestigious W.W. Norton / Liveright, and translated by award-winning David Hackston.

“My Friend Natalia” has already received amazing pre-reviews, and is selected by Entertainment Weekly as the Best Book of the Month in March 2021. 

“Throughout the novel, Natalia riffs on Sartre, Beauvoir, and others,baiting the psychologist with sexually charged critiques of patriarchal philosophy.”  – Publishers Weekly

“Lindstedt’s novel reads like the love child of a pornographer and a high theorist: Derrida meets Anaïs Nin. Ultimately, this is as much a novel about language as it is about sexuality or psychology, and translator Hackston has performed a virtuosic task capturing the Finnish pyrotechnics in English.” – Kirkus Reviews

“This provocative Finnish author enters the fray of American literature (thanks to translation from David Hackston) with a racy, wonderfully weird novel about a therapist’s sessions with a sex-obsessed woman.”  – Seija Rankin, Entertainment Weekly, ‘Best New Books of March’

“I was tremendously impressed by My Friend Natalia. . . . Laura Lindstedt has a very Finnish take on sophistication (downbeat, deadpan), is disconcerting, dissonant, peerless in deferred resolution, a blithe dissolver of the regular association of ideas. Why did I not use lockdown to learn Finnish? Why?”
– Helen DeWitt, author of The Last Samurai

“Smart, dark, funny, and weirdly exhilarating, Laura Lindstedt’s My Friend Natalia is both pitched on the brink and absolutely alive. An absorbing discourse of sex, power, and boundaries, in sentences that lift like music.”
– Paul Lisicky, author of Later: My Life at the Edge of the World


MY FRIEND NATALIA
by Laura Lindstedt

Natalia cannot stop thinking about sex. A mesmerizing tale of one woman’s potent affliction by award-winning Finnish writer Laura Lindstedt. Narrated by an unnamed, ungendered therapist who leaps at the chance to employ their most experimental methods, My Friend Natalia offers a gripping examination of the power dynamics always present but rarely ever spoken about in therapy. “Something flared within me,” the therapist notes, “and it wasn’t merely sympathy, the emotion I feel for most of my clients. It was more like a sudden experience of harmony, wholly inappropriate given the circumstances.”


Laura Lindstedt (b. 1976) became a critical darling with her adoption-themed debut novel Scissors (Sakset, Teos 2007), which earned her a nomination for the Finlandia Prize, the country’s most prestigious literary honour. She is currently revising her Ph.D. thesis on French author Nathalie Sarraute. Lindstedt’s second novel Oneiron (Teos 2015) is a work of speculative fiction that takes place in the mysterious moments that follow one’s death. Oneiron has continued Lindstedt’s critical success, earning her the coveted 2015 Finlandia Prize. Lindstedt’s latest novel My Friend Natalia has been a critical success and the rights have been sold to 13 territories.

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Teos (orig.)
ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat AS
FRANCE: Gallimard
GERMANY: DTV
HUNGARY: Scolar Kiado
ITALY: Elliot Edizioni
LITHUANIA: BALTO
NETHERLANDS & BELGIUM: De Bezige Bij
NORWAY: Oktober
ROMANIA: HUMANITAS S.A
SWEDEN: Norstedts
USA: W.W. Norton / Liveright

About author


Laura Lindstedt

Laura Lindstedt (b. 1976) became a critical darling with her adoption-themed debut novel Scissors (Sakset, Teos 2007), which earned her a nomination for the Finlandia Prize, the country’s most prestigious literary honour. Lindstedt’s second novel Oneiron (Teos 2015), a work of speculative fiction that takes place in the mysterious moments that follow one’s death, earned her the coveted Finlandia Prize of 2015 and was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2017. Lindstedt’s success has continued with My Friend Natalia (Teos 2019) which has earned critical acclaim and has been sold to 12 territories. Together with author Sinikka Vuola, she has authored 101 tapaa tappaa aviomies (101 Ways to Kill Your Husband, Siltala 2022) which has been nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize of 2024.

She is currently completing her Ph.D. thesis on French author Nathalie Sarraute.

Bibliography


2019, Literary Fiction

My Friend Natalia

Laura Lindstedt


2015, Literary Fiction

Oneiron

Laura Lindstedt


2007, Literary Fiction

Scissors

Laura Lindstedt

PUTIN’S TROLLS and THE MARIMEKKO STORY on foreign bestseller lists!

We are extremely happy to announce that only a week after publication by Helios, THE MARIMEKKO STORY is now TOP7 title in Estonia!

And that is not all, PUTIN’S TROLLS  was just published in Hungary by Corvina and now is the TOP2 title throughout the nation!

Congratulations to our authors Ulla-Maija Paavilainen and Jessikka Aro for their foreign success!


 

THE GREATEST OF ALL IS LOVE. THE MARIMEKKO STORY
by Ulla-Maija Paavilainen
Memories & BiographiesThe breath-taking rags-to-riches story of Marimekko’s former owner and CEO Kirsti Paakkanen, who turned the fortunes of the iconic brand around. This is the true story of how a retired businesswoman took over the practically bankrupt Finnish design house and turned Marimekko into a successful worldwide brand name.Download the English sample for THE MARIMEKKO STORY here.
Rights sold: FINLAND: Otava (orig.), ESTONIA: Helios Kirjastus OÜ, JAPAN: Shodensha


PUTIN’S TROLLS
by Jessikka Aro
General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, History & PoliticsTrue stories from the frontlines of the Russian information warfareRussia is waging a war against civilians online. Every critical voice is an enemy. In the last few years there have been countless international, sometimes criminal online campaigns against private people throughout the Western countries – orchestrated and approved by the Kremlin.Well-documented true stories show that Russia does not shy away from the darkest means of eliminating its opponents through cyber-espionage, social media trolls, fake news, cyber-attacks, death threats and hate campaigns by PR professionals.Download the full English pdf for PUTIN’S TROLLS here.
Rights sold: FINLAND: Johnny Kniga (orig.), BULGARIA: Ciela Norma, CZECH REPUBLIC: N Media, ESTONIA: Menu Meedia, HUNGARY: Corvina Books Ltd, LITHUANIA: Briedis, POLAND: Wydawnictwo SQN, ROMANIA: Lebada Neagra, SWEDEN: Sensor Förlag WORLD ENGLISH: Ig Publishing

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.

About author


Ulla-Maija Paavilainen

Ulla-Maija Paavilainen, award-winning journalist, is the author of several well-received novels and non-fiction books. She has worked as the editor-in-chief at several top Finnish magazines over the past 25 years. One of her specific areas of interest is the role of women in working life and analysing the power structure and what is required for women to have successful careers.

Paavilainen’s most recent work is the moving biography of the legendary entrepreneur Kirsti Paakkanen, who took over Marimekko, one of Finland’s most famous design brands. Kirsti Paakkanen: Greatest of All is Love is the story of Marimekko, an authentic rags-to riches tale of how a poor girl from the countryside first founded the world’s first all-women’s advertising agency, Womena. Selling Womena when she was 62, Paakkanen bought Marimekko, a global design company that was on the verge of bankruptcy and turned it around into an international iconic fashion house.

Grumblebelly Cat sold to Denmark

We are proud to share the news that the rights of Grumblebelly Cat by Magdalena Hai and Teemu Juhani have been sold to Vild Maskine in Denmark.

This author duo is better known for their bestselling series “The Little Shop of Nightmares”, which has been sold to 19 countries so far. The Grumblebelly Cat won the Finnish Literature Export Prize in 2018 and was nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize in 2018 as well. Additionally the book was nominated for the Arvid Lydecken Prize 2017 and Runeberg Junior Prize 2018.

 

Grumblebelly Cat
Karisto 2018, 46 pp.

In a barren land, when a little girl meets a gigantic cat that threatens to devour her, she makes it a smart offer. The girl leads the cat across the lands, looking for something to satiate its hunger before it eats her, but they encounter drought, destruction and people who have nothing to eat except their dreams. When the cat gobbles up the girl, she finds something in its belly, something that has made it so hungry…

The Grumblebelly Cat is a classical fairytale about a contemporary subject. The detailed, monochrome illustrations by Teemu Juhani add another layer in the story.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Karisto (orig.)
DENMARK: Vild Maskine
GERMANY: Dressler/Oetinger Verlag

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.

About author


Teemu Juhani

Teemu Juhani is a Finnish illustrator, comic artist and picture book author whose illustrations have been published in picture books and children's fiction in over 20 countries. In addition to children's books Teemu has illustrated magazines and educational material. Originally from the fields and woods of North Karelia, Teemu now lives, works and eats way too many cakes in Helsinki.

Mabel Merryweather and the Miniature Pirates sold in the Netherlands

We are excited to announce that the Dutch rights to Mabel Merryweather and the Miniature Pirates written by Noora Kunnas and illustrated by Teemu Juhani, have been sold to Veltman Uitgevers.

When I first read ‘Mabel Merryweather’ I immediately loved the funny, adventurous story. Dutch children will love the surprising characters, and the amazing illustrations. I look forward to bringing this book to the Netherlands!” – Saskia Kalter, Acquiring Editor, Veltman Uitgevers, Netherlands

The Mabel Merryweather series centers around siblings Nick and Lilly who are sent to the summery village of Dalton, while their parents are traveling. There they meet a friendly eccentric neighbor granny Mabel Merryweather and the summer adventures begin!

 

About the books:

Book 1: Mabel Merryweather and the Miniature Pirates
Otava 2019, 140 pp.
Nick and Lily are spending their summer with uncle Jim, who doesn’t like children. Luckily his neighbor, Mabel Marryweather, can guarantee the their summer will be filled with adventures, mysteries and hilarious encounters, when they start to figure out who is sabotaging the yearly flower arrangement competition.

Book 2: Mabel Merryweather and the King of Thieves
Otava 2020, 140 pp.
The kids are back at uncle Jim’s – and seems like they are attracting trouble. Or is it Mabel Merryweather who makes everything happen? This time the town is terrorized by an art hustler, but luckily Nick and Lily are there to stop him.

Book 3: Mabel Merrywethr and the Cheesy Mystery
Otava, May 2021, 140 pp.
Mabel Merryweather’s friend Bruno and his goat have arrived from Switzerland to perform at the Dalton cheese festival. This fragrant event has attracted a lot of people to the venue, but for the horror of the townspeople mysterious holes have started to appear on streets and courtyards at night. Who digs them – and why?

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
DENMARK: ABC Forlag
GERMANY: Mixtvision
HUNGARY: Pagony
NETHERLANDS: Veltman Uitgevers
RUSSIA: Eksmo

About author


Noora Kunnas

Noora Kunnas is a children’s author from Helsinki, Finland. She has the knack for making both children and grownups laugh while they’re immersed in her zany books. She loves animals and British humor – she grew up watching Jeeves and Wooster and eating ice cream straight from the container. Kunnas draws her inspiration from the world of Roald Dahl. The trademark of her books is a nutty humor, spiced with quirky characters, as well as the titillating mood of various settings, where anything – and we mean anything – is possible.

Noora Kunnas has published eight children’s books at Otava (2015 – 2022),  and her works have been nominated for the prestigious Tiiliskivi and Lukuvarkaus literary prizes in Finland. She graduated from the Turku Academy of Arts with a degree in film, and she worked in television since.

About author


Teemu Juhani

Teemu Juhani is a Finnish illustrator, comic artist and picture book author whose illustrations have been published in picture books and children's fiction in over 20 countries. In addition to children's books Teemu has illustrated magazines and educational material. Originally from the fields and woods of North Karelia, Teemu now lives, works and eats way too many cakes in Helsinki.

