Three deals for Annukka Salama’s THE MELTING POINT in one day!

We are extremely happy to share, that the Dutch rights to THE MELTING POINT by Annukka Salama have been sold in a two-book pre-empt-deal to Kluitman. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Ahlbäck Agency.

This is what editor Elles van Roosmalen from Kluitman had to say about this title:

‘Once I started reading The Melting Point by Annukka Salama, I simply could not stop. You just cannot help falling in love with Oliver and Niklas and rooting for their incredible love story. The wonderful illustrations by Satu Ovaskainen also really help bringing their story to life. We cannot wait to share this book with all the Dutch readers and are very proud to add this title to our list.’

The French rights for Annukka Salama’s two books have been sold to Rageot Editeur! The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlbäck Agency.

This is what Hélène Daveau the Editor at Ragot Editeur says about the title:

‘We are delighted about the acquisition of THE MELTING POINT, first instalment of Annukka Salama’s new series. It’s a charming novel, written with a light touch and a warm, engaging style. We especially enjoyed the relationships between the characters and the Cinderella vibe running through this beautiful love story on ice.’

The third deal for Annukka Salama comes from Bokförlaget Opal from Sweden! The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlbäck Agency.

Anja Eriksson, Senior Editor at Bokförlaget Opal commented this when acquiring the rights:

‘We are very excited to publish this heart-warming and melting hot title. Just like Oliver caught Niklas’s heart we’re sure that The Melting Point will caught the heart of the Swedish readers.’

The Melting Point is a high-stakes YA sports romance set in the icy heart of Finland, where competition meets slow-burn enemies-to-lovers attraction. It’s a perfect combination of enemies-to-lovers romance, hockey action, and feel-good YA storytelling for the fans of Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, and Rachel Reid’s Game Changers and, last but definitely not least, Heated Rivalry!

REQUEST MATERIALS FOR THE MELTING POINT HERE

So hot it melts the ice!

The queen of addictive romances, Annukka Salama, now takes your breath away on the hockey rink! Oliver and Niklas are hockey’s brightest prospects—and sworn enemies on junior national teams from Finland and Sweden. When the boys are forced onto the same team, a Finland–Sweden showdown begins like nothing the hockey world has ever seen.

Oliver Järvinen rockets from complete obscurity to a trial with the national team. All his wildest dreams are coming true, until Niklas Gauffin skates into his life: a Finnish-Swedish hockey star and a total pain in the neck. Tipped to be the NHL’s number-one draft pick, Niklas has ditched his Swedish Tre Kronor jersey and moved to Finland, and, to top it all off, he’s Oliver’s new roommate in the high school dorm.

When fate throws them onto the same ice, the game, and the tension, heat up to unbearable levels. With the media scrutinizing their every move ahead of the NHL draft, the boys face huge choices as they fight for their future

THE MELTING POINT
Sulamispiste
WSOY, 2025, 360 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
FRANCE: Rageot Editeur (2 books)
NETHERLANDS: Kluitman (2 books)
SWEDEN: Bokförlaget Opal

Reading materials:
English sample and draft translation
English synopsis
Finnish edition

About author


Annukka Salama

Annukka Salama (b. 1980) is a Finnish YA author from Tampere. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees. In addition, she has studied fashion design and architecture.

Salama’s young adult novels are known for their fast-paced plots and addictive romances. Her stories also give space to LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent perspectives. Salama’s books enjoy wide popularity among readers and have consistently performed well in annual Blogistania awards voted by book bloggers. In 2024 and 2025 she won the Queer Book of the Year Award.

Photo credit: Tiia Mahkonen

Bibliography


2025, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

The Melting Point

Annukka Salama

BRITA-KAJSA by Katja Kettu sold to Germany pre-publication!

We are thrilled to share, that the German rights for Katja Kettu’s BRITA-KAJSA  have been sold to in a pre-publication deal to Weissbooks Verlag. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Ahlbäck Agency.

Weissbooks Verlag published Kettu’s previous book, THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT in 2025. They are an independent publisher with a well-curated literary list that includes Booker-Prize shortlisted author Cheon Myeong-kwan, Heinrich-Böll-Prize winning author José F. A. Oliver, and critically acclaimed author Mary Miller.