German rights for ARCTIC MIRAGE acquired by Hanser Berlin!

We are absolutely over the moon announcing that the German rights for Terhi Kokkonen’s debut award-winning novel ARCTIC MIRAGE have now been acquired by a very prestigious literary publisher Hanser Berlin!

They have completely fallen in love with the winner of the Best Debut Novel Award 2020,  and cannot praise it enough:

The unusual setting of the luxury hotel in the middle of the cold, snowy, isolated atmosphere of Lapland wasteland which translates directly to the inner numbness the characters, the slow unmasking of the characters, the carefully crafted language, the subtle atmosphere of menace – these are all things which made me fall in love with this phenomenal novel. I have to admit that it has captured my thoughts since the very moment I read the English sample translation, for it is not only one of the best reading experiences I had in a long time, it’s also such an interesting study of some of the most pressing issues of our time.  Terhi Kokkonen is such a brilliant, exceptional addition to our list of international authors!
– Lina Muzur, Verlagsleiterin/Publishing Director, Hanser Berlin

Download the English synopsis and sample for Arctic Mirage by clicking here

Some of the other Hanser Berlin’s authors include Ottessa Moshfegh, Christina Hesselholdt, Leslie Jamison, Karin Smirnoff, Vendela Vida, Maggie Nelson, Jonas Eika, Douglas Stuart, Hernan Diaz, Kaveh Akbar, Anuk Arudpragasam, Tommy Orange, and Svetlana Alexievich.


ARCTIC MIRAGE
by Terhi Kokkonen

When Karo and Risto’s holiday to Lapland ends in a car accident, they are forced to stay at the Arctic Mirage Hotel. Will their relationship survive the next six days?

Winner of the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize for the best debut novel of the year 2020.

Karo and Risto go on holiday in Lapland to give themselves time to fix their stressful marriage. However, on their way back home, they’re involved in a car accident and are subsequently forced to stay at the only accommodation in the area; Hotel Arctic Mirage. Once inside, they find that the hotel has a rather strange atmosphere and it starts to have a peculiar effect on them. Karo begins to doubt her own memories and tries her best to escape the snowbound hotel holiday village whereas Risto starts to feel strange and refuses to leave.

ARCTIC MIRAGE is a strong-spirited, psychological novel about people in exceptional circumstances. It keeps the reader gripped and provides chills on every page.


It is a rich and sensitive novel in which people can be strange, lewd, and at the same time infinitely ordinary. Contradictions and a mystery-like atmosphere remain after finishing the book – as happens in the best and most fascinating novels.

– Helsingin Sanomat newspaper



Terhi Kokkonen is a Helsinki-based musician and pop lyricist. She is known for the band Scandinavian Music Group, as well as being one of the singers of the band Ultra Bra. Kokkonen has studied dramaturgy at the Theater Academy and screenwriting and film editing at the Department of Cinematography and Stage Design at Aalto University. Arctic Mirage is her debut novel, and it was awarded as the best debut novel of 2020.

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Eesti Raamat
GERMANY: Hanser Berlin

About author


Terhi Kokkonen

Terhi Kokkonen (1974) is a Helsinki-based musician and pop lyricist. She is known for the band Scandinavian Music Group, as well as being one of the singers of the band Ultra Bra. Kokkonen has studied dramaturgy at the Theater Academy and screenwriting and film editing at the Department of Cinematography and Stage Design at Aalto University. Arctic Mirage is her debut novel, and it was awarded as the best debut novel of 2020.

Bibliography


2020, Literary Fiction

Arctic Mirage

Terhi Kokkonen

CARGO and SWING pre-empted by Animus in Hungary!

We are excited to announce that our spring crime highlight “Cargo“, and its sequel “Swing” by new Nordic Noir supercouple A.M. Ollikainen are now sold to 8 countries in two weeks!

The latest publisher to join A.M. Ollikainen publishers’ family is Animus (Hungarian publisher for Jo Nesbø, Lars Kepler, Stieg Larsson, Max Seeck etc)

Cargo is the first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Paula Pihlaja series, which has previously been acquired by excellent Nordic Crime publishers: Host in Czechia, Varrak in Estonia, Bastei Lübbe in Germany, Baltos lankos in Lithuania, HarperCollins Holland in the Netherlands, Aschehoug in Norway, and Didakta in Slovenia.

Download the English sample and long synopsis for CARGO here.

The rights for this very exciting award-winning title and series are still available in: Denmark, Russia, Sweden, Poland, Italy, Turkey, France, US, UK, Latvia, Bulgaria, Spain, China, Korea etc.

When finishing the English sample I felt that it is quite terrible that I can’t speak Finnish – you need to continue the story just from the really beginning! Big things are happening in Finland, authors like A.M. Ollikainen makes us stunned. With Cargo, you felt yourself immediately in the middle of a well-deserved Nordic thriller, and you quickly realize that this won’t be an easy one. The first fine screws, the personality of the main characters, the launch of this story guarantees that this book will have an amazing future.

– Laszlo Marosi, Publishing editor, Animus Kiado, Hungary

 


A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to 15 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

CARGO
Kontti
Otava, May 2021, 360 pp.

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Host
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
HUNGARY: Animus
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)
NORWAY: Aschehoug (2-book-deal)
SLOVENIA: Didakta (2-book deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

IRRATIONAL THINGS by Saara Turunen published today with rave reviews!

We are happy to announce the publication of award-winning author and playwright Saara Turunen’s third novel “Irrational Things” – the 1st print run already sold out!

A young woman from a Nordic country meets a Catalan man in Barcelona. A smart, modern love story ensues.
“Irrational Things” asks is it a contradiction if you are a strong independent woman, but also falling madly in love – so much in love that you are willing to change everything in your life for someone else?

When the main character falls in love with a Catalan man, they first try living in Spain, then the try Finland, and when things don’t work out they try breaking up. But the bond between them is so strong, that they have to keep inventing new ways to be together.

The novel also discusses writing about love. Is love a suitable subject to deal with if you want to be taken seriously?

PRAISE:

“Even though love is complicated, it is never irrational. This, and other ideas Turunen carefully depicts with her lovable style that pays attention even to the smallest of details.”
– Helsingin Sanomat newspaper 17.3.

“Like Saga Noren dropped in the middle of Los Serranos!”  – Etelä-Suomen Sanomat newspaper 17.3.

“In a short time Turunen has become the most interesting contemporary Finnish writer.” – Ilta-Sanomat newspaper 17.3.

“I love the way Turunen writes about seemingly mundane details, but they actually represent structures or pain points of the society. Her language is straightforward, and the humor is seen in the contrasts of what is said and what happens. “ – Turun Sanomat newspaper 17.3.


IRRATIONAL THINGS by Saara Turunen
Tammi, March 2021, 340 pp.

Autofictive story of love, death and life between two countries. Turunen’s funny, witty and melancholic voice examines the contradiction of sense and sensibility.

What if you are in love with a good man – a man you have always wanted to fall in love with? But what if this man lives in one country and you in another? Should you be sensible and leave the man to be free and independent? Or should you follow your heart, burn the bridges behind, and go after him?

The narrator travels to Barcelona to study theatre. After a few weeks she falls in love with a local man. Thus begins an intensive relationship that tears her between two countries and two cultures. She learns that relationships are between two individuals who have their own ways of expressing love to others and to themselves.

Turunen’s novel paints a relatable picture of relationships, breakups and the constant battle between fear and love. It is a beautiful picture of a woman growing up and trying to balance between social expectations, commitment and freedom.


Saara Turunen is an internationally acclaimed award-winning author, playwright and director.

Turunen has previously authored two highly acclaimed novels, Love/Monster 2015 and The Bystander 2018. Her debut novel Love/Monster won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2015.
She is known for her bold and direct style and much of her work examines the themes of identity and social norms. Her newest novel Irrational Things (Spring 2021) is a story of love, death and life between two countries.

In addition to her work as a novelist, Turunen is also known for her plays, that have been translated into  English, Spanish, Danish, Swedish, German, French, Russian, Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Estonian, Greek and Lithuanian and performed all around the world. Turunen was granted with the Finland Prize in 2016, a high profile award given by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, and with the City of Helsinki’s The Artist of the Year Award in 2018.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
LITHUANIA: BALTO

About author


Saara Turunen

Saara Turunen is an internationally acclaimed award-winning author, playwright and director. Much of her work examines the themes of art, identity and social norms. Turunen is known for her three highly acclaimed novels - Irrational Things (2021), The Bystander (2018) and Love/Monster (2015), but also for her work in theatre. Her plays have been translated into 15 languages and performed all around the world. Turunen has received the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2015, the Finland Prize in 2016, the City of Helsinki’s The Artist of the Year Award in 2018 and the Lea-Prize in 2020, all high-profile awards given in Finland.

Bibliography


2024, Literary Fiction

Hyena Days

Saara Turunen


2021, Literary Fiction

Irrational Things

Saara Turunen


2018, Literary Fiction

The Bystander

Saara Turunen


2015, Literary Fiction

Love/Monster

Saara Turunen

Japanese sale for AINO & ALVAR AALTO!

We cannot be more excited to let you know that Japanese publisher Soshisha has acquired rights to THE STORY OF AINO AND ALVAR AALTO, written by Aaltos’ grandson Heikki Aalto-Alanen.

This is a love story of the world-famous, pioneering design couple Aino and Alvar Aalto including previously unpublished correspondence from 1921-1949, photography and drawings. Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino are internationally celebrated for their architecture, furniture, glassware and other interior design, but their personal lives have been relatively unknown – until now.

Download the English sample by clicking here

Soshisha is known for its successful translation titles for history and biographies and they are really happy for the acquisition:

We are truly delighted for this opportunity to introduce such an extremely valuable book of correspondences written by the internationally renowned Finnish architects, Aino and Alvar Aalto, to Japan. The Aaltos are widely recognized in Japan as well, and the ideas which they pursued on design have been continuously referenced and implemented in the fields of architecture and design in Japan today. I believe that the Japanese people resonate with their deep understanding of human and nature through their design utilizing curved lines and wood. I am sure that Japanese readers are highly anticipating this book and its revelations about how the Aaltos have lived through tumultuous times and thought about design. 
– Kazuhiro Yoshida, Editor, Soshisha, Japan

 


THE STORY OF AINO AND ALVAR AALTO
by Heikki Aalto-Alanen
Otava, September 2021

This is the love story of the world-famous, pioneering design couple Aino and Alvar Aalto.
Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino 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, contains photos, sketches, and personal letters between Aino and Alvar beautifully illustrating how inseparable this couple was both in work and love.

“Countless books have been written about Alvar Aalto’s architecture and other works. Recently, Aino Marsio-Aalto has also received the recognition she deserves in her own right as well as in her role in the rise of Alvar Aalto as one of the leading architects of the 20th century,” says Heikki Aalto-Alanen, grandson of the Aaltos’.
“The voice in this book is personal. I want to tell the story of Aino and Alvar’s unique partnership, relationship, and their joint life work from the perspective of a family member. I also want their own voices to be heard.”

In addition to the photographs from the family archive, the book is illustrated with Aino and Alvar’s drawings of each other and of their children, as well as landscape drawings made while traveling, along with other architectural drawings and photographs

THE STORY OF AINO & ALVAR AALTO
RAKASTAN SINUSSA IHMISTÄ – AINO JA ALVAR AALLON TARINA

Otava, September 2021

Reading materials:  
English sample

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Postimees
JAPAN: Soshisha

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

First sale for 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD!

We are really glad to let you know that we now have the first deal for THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD!

Large multinational corporations influence how we think, what we eat, who we meet, how we spend our time and even who we vote for. As those businesses grow, their influence and power over people and governments also grows. To make sure that the future is not dictated by corporations, but by people, we need to know more about them.

Hungarian publisher Scolar pre-empted the title immediately after reading and they said:

When reading this we are sitting behind Ikea desks, using Microsoft laptops, maybe even drinking Coca-Cola. After the Covid times we plan to travel with Ryanair on a Boeing airplane. But until we cannot travel, we advise to read this book, which can bring closer to the understanding the world around us. We are happy to present to the Hungarian readers this undoubtedly exciting reading.
– Andras Kozma, Foreign Rights Manager, Scolar Kiadó, Hungary

 

Download the English sample by clicking here



THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD

by Hannu Sokala and Juha-Pekka Raeste
Otava/Nemo, January 2021Large multinational corporations influence how we think, what we eat, who we meet, how we spend our time and even who we vote for. As those businesses grow, their influence and power over people and governments also grows. To make sure that the future is not dictated by corporations, but by people, we need to know more about them.This exciting non-fiction title by experienced financial journalists Hannu Sokala and Juha-Pekka Raeste covers 50 companies that comprise a large part of global market forces. They determine what kind of a world we all live in.Some of the companies in the book are relatively unknown (Zhōngguó Yāncǎo Zǒnggōngsī and BlackRock) some predictable (Google, Amazon), some may seem surprising (Ikea and Disney) and some inevitable (Gazprom and Chevron). Some of the companies benefit from our everyday needs (Cargill, Coca-Cola), some from our vanity (Bytedance, Facebook), and some from our greed (Goldman Sachs, Berkshire Hathaway).The book reads like a thriller, but it is non-fiction. It offers a comprehensive and often a startling perspective on the most important, and dangerous, companies in the world.

 

THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD
MAAILMAN 50 VAARALLISINTA YHTIÖTÄ

Otava/Nemo, January 2021

Reading materials:
English sample

Rights sold:

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

About author


Juha-Pekka Raeste & Hannu Sokala

Juha-Pekka Raeste covers international and domestic business for Helsingin Sanomat, the biggest newspaper in Finland. He focuses on the biggest corporations and the IT industry.

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.

Bibliography


2021, General Nonfiction, History & Politics

The 50 Most Dangerous Companies in the World

Juha-Pekka Raeste & Hannu Sokala

Emilia Lahti is introducing the original concept of GENTLE POWER to the English-speaking world

We are beyond thrilled to announce that World English rights for GENTLE POWERA REVOLUTION IN HOW WE THINK, LEAD AND SUCCEED were acquired in a pre-empt by Diana Ventimiglia at Sounds True:

Former student of Angela Duckworth, international keynote speaker and researcher Emilia Lahti’s GENTLE POWERA REVOLUTION IN HOW WE THINK, LEAD AND SUCCEED, on co-creating the next level of company and community cultures based on the science of sisu, and introducing the original concept of gentle power, is a universal strategy for how to draw from the deep well of inner strength and fortitude in order to lead more effectively in all aspects of life.

Download the English proposal by clicking here

The deal was negotiated by the Gentle Power Team: Agent Rhea Lyons at HG Literary and Elina Ahlbäck at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Emilia Lahti’s brand new publisher Sounds True has a mission: To wake up the worldGentle Power will contribute to this mission by offering a tool for accessing and balancing the two inner powers we each hold within—our indomitable life force and immense capacity for love—and will be written in English by Emilia Lahti. Sounds True will publish the original English language edition in Fall 2022/Spring 2023.

Sounds True was founded in 1985 by Tami Simon and has grown into a multimedia publishing company with a library of more than 3,000 titles featuring some of the leading teachers and visionaries of our time: Read more: Sounds True

RIGHTS SOLD:
WORLD ENGLISH: Sounds True (orig.)

About author


Emilia Elisabet Lahti

Emilia Elisabet Lahti (PhD, MSc, MAPP), who goes by Elisabet, is an awarded educator, applied psychology researcher, and founder of Sisu Lab that helps create communities and work cultures based on everyday leadership as an expression of courage and compassion. Elisabet holds a master’s degree in social psychology from the University of Tampere in Finland and a master’s in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied under Professors Martian Seligman and Angela Duckworth. 

Since initiating the research on the Finnish construct of sisu in 2012, Elisabet’s doctoral work has involved exploring the limits of her own sisu through ultra-endurance running and Eastern martial arts. Her work on sisu has been featured by The New Yorker, Business Insider, BBC, Forbes, and more. Born and raised in Finland, she has lived and taught internationally and given talks at Fortune 500 companies, TEDx, Stanford University, and UC Berkeley.

Bibliography

CARGO sold to Norway and Slovenia

We are excited to announce that our spring crime highlight “Cargo“, and its sequel “Swing” by A.M. Ollikainen is now sold to 7 countries in two weeks! In NorwayAschehoug won the auction, and in SloveniaDidakta acquired the rights.  Both publishers acquired two books. Excitement is growing, more deals expected soon! Join the happy family of A.M. Ollikainen’s publishers!

Cargo is the first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Paula Pihlaja series, which has previously been pre-empted by Varrak in Estonia, Bastei Lübbe in Germany and HarperCollins Holland in the Netherlands and Baltos Lankos in Lithuania won an auction with a 5-book deal!

“Something very exciting is for sure happening within the genre of Nordic noir – our eyes are drawn to Helsinki. A.M. Ollikainen comes in and blow our minds. What a terrific start for a new series! The writing, the atmosphere, the characters, the tension – it’s all there, and we strongly believe this author duo to be the next big thing. Cargo is a book that’s hard to put down and has excellent twists and turns that are sure to delight thriller and Nordic noir fans. In addition to the great entertaining read this novel is, we love how well it takes on political and human themes – that’s rare, and adds to our enthusiasm for this author duo and their promising series.” – Vidar Strøm Fallrø, Development Editor, Aschehoug, Norway

Download the English sample and long synopsis for CARGO here.

 


A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to 15 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Host
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)
NORWAY: Aschehoug (2-book-deal)
SLOVENIA: Didakta (2-book deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

Announcing a Latvian deal for LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES 2!

We are very happy to announce that Latvian rights for Magdalena Hai’s LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES 2: MYSTERY OF THE MISSING TEETH  has been sold to Latvijas Mediji!
This year, the rights have been sold also to Gilbutschool in Korea, Dioptra in Greece, Emas in Bulgaria, Odiseja in Serbia and Briedis in Lithuania, altogether the series has sold to 19 countries!

LATVIAN PRAISE:

The story and illustrations are bursting with charm and whimsy, portraying a genuine friendship between characters who all have their edge and would be outcasts in many other tales. “The Mystery of the Missing Teeth” provides a fun and thrilling time for Nina and her friends, as well as the reader.

– Liva Kukle, editor, Latvijas Mediji, Latvia

The wonderful younger middle-grade series illustrated by Teemu Juhani has already sold to 19 countries, but rights are still available in Poland, France, United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Slovenia, China, etc.

Download the Full English pdfs for all 3 titles in the series here.

We were captivated by the hilarious and heartwarming stories of the main characters and monsters. Many children will gain confidence and energy through Nina’s adventures in solving problems actively.
–  Gilbutschool Publishers, Korea

Enchanting series, well-written, with funny illustrations, stimulates children’s imagination.
A delightful blend of fantasy and humor. The amazing illustrations in each page feature dynamic characters and unexpected goosebumps!

– Lindy Galatis, Editorial Director, Dioptra, Greece


 

THE LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES
by Magdalena Hai, illustrated by Teemu Juhani

Nina is a is a clever, 9-year-old girl who goes to work in the Little Shop of Nightmares. During the course of the trilogy, she has to solve a mystery with tickling powder, find the lost teeth of a vampire and discover the reason why suddenly it just doesn’t stop snowing. The Little Shop of Nightmares is a mystery full of fascinating and fun characters that make young readers both wonder and laugh!

 #1  THE TERRIBLE TICKLING POWDER
When Nina, 9 years old, enters The Little Shop of Nightmares in hopes of getting a job, she is
greeted by an odd sight: shopkeeper Mr. Kook is rolling on the floor, unable to stop laughing.
With a little help from a ghost called Paddy, they start looking for the untickling powder to help
him, but things are certainly not made easier by Mr. Kook’s world-domination-planning pet octopus
Squishy McGoo, who is a bit too quick about getting into trouble with rollerblades on its tentacles.

 #2  MYSTERY OF THE MISSING TEETH
Nina goes to buy ice cream after her first work day at The Little Shop of Nightmares.
But at the ice cream shop she discovers a vampire – without teeth! Nina decides to help
vampire Lucas to find his teeth from Mr. Kook’s shop. But for some reason all the vampire
teeth seem to have disappeared. It seems like somebody has hidden them on purpose…

 #3  STICKY THE TERRIBLE SNOWMAN
Same awesome monsters. New blizzardy trouble. The Little Shop of Nightmares is
getting buried in snow! Nina and Paddy are trying to find the cause of the snowstorm,
but that’s easier said than done. A well-meaning but horribly clumsy snowman keeps
getting in their way and stopping their every effort to stop the snowing inside.

Rights sold

FINLAND:
WSOY (orig.)

BULGARIA:
Emas
CZECH REPUBLIC:
Euromedia
DENMARK:
Vild Maskine
ESTONIA:
Postimees Publishing
GERMANY:
Egmont Schneiderbuch
GREECE:
Dioptra
HUNGARY:
Cerkabella
ITALY:
Terre di Mezzo
KOREA:
Gilbutschool
LATVIA:
Latvijas Mediji
LITHUANIA:
Briedis
NETHERLANDS:
De Vier Windstreken
NORWAY:
Fontini
RUSSIA:
KompasGuide
ROMANIA:
Editura Univers
SERBIA:
Odiseja
SWEDEN:
Hegas
TURKEY:
Epsilon

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.

About author


Teemu Juhani

Teemu Juhani is a Finnish illustrator, comic artist and picture book author whose illustrations have been published in picture books and children's fiction in over 20 countries. In addition to children's books Teemu has illustrated magazines and educational material. Originally from the fields and woods of North Karelia, Teemu now lives, works and eats way too many cakes in Helsinki.

Pre-empt for CARGO and SWING in Czech Republic!

We could not be happier to announce another amazing news about the winner of the National Crime Competition – CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen, due to be published in Finland in May 2021 by Otava Publishers.

Cargo is the first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir Paula Pihlaja series.

Host – the Czech publishers for Stieg Larsson, David Lagercrantz, Lars Kepler, Henning Mankell, Jussi Adler-Olsen – has just pre-empted the Czech rights for CARGO and SWING (#2 in the series) by A.M. Ollikainen.

The Paula Pihlaja series has previously been pre-empted by Varrak in Estonia, Bastei Lübbe in Germany and HarperCollins Holland in the Netherlands and Baltos Lankos in Lithuania won an auction with a 5-book deal!


Download the English sample and long synopsis for CARGO here.