BRITA-KAJSA is a powerful novel from a master storyteller brings to light the untold story of Brita-Kajsa Laestadius. The novel will appeal to readers of Selma Lagerlöf, Sofi Oksanen, and Hilary Mantel, blending lyrical, emotionally charged prose with the immersive sweep of historical fiction. As one of Finland’s most internationally acclaimed authors, Kettu continues the exploration of forgotten women’s histories and the landscapes that shaped them.

At the heart of the novel is Brita‑Kajsa, a strong-minded young healer who refused to accept the life chosen for her. Six months pregnant, she strapped on her skis and pursued the fiery preacher Lars Levi Laestadius across the frozen tundra to Karesuando, demanding marriage—an act of defiance that challenged the conventions of their time. Their secret wedding at the Finnish Market, sanctioned by the bishop himself, marks the beginning of an intense and complicated union.

Through Brita‑Kajsa’s eyes, the novel reveals the birth of a sweeping revival movement and the turbulent social forces reshaping the North. Her voice—resilient, raw, and deeply human—carries the reader through the crackling polar night, the intimate struggles of marriage, and the quiet, powerful work of healing in a harsh and shifting world.

Brita-Kajsa

Katja Kettu

“The northern lights greet me and the polar night crackles in the corners. I test your lips—are you still breathing? Go away, die already, and for a moment I think you’ve stepped through heaven’s gates. I’m relieved. Then I throw myself beside you and pray. Forgive me. Don’t go. Let’s stay a little longer.”

Brita-Kajsa became Lars Levi Laestadius’s wife out of defiance—and far too young. Six months pregnant, she skied after him to Karesuando and demanded marriage. In the end, the couple was wed in secret at the Finnish Market by order of the bishop.

A strong and wise healer, Brita-Kajsa witnessed the birth of a great revival movement in the turbulent Lapland of the 19th century.

BRITA-KAJSA
Brita-Kajsa
Otava, April 2026, 360 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
GERMANY: Weissbooks Verlag

Reading materials:
Finnish edition (April 2026)
English Sample (Spring 2026)
English synopsis (April 2026)

 

About author


Katja Kettu

Katja Kettu is an acclaimed and award-winning writer with a strong, unique voice from Northern Finland. Originally from Rovaniemi, Lapland, she graduated from the Turku Academy of Arts in 2001 as an animation director and has also studied in the University of Tampere and in the National Film and Television School in the UK. She has worked as a columnist for numerous Finnish newspapers and magazines.

Her debut novel Surujenkerääjä (2005) was nominated for the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize and won the Tiiliskivi Prize, but her breakthrough came with The Midwife (orig. Kätilö, 2011), which won the Kalevi Jäntti Prize, the Runeberg Prize and the Thank You for the Book Medal. The rights for the novel have been sold to 19 countries, it has sold more than 160,000 copies in Finland, and in 2015 it was adapted into a film.

To date, she has published five novels, written or edited two collections of short stories, authored a graphic novel, edited a fiction/non-fiction book on women’s experiences with sexual harassment and violence, and a biography of Ismo Alanko, a Finnish musician. In addition, she has collaborated with photographer Meeri Koutaniemi and documentarist Maria Seppälä on a book and a TV series about Finnish emigrants in North America and their relationships with the Ojibwe people. Outside of literature, Kettu has directed, written or helped produce 10 animations and been a singer in the punk band Confusa.

Kettu’s works have been characterized as “Laplandic magical realism”. Kettu is meticulous in the research for her works and she is interested in microhistory, especially the fates of women caught up in conflicts where individuals have a limited influence on their lives.

Her novel Rose on poissa was a Finlandia Prize 2018 nominee. Kettu's works have been translated into 23 languages.

Katja Kettu's literary works:

Surujenkerääjä, 2005 WSOY

Hitsaaja, 2008 WSOY

Kätilö, 2011 WSOY

Piippuhylly, novelleja, 2013 WSOY

Novelli palaa! Matkanovelleja, co-edited with Aki Salmela, 2013 WSOY

Yöperhonen, 2015 WSOY

Peräkammarin poika, illustrated by Jan Andersson, 2015 Otava

Rose on poissa, 2018 WSOY

Erään kissan tutkimuksia, 2023 Otava

Photo credit: Niclas Mäkelä / Otava

Bibliography


2026, Literary Fiction

Brita-Kajsa

Katja Kettu


2023, Literary Fiction

The Investigations of a Certain Cat

Katja Kettu

DEPARTMENT K trilogy by Tuomas Niskakangas Greek rights sold!