The Host team is very happy about this, and the editor Lucie Bregantová had this to say:

CZECH PRAISE:
Cargo is like a breath of fresh air among contemporary crime fiction – it is not only a thrilling detective story but also a perfectly written novel pointing out many interesting observations about our current lives. Moreover, the investigator Paula Pihlaja is such a relatable character – a capable, intelligent woman full of wit yet also haunted by her past. But could her seeming weaknesses be a source of strength too? It is a pleasure to see a strong female lead who is not afraid of being vulnerable. 
-Lucie Bregantová, editor, HOST – vydavatelství, s. r. o., Czech Republic


GERMAN PRAISE:
Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. You need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series. CARGO is outstanding.
– Marco Schneiders,  Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe

DUTCH PRAISE:
We see a great readership for this thriller series starring Paula Pihlaja: she’s a great detective, but also a person people can relate to as she copes with her past and the challenging times ahead of her. Add to this the themes that every great thriller novel needs: an intriguing murder method, a perfect writing style and a suspenseful plot, and I think you’ve got a winning combination in Cargo! We see A.M. Ollikainen as a very promising crimewriting powercouple, and look forward to introduce them to our Dutch readers.
– Soraya Vink, Commissioning Editor, HarperCollins Holland

ESTONIAN PRAISE:
“A rare crime novel that also masters the literary style. One of the authors – Aki Ollikainen – is an awarded and internationally acclaimed literary fiction author and it really shows. The well-crafted mystery only unfolds in the very end, and leaves the reader in awe.”
– Piret Saluri, translator for Varrak, Estonia


A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to 15 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
CZECH REPUBLIC: Host
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

Five-book deal for CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen in Lithuania! Auction in Norway!

We are overwhelmingly happy to announce another amazing news about the winner of the National Crime Competition – CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen, due to be published in Finland in May 2021 by Otava Publishers.

Baltos lankos – Lithuanian publisher for Jo Nesbø, Max Seeck, Jane Harper, Daniel Cole, Stefan Anhem and Sarah Pinborough has won the Lithuanian auction with an amazing 5-book deal for the Paula Pihlaja series!

Cargo (Otava, May 2021) is the first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir Paula Pihlaja series.

Download the English sample and synopsis for CARGO here.

The Baltos lankos team is absolutely thrilled, and editor Gintė Pačėsė shares their enthusiasm:

CARGO is really masterful at setting up its twists and turns,also adding some hard-hitting societal criticism into the mix. I certainly could not put it down and it kept me guessing the whole time.
– Gintė Pačėsė, Editor, Baltos lankos, Lithuania

That is not all – now we have an auction for the series in Norway!

The first two books in the series have previously been pre-empted by Varrak in Estonia, Bastei Lübbe in Germany and HarperCollins Holland in the Netherlands!

GERMAN PRAISE:
Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. You need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series. CARGO is outstanding.
– Marco Schneiders,  Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe

DUTCH PRAISE:
We see a great readership for this thriller series starring Paula Pihlaja: she’s a great detective, but also a person people can relate to as she copes with her past and the challenging times ahead of her. Add to this the themes that every great thriller novel needs: an intriguing murder method, a perfect writing style and a suspenseful plot, and I think you’ve got a winning combination in Cargo! We see A.M. Ollikainen as a very promising crimewriting powercouple, and look forward to introduce them to our Dutch readers.
– Soraya Vink, Commissioning Editor, HarperCollins Holland

ESTONIAN PRAISE:
“A rare crime novel that also masters the literary style. One of the authors – Aki Ollikainen – is an awarded and internationally acclaimed literary fiction author and it really shows. The well-crafted mystery only unfolds in the very end, and leaves the reader in awe.”
– Piret Saluri, translator for Varrak, Estonia


A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to 15 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

CARGO
Kontti
Otava, May 2021, 360 pp.

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
(2-book deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
(5-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland (2-book deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

Excellent US praise for Laura Lindstedt’s MY FRIEND NATALIA – An Entertainment Weekly Best Book of the Month in March 2021

We are extremely happy to let you know that one of Finland’s most dynamic novelists, Laura Lindstedt bursts onto the American literary scene with her novel My Friend Natalia – an erotic story of an ambitious therapist’s sessions with an unforgettable patient –  and is selected by Entertainment Weekly as the Best Book of the Month in March 2021. Translation by award-winning translator David Hackston.

W.W. Norton/Liveright publication date is March 23. Read more on their website.

The exciting literary novel will be published in 13 territories, but the rights are still available in Denmark, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Turkey, Bulgaria, Latvia, China, Spain, Iceland, Japan etc.

Download the full English manuscript and praise sheet for MY FRIEND NATALIA by clicking here


US PRE-PUBLICATION PRAISE

Throughout the novel, Natalia riffs on Sartre, Beauvoir, and others, baiting the psychologist with sexually charged critiques of patriarchal philosophy.
– Publishers Weekly


I was tremendously impressed by My Friend Natalia. . . . Laura Lindstedt has a very Finnish take on sophistication (downbeat, deadpan), is disconcerting, dissonant, peerless in deferred resolution, a blithe dissolver of the regular association of ideas. Why did I not use lockdown to learn Finnish? Why?
– Helen DeWitt


Smart, dark, funny, and weirdly exhilarating, Laura Lindstedt’s My Friend Natalia is both pitched on the brink and absolutely alive. An absorbing discourse of sex, power, and boundaries, in sentences that lift like music.
– Paul Lisicky, author of Later: My Life at the Edge of the World


This provocative Finnish author enters the fray of American literature (thanks to translation from David Hackston) with a racy, wonderfully weird novel about a therapist’s sessions with a sex-obsessed woman.
-Seija Rankin, Entertainment Weekly, ‘Best New Books of March’


Lindstedt’s novel reads like the love child of a pornographer and a high theorist: Derrida meets Anaïs Nin. Ultimately, this is as much a novel about language as it is about sexuality or psychology, and translator Hackston has performed a virtuosic task capturing the Finnish pyrotechnics in English. Lindstedt may not be looking to make an exact analogy between the work of therapy and the work an artist does, but it’s hard not to read this as an ars poetica: ‘If you talk a lot,’ the therapist says, ‘the sorrow might permanently change shape.’ Bawdy and beguiling.
– Kirkus Reviews

 


MY FRIEND NATALIA
by Laura Lindstedt

Natalia cannot stop thinking about sex. A mesmerizing tale of one woman’s potent affliction by award-winning Finnish writer Laura Lindstedt. Narrated by an unnamed, ungendered therapist who leaps at the chance to employ their most experimental methods, My Friend Natalia offers a gripping examination of the power dynamics always present but rarely ever spoken about in therapy. “Something flared within me,” the therapist notes, “and it wasn’t merely sympathy, the emotion I feel for most of my clients. It was more like a sudden experience of harmony, wholly inappropriate given the circumstances.”


Laura Lindstedt (b. 1976) became a critical darling with her adoption-themed debut novel Scissors (Sakset, Teos 2007), which earned her a nomination for the Finlandia Prize, the country’s most prestigious literary honour. She is currently revising her Ph.D. thesis on French author Nathalie Sarraute. Lindstedt’s second novel Oneiron (Teos 2015) is a work of speculative fiction that takes place in the mysterious moments that follow one’s death. Oneiron has continued Lindstedt’s critical success, earning her the coveted 2015 Finlandia Prize. Lindstedt’s latest novel My Friend Natalia has been a critical success and the rights have been sold to 12 territorie

Ystäväni Natalia
Teos, 2019, 240pp

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Teos (orig.)
ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat AS
FRANCE: Gallimard
GERMANY: DTV
HUNGARY: Scolar Kiado
ITALY: Elliot Edizioni
LITHUANIA: BALTO
NETHERLANDS & BELGIUM: De Bezige Bij
NORWAY: Oktober
ROMANIA: HUMANITAS S.A
SWEDEN: Norstedts
USA: W.W. Norton / Liveright

About author


Laura Lindstedt

Laura Lindstedt (b. 1976) became a critical darling with her adoption-themed debut novel Scissors (Sakset, Teos 2007), which earned her a nomination for the Finlandia Prize, the country’s most prestigious literary honour. Lindstedt’s second novel Oneiron (Teos 2015), a work of speculative fiction that takes place in the mysterious moments that follow one’s death, earned her the coveted Finlandia Prize of 2015 and was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2017. Lindstedt’s success has continued with My Friend Natalia (Teos 2019) which has earned critical acclaim and has been sold to 12 territories. Together with author Sinikka Vuola, she has authored 101 tapaa tappaa aviomies (101 Ways to Kill Your Husband, Siltala 2022) which has been nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize of 2024.

She is currently completing her Ph.D. thesis on French author Nathalie Sarraute.

Bibliography


2019, Literary Fiction

My Friend Natalia

Laura Lindstedt


2015, Literary Fiction

Oneiron

Laura Lindstedt


2007, Literary Fiction

Scissors

Laura Lindstedt

German and Dutch pre-empts for CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen!

We are beyond excited to announce an amazing start for the winner of the National Crime Competition – CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen, due to be published in Finland in May 2021 by Otava Publishers.

Bastei Lübbe – German publisher for Lars Kepler and Dan Brown pre-empted Cargo and its upcoming sequel.

The Bastei Lübbe team is absolutely thrilled, and Publisher Marco Schneiders shares their enthusiasm:

GERMAN PRAISE:
Finland is the new Mecca of crime fiction. You need proof? Just read the first novel by A.M. Ollikainen. I couldn’t imagine a better start for a series. CARGO is outstanding.
– Marco Schneiders,  Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe

That is not all – also the Dutch publisher HarperCollins Holland pre-empted both titles!

Download the English sample and synopsis here.

DUTCH PRAISE:
We see a great readership for this thriller series starring Paula Pihlaja: she’s a great detective, but also a person people can relate to as she copes with her past and the challenging times ahead of her. Add to this the themes that every great thriller novel needs: an intriguing murder method, a perfect writing style and a suspenseful plot, and I think you’ve got a winning combination in Cargo! We see A.M. Ollikainen as a very promising crimewriting powercouple, and look forward to introduce them to our Dutch readers.
– Soraya Vink, Commissioning Editor, HarperCollins Holland

Jo Nesbø publisher Varrak in Estonia last week pre-empted the book after one night of reading the Finnish manuscript.

Varrak is the largest publisher in Estonia, and a publisher of Jo Nesbø, Lee Child, Liza Marklund, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Stieg Larsson, David Lagerkrantz, Jens Lapidus and John Grisham.

ESTONIAN PRAISE:
“A rare crime novel that also masters the literary style. One of the authors – Aki Ollikainen – is an awarded and internationally acclaimed literary fiction author and it really shows. The well-crafted mystery only unfolds in the very end, and leaves the reader in awe.”
– Piret Saluri, translator for Varrak, Estonia



 

A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to over 10 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


 

CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

CARGO
Kontti
Otava, May 2021, 360 pp.

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

ESTONIA: Varrak
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
(2-book deal)
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
(2-book deal)

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

First sale for CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen!

We are extremely excited to announce the first foreign deal in Estonia for CARGO by A.M. Ollikainen, due to be published in Finland in May 2021 by Otava.

Jo Nesbø publisher Varrak in Estonia immediately pre-empted the book after one night of reading the Finnish manuscript.

They are very happy to be the first foreign publisher to secure the rights for this soon-to-be international bestseller.
Varrak is the largest publisher in Estonia, and a publisher of Jo Nesbø, Lee Child, Liza Marklund, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Stieg Larsson, David Lagerkrantz, Jens Lapidus and John Grisham.
Click here to request:

  • Finnish manuscript
  • Info sheet

English sample and synopsis coming in March!


A.M. Ollikainen is a new Nordic Crime supercouple Milla Ollikainen and Aki Ollikainen.

Aki Ollikainen is one of the best literary fiction authors of Finland, whose novel White Hunger was longlisted to the International Man Booker Prize and whose works have been sold to 15 countries.
Milla Ollikainen is the previous winner of the “Crime Pays” crime novel competition of Finland and the author of a successful crime trilogy.

Cargo is their first title written together, which won the Finnish national crime novel competition in 2019 over 400 other manuscripts. The book is the first part of the upcoming Paula Pihlaja series.
It will be published by the largest Finnish publisher Otava in May 2021 as their lead Fiction title for the Spring list.


CARGO
by A.M. Ollikainen

The first book in a new fast-paced and addictive Nordic Noir series. A.M. Ollikainen is Finland’s Lars Kepler!

  • Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition

A cargo container is found, washed up on the shore in Helsinki with a dead body inside.The property where the container is discovered, belongs to one of the most notorious businessmen in Finland. As Police Commissioner Paula Pihlaja begins to investigate the case, traces lead back to the businessman’s family, revealing decades of suspicious business ventures in Africa.

Meanwhile, Paula’s own personal life is shaken by old memories that are now surfacing following recent events.When she was younger, she had to give her baby up for adoption. The boy, her son, is now in his twenties and facing a murder charge. Not only is Paula tormented by her own guilt about the adoption, she is also worried about what will become of her son.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
ESTONIA: Varrak

About author


A.M. Ollikainen

A. M. Ollikainen is a pseudonym for author duo Aki and Milla Ollikainen. Aki Ollikainen has published three novels and won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2012. He has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and Prix Femina in 2016. Milla Ollikainen has published three crime novels and won Like Publishing and the Finnish Detective Society’s Crime novel writing competition in 2012. Cargo is their first novel together and the Winner of a National Crime Novel Competition. 

Bibliography


2022, Crime & Suspense

Swing

A. M. Ollikainen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Cargo

A. M. Ollikainen

Mabel Merryweather series Russian rights pre-empted by Eksmo!

We are extremely happy to announce that the Russian rights for all 3 titles in the Mabel Merryweather series written by Noora Kunnas and illustrated by Teemu Juhani, have now been acquired by the largest publisher in Russia, Eksmo.

The Eksmo-AST publishing group is among the top 40 largest publishing houses in the world.

The Mabel Merryweather series centers around grade-schoolers Nick and Lilly who are sent to the summery village of Dalton, while their parents are traveling.
They meet a friendly eccentric neighbor granny Mabel Merryweather and the summer adventures begin! The series is illustrated by very talented Teemu Juhani (also illustrator of Little Shop of Nightmares series).

Download the English sample and synopsis for the first 2 titles here.

As soon as we saw the covers, illustrations and read reviews, we immediately fell in love with these stories! A detective mystery, magic, dynamic plot, humor, attractive characters, and beautiful illustrations by Teemu Juhani (whose works are already very loved by our readers) – all this helped us to make the quickest decision about the deal.
– Darya Bozhko, Foreign Rights Manager, Children’s Books Department, EKSMO Publishing House, Russia

We are also really excited to announce that the 3rd book of the series Mabel Merryweather and the Cheesy Mystery will be published by Otava in June!

Book 3: Mabel Merryweather and the Cheesy Mystery

The streets of Dalton have turned holy like Emmental cheese!

Mabel Merryweather’s friend Bruno and his goat have arrived from Switzerland to perform at the Dalton cheese festival. This fragrant event has attracted a lot of people to the venue, but for the horror of the townspeople mysterious holes have started to appear on streets and courtyards at night. Who digs them – and why? The rumor speards that the town is infested by aliens, but Lily, Nick, and the mighty grandmother Mabel Merryweather don’t believe the gossips. With the help of yodeling goats, they dig up the truth.

About the authors:

Noora Kunnas is a children’s author from Helsinki, Finland. She has the knack for making both children and grownups laugh while they’re immersed in he rbooks.The trademark of her books is a nutty humor, spiced with quirky characters, as well as the titillating mood of various settings, where anything – and we mean anything – is possible.

Teemu Juhani is a Finnish illustrator, comic artist and graphic designer whose illustrations have been published in picture books and children’s fiction in 20 countries, including Finland, UK, US, Germany and China. In addition to children’s books Teemu has illustrated magazines and educational material.

Mabel Merryweather series
Otava, 2019, 2020, 2021, 140 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
DENMARK: ABC Forlag
GERMANY: Mixtvision
HUNGARY: Pagony
RUSSIA: Eksmo

About author


Noora Kunnas

Noora Kunnas is a children’s author from Helsinki, Finland. She has the knack for making both children and grownups laugh while they’re immersed in her zany books. She loves animals and British humor – she grew up watching Jeeves and Wooster and eating ice cream straight from the container. Kunnas draws her inspiration from the world of Roald Dahl. The trademark of her books is a nutty humor, spiced with quirky characters, as well as the titillating mood of various settings, where anything – and we mean anything – is possible.

Noora Kunnas has published eight children’s books at Otava (2015 – 2022),  and her works have been nominated for the prestigious Tiiliskivi and Lukuvarkaus literary prizes in Finland. She graduated from the Turku Academy of Arts with a degree in film, and she worked in television since.

About author


Teemu Juhani

Teemu Juhani is a Finnish illustrator, comic artist and picture book author whose illustrations have been published in picture books and children's fiction in over 20 countries. In addition to children's books Teemu has illustrated magazines and educational material. Originally from the fields and woods of North Karelia, Teemu now lives, works and eats way too many cakes in Helsinki.

Max Seeck launched in Sweden with great success

Max Seeck launched in Sweden with great success!

Max Seeck’s Witch Hunter’s Swedish launch follows the footsteps of his US launch that got Seeck into New York Times Betselling list, and German launch, where Hexenjäger made it to the Spiegel’s Betseller list. In Sweden Den Trogne Läsaren is one of the most listened audio books, and amazing reviews keep flying in!

You can request the full English ms of books 1 and 2 from here. The rights are still free in Brazil, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine

Seeck’s Swedish publisher Albert Bonniers Förlag just acquired rights to the book 2: The Ice Coven, which continues Jessika Niemi and her team’s crime investigations in Helsinki. We are proud to share the US cover of book 2:

Swedish praise:

“A crime novel in the style of Lars Kepler, with a plot that gives “Da Vinci Code” vibes, with a main character reminiscent of Lisbeth Salander? Sounds too crzy to wrokk Still, I am literally enchanted by this thriller!”
– Dagens Nyheter Newspaper, Sweden

“Max Seeck has created an international police thriller, a page turner and bestseller! I turned the pages as fast as I could. It is so well-constructed and skillfully executed. As soon as an occultist event fades out, something else just s incredible happens.” – Smålandsposten newspaper, Sweden

“Guaranteed binge-reading!” – Göteborgs post newspaper, Sweden

“Well-written and exciting! Seeck is a star.” -Gefle Dagblad newspaper, Sweden

“Perfect for those who want a little extra fireworks in their crime reading!” – Vimmerby Tiding newspaper, Sweden

Max was also interviewed for the biggest Swedish newspaper in Finland, Huvudstadsbladet, who yesterday published an extensive article about Seeck and his career.

Rights sold (Faihtful Reader a.k.a. The Witch Hunter):

FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
ALBANIA: Muza (2-book deal)
ARABIC: Arab Scientific Publishers (World Arabic, 2-book deal)
ARMENIA: Guitank
AZERBAIJAN: Alatoran
BELGIUM, A.W. Bruna (2-book deal)
BULGARIA: EMAS (2-book-deal)
CANADA: Berkley/Penguin Random House (2-book-deal)
CROATIA: Fokus
CZECH REPUBLIC: Grada (2-book-deal)
DENMARK: Gutkind (2-book-deal)
ESTONIA: Pegasus (3-book-deal)
ICELAND: Forlagid
ISRAEL: Tchelet Books
ITALY: Piemme/Mondadori
FRANCE: Michel Lafon (2-book-deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe (3 booksl)
GREECE: Livani (2-book-deal)
HUNGARY: Animus (2-book-deal)
KOREA: Cheongmirae
LATIN AMERICA: Editorial Maeva/Maeva Noir
LATVIA: Latvijas Mediji (2-book-deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
MACEDONIA: Matica (2-book-deal)
NETHERLANDS: A.W. Bruna (2-book-deal)
NORWAY: Aschehoug (4 booksl)
POLAND: Sonia Draga (2-book-deal)
PORTUGAL: Bertrand Editora (2-book-deal)
ROMANIA: Litera (2-book-deal)
RUSSIA: AST
SERBIA: Vulkan (2-book-deal)
SLOVENIA: Didakta (2-book-deal)
SLOVAKIA: Motýľ (2 books)
SPAIN: Editorial Maeva/Maeva Noir
SWEDEN: Albert Bonniers Förlag (2 books)
TURKEY: Doğan Kitap
UNITED KINGDOM & COMMONWEALTH: Welbeck Publishing UK (2-book deal)
UNITED STATES: Berkley/Penguin Random House (2-book-deal)

TV RIGHTS: Stampede Ventures

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 debut trilogy following protagonist Daniel Kuisma sold over 40,000 copies in Finland. 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

Announcing three new non-fiction deals!

Today’s deals are all betselling titles with themes spaning from historical women to secrets of meaningful life to the revelations about Russian troll army.

Read more about the titles and their availability in your country below.

We are glad to announce that EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN OF HISTORY and A WONDERFUL LIFE have been acquired by Corvina in Hungary and PUTIN’S TROLLS by Ciela Norma in Bulgaria.

See our full Spring 2021 Non-Fiction digital rights guide here.


 

EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN OF HISTORY by Maria Pettersson

Memories & Biographies, History & Politics

 

Extraordinary Women of History introduces over a hundred exceptional women from different periods of history and from all corners of the world. It is a veritable treasury of captivating stories and unsung ballads about the exciting women in history. Outrageous, amazing, terrible, heroic, thrilling and above all extraordinary; their life stories make the reader gasp and ask: “Why haven’t I heard of them before?”

Rights sold: FINLAND: Atena (orig), ESTONIA: Äripäev, HUNGARY: Corvina

Download materials here


 

PUTIN’S TROLLS by Jessikka Aro

General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, History & Politics

 

True stories from the frontlines of the Russian information warfare

Russia is waging a war against civilians online. Every critical voice is an enemy. In the last few years there have been countless international, sometimes criminal online campaigns against private people throughout the Western countries – orchestrated and approved by the Kremlin.

Well-documented true stories show that Russia does not shy away from the darkest means of eliminating its opponents through cyber-espionage, social media trolls, fake news, cyber-attacks, death threats and hate campaigns by PR professionals.

Rights sold: FINLAND: Johnny Kniga (orig.), BULGARIA: Ciela Norma, CZECH REPUBLIC: N Media, ESTONIA: Menu Meedia, HUNGARY: Corvina Books Ltd, LITHUANIA: Briedis, POLAND: Wydawnictwo SQN, ROMANIA: Lebada Neagra, SWEDEN: Sensor Förlag

Download materials here


 

A WONDERFUL LIFE by Frank Martela

Personal Growth & Lifestyle

 

Is happiness a worthy goal? What is the foundation for meaning in a secular society? Is life an existential void? Frank Martela answers these questions and more in a relaxed, conversational tone and with a wry sense of humor, placing some of life’s greatest philosophical concerns and quandaries into a modern-day context.

Rights sold: WORLD ENGLISH: Harper Design / HarperCollins, BULGARIA: Prozoretz, CROATIA: Planetopija, ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat AS, FINLAND: Gummerus, FRANCE: Editions Leduc, GERMANY: Blessing Verlag, GREECE: Klidarithmos, HUNGARY: Corvina, INDONESIA: Gramedia, ITALY: Edizioni Lindau, JAPAN: HarperCollins Japan, LATVIA: Zvaigzne ABC Publishers, LITHUANIA: Obuolys, NETHERLANDS: Ambo Anthos, NORWAY: Gursli Berg Forlag, POLAND: Czarna Owca, PORTUGAL: Editora 2020, ROMANIA: HUMANITAS S.A, RUSSIA: Eksmo, SERBIA: Odiseja Publishing, SOUTH KOREA: Across Publishing, TAIWAN: Crown, TURKEY: Orman, UNITED STATES: Harper Collins USA, WORLD ARABIC: Sefsafa

Download materials here

About author


Frank Martela

Professor Frank Martela, PhD, is a philosopher and researcher of psychology specializing in the question of meaning in life. His articles have appeared in Scientific American Mind, Harvard Business Review, Salon, CNBC and his work has been featured on Quartz and on the BBC. His research has been published extensively in numerous academic journals such as Nature Human Behaviour, Perspectives on Psychological Science, Journal of Personality, Metaphilosophy, Southern Journal of Philosophy, and Academy of Management Review. He has spoken to more than one hundred audiences worldwide, including invited lectures in universities on five continents, including Stanford University and Harvard University. He’s been interviewed by the New York Times, Discover Magazine, New Scientist, Vice News, Fox News, and Monocle Observer among others. He is Assistant Professor at Aalto University in Finland.

Outside of work, Frank is a father to three lovely children, an amateur-level soccer player, with an occasional skiing trip in the winters. He is made in Green Bay, so Packers holds a special place in his heart.

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.

About author


Maria Pettersson

As a child, Maria Pettersson’s dream job was to be an international adventurer. Instead, she became an award-winning journalist, the editor-in-chief of several magazines and a serious history geek. She has worked for the biggest newspapers, radio stations and TV channels in Finland. She has travelled in over 70 countries, got married in Vegas and spent her honeymoon in North Korea. Her hobbies include games and roleplaying, observing big machines, studying small Slavic languages and visiting dead dictators. She currently lives in Helsinki, Finland.

First rights sold for ARCTIC MIRAGE and fifth for FACELIFT!

We are extremely happy to announce that the first rights for Terhi Kokkonen’s debut award-winning ARCTIC MIRAGE have been acquired by Estonian publisher Eesti Raamat!
Also, the fifth rights for Miika Nousiainen’s bestselling FACELIFT have been acquired by Odiseja in Serbia!

FACELIFT was published in September 2020 and is still the #3 title in the Finnish fiction bestsellers list!


 

ARCTIC MIRAGE
by Terhi Kokkonen

It is a rich and sensitive novel in which people can be strange, lewd, and at the same time infinitely ordinary. Contradictions and a mystery-like atmosphere remain after finishing the book – as happens in the best and most fascinating novels.
– Helsingin Sanomat newspaper

Download the English synopsis and sample by clicking here

 

FACELIFT
by Miika Nousiainen

Facelift is a perfect feel-good novel. It meets the high expectations that we have learned to expect from Nousiainen: it’s funny, dark, entertaining and very timely.
– Helsingin Sanomat newspaper

Download the English sample and presentation here


 

ARCTIC MIRAGE
by Terhi Kokkonen

When Karo and Risto’s holiday to Lapland ends in a car accident, they are forced to stay at the Arctic Mirage Hotel. Will their relationship survive the next six days?

Karo and Risto go on holiday in Lapland to give themselves time to fix their stressful marriage. However, on their way back home, they’re involved in a car accident and are subsequently forced to stay at the only accommodation in the area; Hotel Arctic Mirage. Once inside, they find that the hotel has a rather strange atmosphere and it starts to have a peculiar effect on them. Karo begins to doubt her own memories and tries her best to escape the snowbound hotel holiday village whereas Risto starts to feel strange and refuses to leave.

ARCTIC MIRAGE is a strong-spirited, psychological novel about people in exceptional circumstances. It keeps the reader gripped and provides chills on every page.


Terhi Kokkonen is a Helsinki-based musician and pop lyricist. She is known for the band Scandinavian Music Group, as well as being one of the singers of the band Ultra Bra. Kokkonen has studied dramaturgy at the Theater Academy and screenwriting and film editing at the Department of Cinematography and Stage Design at Aalto University. Arctic Mirage is her debut novel, and it was awarded as the best debut novel of 2020.


FACELIFT 
by Miika Nousiainen
Tragicomic tale of life’s biggest questions and their surprisingly simple answers.

Sami has a dream: he desperately wants to be a father. His biological clock has been ticking for the past 15 years so loudly that sometimes it’s hard to hear his own thoughts. But it’s not so easy to become a father, first of all, you need to find a suitable future mother candidate.

But when Sami’s latest future-mother-candidate rides off with a biker guy, he makes a series of bad choices that cause him to anger the local motorcycle gang. How to fix a life where everything seems to go wrong? Sini, a wellbeing blogger with perfectly instagrammable life arrives to offer a solution.


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

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.

About author


Terhi Kokkonen

Terhi Kokkonen (1974) is a Helsinki-based musician and pop lyricist. She is known for the band Scandinavian Music Group, as well as being one of the singers of the band Ultra Bra. Kokkonen has studied dramaturgy at the Theater Academy and screenwriting and film editing at the Department of Cinematography and Stage Design at Aalto University. Arctic Mirage is her debut novel, and it was awarded as the best debut novel of 2020.

First rights for IRRATIONAL THINGS by Saara Turunen sold to BALTO in Lithuania!

We are extremely happy to announce that Saara Turunen’s IRRATIONAL THINGS has now been acquired by BALTO in Lithuania.

The literary fiction title is an autofictive story of love, death and life between two countries – Spain and Finland. Turunen’s funny, witty and melancholic voice examines the contradiction of sense and sensibility.

The extraordinary title will be published in March 2021 by Finnish publisher Tammi.

We are honored to be the first foreign publishers of this masterly Work by Saara Turunen. We believe that its subject is a matter of great relevance in the face of the modern life-style and the readers will relate with and feel for the main heroine.

-Ieva Savukynaitė-Dubicka, BALTO, Lithuania

Download the English synopsis and sample by clicking here


IRRATIONAL THINGS
by Saara Turunen

What if you are in love with a good man – a man you have always wanted to fall in love with? But what if this man lives in one country and you in another? Should you be sensible and leave the man to be free and independent? Or should you follow your heart, burn the bridges behind, and go after him?

The narrator travels to Barcelona to study theatre. After a few weeks she falls in love with a local man. Thus begins an intensive relationship that tears her between two countries and two cultures. She learns that relationships are between two individuals who have their own ways of expressing love to others and to themselves.

Turunen’s novel paints a relatable picture of relationships, breakups and the constant battle between fear and love. It is a beautiful picture of a woman growing up and trying to balance between social expectations, commitment and freedom.


Saara Turunen is an internationally acclaimed award-winning author, playwright and director. She is known for her bold and direct style and much of her work examines the themes of identity and social norms. Her forthcoming novel Irrational Things (Spring 2021) is a story of love, death and life between two countries.

Turunen has previously authored two highly acclaimed novels, Love/Monster 2015 and The Bystander 2018. Her debut novel Love/Monster won the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2015. In addition to her work as a novelist, Turunen is also known for her plays. They have been translated into 13 languages and performed all around the world. Turunen was granted with the Finland Prize in 2016, a high profile award given by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, and with the City of Helsinki’s The Artist of the Year Award in 2018.

Järjettömiä asioita
Tammi, March 2021, 270pp

RIGHTS SOLD:

FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)

LITHUANIA: BALTO

About author


Saara Turunen

Saara Turunen is an internationally acclaimed award-winning author, playwright and director. Much of her work examines the themes of art, identity and social norms. Turunen is known for her three highly acclaimed novels - Irrational Things (2021), The Bystander (2018) and Love/Monster (2015), but also for her work in theatre. Her plays have been translated into 15 languages and performed all around the world. Turunen has received the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize in 2015, the Finland Prize in 2016, the City of Helsinki’s The Artist of the Year Award in 2018 and the Lea-Prize in 2020, all high-profile awards given in Finland.

Bibliography


2024, Literary Fiction

Hyena Days

Saara Turunen


2021, Literary Fiction

Irrational Things

Saara Turunen


2018, Literary Fiction

The Bystander

Saara Turunen


2015, Literary Fiction

Love/Monster

Saara Turunen

Indonesian rights sold for A WONDERFUL LIFE! 26 territories sold altogether!

We are beyond excited to announce that we just closed the 26th translation deal for Frank Martela’s A WONDERFUL LIFE – the new lucky publisher is Gramedia from Indonesia!

The bestselling non-fiction title about finding meaning in your life is still available in Denmark, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Slovenia, Slovakia, China etc

Download the full English manuscript by clicking here

”It is a book that doesn’t fill us with illusions but offers us an intelligent and concrete contribution for making our lives more meaningful. Finally, a book that helps us understand how to live better and how to achieve that sense of fullness and realization that makes every single day a new exciting adventure.”

– Davide Platzer Ferrero, Edizioni Lindau, Italy

A WONDERFUL LIFE: Insights for Finding a Meaningful Existence
Harper Design, 24th of March 2020, 200 pp.In this engagingly insightful book, Frank Martela – one of the only academic experts who has contributed to both the philosophical and psychological research on meaning in life – takes you on a voyage through the history, philosophy, and psychology of meaningfulness and worthy living.The journey starts in the 19th century, where it is revealed why and how the Scottish author Thomas Carlyle came to be the first person in history who actually used the phrase »meaning of life.»The life stories of Carlyle and Russian author Leo Tolstoy serve as representative examples of the transformation that this book aims to guide you, the reader, through. Finally, an answer is provided to the question of meaning that is compatible with latest scientific knowledge about human nature, yet still both inspiring and actionable.


PS! Did you know that the deadline for applying for FILI grants for translations (up to 70% covered) and children’s books production (up to 1000€) is on the 1st of February? See more info here.

Rights sold:

WORLD ENGLISH: HarperCollins/Harper Design (orig.)

ARABIC:
Sefsafa
BULGARIA:
Prozoretz
CROATIA:
Planetopija
ESTONIA:
Rahva Raamat
FINLAND:
Gummerus
FRANCE:
Editions Leduc.s
GERMANY:
Blessing Verlag
GREECE:
Klidarithmos
INDONESIA:
Gramedia
ITALY:
Edizioni Lindau
JAPAN:
HarperCollins Japan
KOREA:
Across Publishing
LATIN AMERICA:
Ediciones Urano
LATVIA:
Zvaigzne
LITHUANIA:
Obuolys
NETHERLANDS:
Ambo Anthos
NORWAY:
Gursli Berg Forlag
POLAND:
Czarna Owca
PORTUGAL:
Editora 2020
ROMANIA:
Editura Humanitas
RUSSIA:
Bombora
SERBIA:
Odiseja
SPAIN:
Ediciones Urano (World Spanish)
TAIWAN:
Crown
TURKEY:
Orman Kitap

About author


Frank Martela

Professor Frank Martela, PhD, is a philosopher and researcher of psychology specializing in the question of meaning in life. His articles have appeared in Scientific American Mind, Harvard Business Review, Salon, CNBC and his work has been featured on Quartz and on the BBC. His research has been published extensively in numerous academic journals such as Nature Human Behaviour, Perspectives on Psychological Science, Journal of Personality, Metaphilosophy, Southern Journal of Philosophy, and Academy of Management Review. He has spoken to more than one hundred audiences worldwide, including invited lectures in universities on five continents, including Stanford University and Harvard University. He’s been interviewed by the New York Times, Discover Magazine, New Scientist, Vice News, Fox News, and Monocle Observer among others. He is Assistant Professor at Aalto University in Finland.

Outside of work, Frank is a father to three lovely children, an amateur-level soccer player, with an occasional skiing trip in the winters. He is made in Green Bay, so Packers holds a special place in his heart.

Bibliography


2023, Personal Growth & Lifestyle

The Meaning Manifesto: Why Work Needs to Have a Purpose

Frank Martela


2020, Personal Growth & Lifestyle

A Wonderful Life: Insights on Finding a Meaningful Existence

Frank Martela

Now 17 territories for LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES series and 20 for NAONDEL!

We are very excited to announce 4 new children’s deals!

There are now 2 new deals for Magdalena Hai’s LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES series and also 2 new deals for Maria Turtschaninoff’s NAONDEL – the second title from the bestselling YA series Red Abbey Chronicles!

In an auction, one of the leading publishers in Greece – Dioptra –  acquired rights for the whole LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES series. Odiseja in Serbia also acquired the rights for the first title in the series.

The wonderful younger middle-grade series illustrated by Teemu Juhani has already sold to 17 countries, but rights are still available in: Poland, France, United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Slovenia, China, Bulgaria, etc.

Download the Full English pdfs for all 3 titles in the series here.

Little Shop of Nightmares is a bit spooky but mostly hilarious just like the tickling powder from the book. We are super excited to present its strange but charming characters to our readers.
– Sandra Bakić Topalović, Editor, Odiseja, Serbia

Enchanting series, well-written, with funny illustrations, stimulates children’s imagination.
A delightful blend of fantasy and humor. The amazing illustrations in each page feature dynamic characters and unexpected goosebumps!

– Lindy Galatis, Editorial Director, Dioptra, Greece


Maria Turtschaninoiff’s NAONDEL, second title in RED ABBEY CHRONICLES series was acquired by Romanian publisher Univers and also by Albanian publisher Dritan.

This bestselling YA series has sold to already 26 territories, but the rights are still available in Russia, Czech Republic, Greece, Slovenia,  Japan, Portugal, and in many other countries. See the rights sold list on the right.

A prequel that introduces the founding sisters of the all-female Red Abbey… their interwoven stories told with unflinching clarity, rise to a vengeful climax with the glow of the red moon, and will stay with the reader long after the book is closed. […] Turtschaninoff weaves a hypnotic spell…at once contemporary and timeless.
– The Guardian

Download full English manuscripts for all 3 titles in the series here


 


THE LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES
by Magdalena Hai, illustrated by Teemu Juhani

Nina is a is a clever, 9-year-old girl who goes to work in the Little Shop of Nightmares. During the course of the trilogy, she has to solve a mystery with tickling powder, find the lost teeth of a vampire and discover the reason why suddenly it just doesn’t stop snowing. The Little Shop of Nightmares is a mystery full of fascinating and fun characters that make young readers both wonder and laugh!

 #1  THE TERRIBLE TICKLING POWDER
When Nina, 9 years old, enters The Little Shop of Nightmares in hopes of getting a job, she is
greeted by an odd sight: shopkeeper Mr. Kook is rolling on the floor, unable to stop laughing.
With a little help from a ghost called Paddy, they start looking for the untickling powder to help
him, but things are certainly not made easier by Mr. Kook’s world-domination-planning pet octopus
Squishy McGoo, who is a bit too quick about getting into trouble with rollerblades on its tentacles.

 #2  MYSTERY OF THE MISSING TEETH
Nina goes to buy ice cream after her first work day at The Little Shop of Nightmares.
But at the ice cream shop she discovers a vampire – without teeth! Nina decides to help
vampire Lucas to find his teeth from Mr. Kook’s shop. But for some reason all the vampire
teeth seem to have disappeared. It seems like somebody has hidden them on purpose…

 #3  STICKY THE TERRIBLE SNOWMAN
Same awesome monsters. New blizzardy trouble. The Little Shop of Nightmares is
getting buried in snow! Nina and Paddy are trying to find the cause of the snowstorm,
but that’s easier said than done. A well-meaning but horribly clumsy snowman keeps
getting in their way and stopping their every effort to stop the snowing inside.


THE RED ABBEY CHRONICLES
by Maria Turtschaninoff

MARESI is the first title in The Red Abbey Chronicles and an international feature film is under development by Film4/The Bureau.
MARESI RED MANTLE, book 3 in the trilogy,  was awarded earlier this month the 2020 Global Literature in Libraries Translated Book Prize, as the best translated book of the year!

Download full English manuscripts for all three titles in the series here

MARESI

The Red Abbey is a refuge for women and girls, where everyone pursues their own areas of interest. Maresi prefers to spend her time reading and learning. Everything changes when the frightened Jai arrives on the island. She has seen her sister get buried alive for speaking to a young man, and her father and a crew of thugs are after her. Maresi and her friends have to fight to defend both Jai and their community.
NAONDEL 
An independent prequel to Maresi, Naondel tells the story of the First Sisters – founders of the Red Abbey. Imprisoned in a harem by a dangerous man, with a dark magic that grants him power over life and death, the women must overcome their mistrust of each other in order to escape. But they can only do so at a great cost, both for those who leave and those left behind.

MARESI: RED MANTLE 

The third book is an epistolary novel that follows Maresi after she leaves the Red Abbey to establish a school in her oppressed home province of Rovas. The return to her Northern home, and fitting in, is not easy even with all the knowledge she’s bringing with her, but she is determined to triumph over the difficulties. However, she does not need to make it alone, for life has yet another surprise in store: love

LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES SERIES:

#1 Kamala kutituspulveri, WSOY 2019, 60pp
#2 Hampaat hukassa, WSOY 2019, 60pp
#3 Hirmuinen Jumimies WSOY 2021, 60pp

Rights sold

FINLAND:
WSOY (orig.)

CZECH REPUBLIC:
Euromedia
DENMARK:
Vild Maskine
ESTONIA:
Postimees Publishing
GERMANY:
Egmont Schneiderbuch
GREECE:
Dioptra
HUNGARY:
Cerkabella
ITALY:
Terre di Mezzo
LATVIA:
Latvijas Mediji
LITHUANIA:
Briedis
NETHERLANDS:
De Vier Windstreken
NORWAY:
Fontini
RUSSIA:
KompasGuide
ROMANIA:
Editura Univers
SERBIA:
Odiseja
SWEDEN:
Hegas
TURKEY:
Epsilon

RED ABBEY CHRONICLES

#1 Maresi, Schildts & Söderströms 2014 180pp
#2 Naondel, Förlaget , 2016, 400pp
#3 Breven från Maresi, Förlaget, 2018, 300pp

Rights sold or the series:

Original publisher: FINLAND, (Book 1)
Original publisher: FINLAND, Förlaget (Books 2-3)

ALBANIA: Dritan (Book 1-2)
AZERBAIJAN: Alatoran (Book 1-2)
BELGIUM, Clavis (Book 1-2)
BRAZIL, Morro Branco (Books 1-3)
BULGARIA, Izida (Books 1-3)
CANADA (French), Editions de la Bagnole (Book 1)
CHINA (Simplified), Shanghai 99 (Books 1-3)
CROATIA, Naklada ljevak (Book 1)
DENMARK, Turbine (Book 1)
ESTONIA, Varrak (Book 1-2)
FINLAND, Tammi (Books 1-2)
FRANCE, Rageot (Books 1-2)
GERMANY, Random House/Heyne (Book 1)
HUNGARY, Scolar (Books 1-3)
ITALY, Atmosphere Libri (Books 1-3)
LATVIA, Petergailis (Book 1-2)
LITHUANIA: Aukso Pieva (Book 1)
NETHERLANDS, Clavis (Book 1-2)
NORWAY, Gursli Berg Forlag (Books 1-3)
POLAND, Wydawnictwo Debit (Books 1-3)
ROMANIA, Univers (Books 1-2)
WORLD SPANISH, Penguin Random House/Alfaguara (Book 1)
SWEDEN, Berghs (Books 1-2)
TURKEY, Altın Kitaplar (Book 1)
UNITED KINGDOM, Pushkin Press (Books 1-3)
UNITED STATES, Abrams (Books 1-3)

FILM & TV Rights: The Bureau/Film4

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.

About author


Maria Turtschaninoff

Maria Turtschaninoff is known for crafting lyrical, historically inspired fantasy stories starring strong female protagonists. In addition to J.R.R. Tolkien, she counts Philip Pullman, Ursula K. Le Guin and C.S. Lewis among her favorite authors. She is a two-time winner of the Society of Swedish Literature Prize, winner of the Swedish YLE Literature Prize, winner of the Thank You for the Book Award, a nominee for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (2020-2024), and winner of the 2014 Finlandia Junior Prize.

Her Red Abbey Chronicles YA trilogy has been sold into 30 languages, while her first adult novel Inherited Land has been sold to 23 territories. Maria has a Master of Arts in human ecology and works full-time as a writer.

About author


Teemu Juhani

Teemu Juhani is a Finnish illustrator, comic artist and picture book author whose illustrations have been published in picture books and children's fiction in over 20 countries. In addition to children's books Teemu has illustrated magazines and educational material. Originally from the fields and woods of North Karelia, Teemu now lives, works and eats way too many cakes in Helsinki.

Aschehoug acquires Max Seeck’s Book 3 & Book 4 in Jessica Niemi Series – Hexenjäger in the Spiegel Bestsellerliste!

New York Times Bestselling author Max Seeck is now also a German bestseller! In Germany Hexenjäger  was published in the end of December, and is now on the Spiegel’s bestseller list! What a launch! Bastei Lübbe has also recently acquired Book 3 in the Jessica Niemi series.

In Norway,  Aschehoug is excited about the forthcoming launch of Heksejakt and has acquired rights to Book 3 and Book 4 in the Jessica Niemi series! They are certain of Seeck’s success in Norway, and committed to the rest of the series.

In Slovakia, Max Seeck’s publisher Motyl has acquired Slovakian rights of Book 2, Evil’s Net.

Congratulations, Max Seeck and his foreign publishers! Max is finishing up Book 3, while Book 2, Evil’s Net is currently shortlisted for the Best 2020 Crime Novel in Storytel Awards in Finland.

In Hollywood, the TV Series based on THE WITCH HUNTER is fast progressing, so stay tuned for some big news in the coming weeks.

Praise from Germany:

“Becoming Max‘ German publisher of the first two Jessica Niemi novels was an excellent idea, I think. An even better idea was to pick up novel number 3, too. This series is outstanding.“ Marco Schneiders, Publishing Director, Bastei Lübbe AG

Join the success and make sure to acquire all four Max Seeck book in the Jessica Niemi series, if you haven’t already! FILI grants are available to cover up to 70% of translation costs.


Jessica Niemi series

Book 1: The Witch Hunter, a.k.a. Faithful Reader – Jessica Niemi series #1 (2019, Tammi)
Detective Jessica Niemi is called to investigate a murder case that is out of ordinary. The wife of a famous writer, Roger Koponen, seems to have been killed in a bizarre ritual. As more ritual murders occur, it becomes obvious that Jessica is after a serial killer.

Book 2: Evil’s Net – Jessica Niemi series #2 (September 2020, Tammi)
Six months have passed since Jessica’s encounter with the mysterious and serial-killing coven of cult members, and her team has a new assignment. Two Instagram influencers have gone missing, and a dead woman is found on the beach dressed up in manga outfit – an outfit that was featured on the missing blogger’s Instagram.

Book 3: Eliel Rosenström, a prominent business executive, is found brutally murdered in his Kaivopuisto home. After the trauma Jessica Niemi experienced at the end of Book 2, she has taken a leave of absence from the force, leaving Yusuf in charge. But something about Rosenström’s brutal murder feels eerily familiar, and soon, Yusuf is caught between needing Jessica’s help and trying to keep Jessica away for her own good.

Get in touch with us to acquire books 3 and 4.

WHO IS MAX SEECK? A New York Times Bestselling Author and Spiegel Bestselling Author

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

Read an interview with Max Seeck in Lithub.

Rights sold (Faihtful Reader a.k.a. The Witch Hunter):
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)

ALBANIA: Muza (2-book deal)
ARABIC: Arab Scientific Publishers (World Arabic, 2-book deal)
ARMENIA: Guitank
AZERBAIJAN: Alatoran
BELGIUM, A.W. Bruna (2-book deal)
BULGARIA: EMAS (2-book-deal)
CANADA: Berkley/Penguin Random House (2-book-deal)
CROATIA: Fokus
CZECH REPUBLIC: Grada (2-book-deal)
DENMARK: Gutkind (2-book-deal)
ESTONIA: Pegasus (3-book-deal)
ICELAND: Forlagid
ISRAEL: Tchelet Books
ITALY: Piemme/Mondadori
FRANCE: Michel Lafon (2-book-deal)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe (3 booksl)
GREECE: Livani (2-book-deal)
HUNGARY: Animus (2-book-deal)
KOREA: Cheongmirae
LATIN AMERICA: Editorial Maeva/Maeva Noir
LATVIA: Latvijas Mediji (2-book-deal)
LITHUANIA: Baltos lankos
MACEDONIA: Matica (2-book-deal)
NETHERLANDS: A.W. Bruna (2-book-deal)
NORWAY: Aschehoug (4 booksl)
POLAND: Sonia Draga (2-book-deal)
PORTUGAL: Bertrand Editora (2-book-deal)
ROMANIA: Litera (2-book-deal)
RUSSIA: AST
SERBIA: Vulkan (2-book-deal)
SLOVENIA: Didakta (2-book-deal)
SLOVAKIA: Motýľ (2 books)
SPAIN: Editorial Maeva/Maeva Noir
SWEDEN: Albert Bonniers Förlag
TURKEY: Doğan Kitap
UNITED KINGDOM & COMMONWEALTH: Welbeck Publishing UK (2-book deal)
UNITED STATES: Berkley/Penguin Random House (2-book-deal)

TV RIGHTS: Stampede Ventures

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 debut trilogy following protagonist Daniel Kuisma sold over 40,000 copies in Finland. 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

LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES series sold to Lithuania, WEIRD WEATHER to Denmark!

We are very excited to start the week with 2 new children’s translation rights sales!

The LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES series by Magdalena Hai has now been acquired by Lithuanian publisher Briedis.

The wonderful younger middle-grade series illustrated by Teemu Juhani will be published in 15 countries, but rights are still available in: France, United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, Slovenia, China, Bulgaria, Greece etc.

Thematically, it hit well in the 6-9 age group. A perfectly illustrated and exiting book series!
Indrė Polimaitienė, editor, publishing house “Briedis”

Download the Full English pdfs for all 3 titles in the series here.

The translation of the second book of the series is also nominated for the best children’s book of the year in Norway. The winners will be announced in May!


We are also very happy to announce that a Danish publisher Staarup & Co has acquired the non-fiction bestseller WEIRD WEATHER by Laura Ertimo with illustrations by Mari Ahokoivu.
The very important title about climate change for children and their parents has sold to 14 territories, but rights are still available in Germany, Russia, Czech Republic, France, Turkey, Netherlands, etc.

Download the English pdf for WEIRD WEATHER by using this link.


THE LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES
by Magdalena Hai, illustrated by Teemu Juhani

Nina is a is a clever, 9-year-old girl who goes to work in the Little Shop of Nightmares. During the course of the trilogy, she has to solve a mystery with tickling powder, find the lost teeth of a vampire and discover the reason why suddenly it just doesn’t stop snowing. The Little Shop of Nightmares is a mystery full of fascinating and fun characters that make young readers both wonder and laugh!

 #1  THE TERRIBLE TICKLING POWDER
When Nina, 9 years old, enters The Little Shop of Nightmares in hopes of getting a job, she is
greeted by an odd sight: shopkeeper Mr. Kook is rolling on the floor, unable to stop laughing.
With a little help from a ghost called Paddy, they start looking for the untickling powder to help
him, but things are certainly not made easier by Mr. Kook’s world-domination-planning pet octopus
Squishy McGoo, who is a bit too quick about getting into trouble with rollerblades on its tentacles.

 #2  MYSTERY OF THE MISSING TEETH
Nina goes to buy ice cream after her first work day at The Little Shop of Nightmares.
But at the ice cream shop she discovers a vampire – without teeth! Nina decides to help
vampire Lucas to find his teeth from Mr. Kook’s shop. But for some reason all the vampire
teeth seem to have disappeared. It seems like somebody has hidden them on purpose…

 #3  STICKY THE TERRIBLE SNOWMAN
Same awesome monsters. New blizzardy trouble. The Little Shop of Nightmares is
getting buried in snow! Nina and Paddy are trying to find the cause of the snowstorm,
but that’s easier said than done. A well-meaning but horribly clumsy snowman keeps
getting in their way and stopping their every effort to stop the snowing inside.


WEIRD WEATHER
by Laura Ertimo, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu

Weird Weather! is accurate but hopeful children’s nonfiction that explains how humans are responsible for climate change and what we can do to ensure a brighter future. It also gives tips on how everyone can make better choices and practice climate skills every day. But climate change won’t be beaten with tiny tricks, and this book also encourages talking to children about how to make changes in society, and how working together can change everything.

LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES SERIES:

#1 Kamala kutituspulveri, WSOY 2019, 60pp
#2 Hampaat hukassa, WSOY 2019, 60pp
#3 Hirmuinen Jumimies WSOY 2021, 60pp

Rights sold

FINLAND:
WSOY (orig.)

CZECH REPUBLIC:
Euromedia
DENMARK:
Vild Maskine
ESTONIA:
Postimees Publishing
GERMANY:
Egmont Schneiderbuch
HUNGARY:
Cerkabella
ITALY:
Terre di Mezzo
LATVIA:
Latvijas Mediji
LITHUANIA:
Briedis
NETHERLANDS:
De Vier Windstreken
NORWAY:
Fontini
RUSSIA:
KompasGuide
ROMANIA:
Editura Univers
SWEDEN:
Hegas
TURKEY:
Epsilon

 

WEIRD WEATHER
Ihme ilmat, Into 2019, 48pp

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Into (orig.),
DENMARK: Staarup & Co.,
ESTONIA: Avita,
HUNGARY: Ciceró Könyvstúdió Kft.,
ITALY: Edizioni Piemme S.p.a,
LATVIA: Jumava,
LITHUANIA: Obuolys,
MEXICO (Latin American Spanish rights): Ordinal,
NORWAY: Aschehoug,
POLAND: AMBER Sp. z o.o.,
SERBIA: Odiseja,
SLOVAKIA: Ikar, SPAIN: Norma Editorial,
SWEDEN: Raben & Sjörgen,
UNITED STATES: Skyhorse Publishing

About author


Laura Ertimo

Laura Ertimo is a geographer and author. She has previously worked in publishing of geography-related non-fiction and maps, and now she writes full time, specializing in children’s non-fiction. A recurring theme in her work is the holistic worldview, the interaction between phenomena, people and nature.

In 2020, she received the prestigious Tietopöllö Award for her work as a Non-Fiction writer. Her children's title WHERE DID THE ANIMALS GO, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu, was nominated for the 2021 Finlandia Award and has also won the Tieto-Lauri award!

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.

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?!

About author


Teemu Juhani

Teemu Juhani is a Finnish illustrator, comic artist and picture book author whose illustrations have been published in picture books and children's fiction in over 20 countries. In addition to children's books Teemu has illustrated magazines and educational material. Originally from the fields and woods of North Karelia, Teemu now lives, works and eats way too many cakes in Helsinki.

NAONDEL sold to Azerbaijan!

Maria Turtschaninoff’s NAONDEL, second title in RED ABBEY CHRONICLES series was acquired by Azerbaijani publisher Alatoran.

This bestselling YA series has sold to already 26 territories, but the rights are still available in Russia, Czech Republic, Greece, Lithuania, Slovenia,  Japan, Portugal, and in many other countries. See the rights sold list on the right.

A prequel that introduces the founding sisters of the all-female Red Abbey… their interwoven stories told with unflinching clarity, rise to a vengeful climax with the glow of the red moon, and will stay with the reader long after the book is closed. […] Turtschaninoff weaves a hypnotic spell…at once contemporary and timeless.
– The Guardian

Download full English manuscripts for all 3 titles in the series here


 

MARESI

The Red Abbey is a refuge for women and girls, where everyone pursues their own areas of interest. Maresi prefers to spend her time reading and learning. Everything changes when the frightened Jai arrives on the island. She has seen her sister get buried alive for speaking to a young man, and her father and a crew of thugs are after her. Maresi and her friends have to fight to defend both Jai and their community.

NAONDEL 
An independent prequel to Maresi, Naondel tells the story of the First Sisters – founders of the Red Abbey. Imprisoned in a harem by a dangerous man, with a dark magic that grants him power over life and death, the women must overcome their mistrust of each other in order to escape. But they can only do so at a great cost, both for those who leave and those left behind.

MARESI: RED MANTLE 

The third book is an epistolary novel that follows Maresi after she leaves the Red Abbey to establish a school in her oppressed home province of Rovas. The return to her Northern home, and fitting in, is not easy even with all the knowledge she’s bringing with her, but she is determined to triumph over the difficulties. However, she does not need to make it alone, for life has yet another surprise in store: love

ALBANIA: Dritan (Book 1)
AZERBAIJAN: Alatoran (Book 1-2)
BELGIUM, Clavis (Book 1-2)
BRAZIL, Morro Branco (Books 1-3)
BULGARIA, Izida (Books 1-3)
CANADA (French), Editions de la Bagnole (Book 1)
CHINA (Simplified), Shanghai 99 (Books 1-3)
CROATIA, Naklada ljevak (Book 1)
DENMARK, Turbine (Book 1)
ESTONIA, Varrak (Book 1-2)
FINLAND, Tammi (Books 1-2)
FRANCE, Rageot (Books 1-2)
GERMANY, Random House/Heyne (Book 1)
HUNGARY, Scolar (Books 1-3)
ITALY, Atmosphere Libri (Books 1-3)
LATVIA, Petergailis (Book 1-2)
NETHERLANDS, Clavis (Book 1-2)
NORWAY, Gursli Berg Forlag (Books 1-3)
POLAND, Wydawnictwo Debit (Books 1-3)
WORLD SPANISH, Penguin Random House/Alfaguara (Book 1)
SWEDEN, Berghs (Books 1-2)
TURKEY, Altın Kitaplar (Book 1)
UNITED KINGDOM, Pushkin Press (Books 1-3)
UNITED STATES, Abrams (Books 1-3)

FILM, Film4