We have great news, as we have closed the first deal for THE SEALED CASE by Tuomas Niskakangas and the new Department K series. The Greek rights for the full trilogy have been acquired by Memento, pre-publication! The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlbäck Agency.

This is what Viktoria Thymiou, International Rights Manager of Memento said about the series:

“Tuomas Niskakangas has crafted a masterfully chilling universe where high-stakes corporate corruption meets the darkest levels of political power. The Department K series is a sophisticated, gripping thriller that expertly weaves investigative journalism with a haunting search for a lost identity.”

The first book, The Sealed Case, will be published in Finland in May 2026.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR THE SEALED CASE HERE

The start of a gripping new thriller series! The Department K series blends a web of power games and criminal investigations with finely crafted psychological portraits.

When journalist Joel Saarni’s affair with his editor-in-chief makes the tabloid front page, he’s forced to leave his job. But the unfinished story won’t let him go. Someone has sent him a folder containing highly incriminating material: a Finnish network equipment company appears to have made illegal deals in Russia. But why?

Corporate lawyer Petra Thorry has her own reasons for getting involved. She’s obsessed with solving the mystery of a child who vanished in the 1990s.

As the investigation deepens, Petra and Joel are drawn into a tightening web of lies and espionage—where the deadly strings are pulled by Department K.

The Sealed Case launches a new top-tier Finnish thriller series. Department K is an addictive story about unchecked power—and the people who can no longer look away.

THE SEALED CASE
SULJETTU KANSIO
WSOY 2026, 397 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
GREECE: Memento

Reading materials:
Finnish Edition
English sample + full English draft translation
English series synopsis

 

About author


Tuomas Niskakangas

Tuomas Niskakangas (b. 1980) is a Finnish journalist and thriller writer whose fiction draws directly from the worlds of power, secrecy, and global politics. He works on and off for Helsingin Sanomat, Finland’s leading newspaper, but in recent years has focused primarily on writing novels.

He turned to fiction after returning to Finland from Washington, D.C., where he spent four years as a foreign correspondent. Having reported at the heart of international politics, he was looking to channel that experience into high-stakes thrillers – another long-time passion of his.

Influenced by writers such as Dan Brown, Stieg Larsson, and Jo Nesbø, Niskakangas writes fast-paced, plot-driven stories rooted in real-world power structures. His first series, Leo Koski, explores political ambition and sinister plans to change the society.

His newest series Department K moves into the shadowy territory of espionage and investigative journalism, uncovering dangerous secrets buried in the past. His novels combine propulsive storytelling, layered mysteries, and characters forced to choose how far they are willing to go for the truth.

Photo credit: Marek Sabogal

Bibliography


2026, Crime & Suspense

The Sealed Case

Tuomas Niskakangas


2024, Crime & Suspense

The Eagle

Tuomas Niskakangas


2022, Crime & Suspense

The Act of Gladius

Tuomas Niskakangas


2021, Crime & Suspense

Their Turn to Burn

Tuomas Niskakangas

Milo by Max Seeck sold to Lithuania!

We are super happy to announce that the Milo series by Max Seeck is now traveling to Lithuania! The rights for the first book, MILO: CHECKMATE, have been acquired by Terra Publica. Terra Publica is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and the publishing house is consistently ranked among the top ten publishers in Lithuania and operates three imprints. The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlbäck Agency.

This marks the 11th territory for the Milo series, by New York Times & Spiegel Bestselling Author Max Seeck. The series has sold over 120,000 copies in Finland, with the third and final book being published in June 2026. A 6-episode international TV series adaptation by Solar Films is currently in pre-production.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR MILO SERIES HERE

Max Seeck has been translated in 41 languages and his novels sold over 1 million copies globally.

Bodies with chess pieces in their mouth – Milo needs to understand the game of chess in order to catch a killer.

The game has only just begun.

On a cold November evening, a body is discovered on the shore of Seurasaari. The victim’s skin is covered with a thick layer of white paint, and during the autopsy, a chess piece is found lodged in its throat.  The police are baffled. Why would the murderer go to such lengths to disguise the body? And why wasn’t there any attempt to hide it?  Milo Perho, an art gallery owner specializing in profiling killers, is called in to assist. What follows is a nerve-wracking game where every move costs a life, and no one wants it to end in checkmate.

MILO: CHECKMATE
MERKITTY
Tammi 2024, 399 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
ESTONIA: Pegasus
FRANCE: Mera Editions
GERMANY: Bastei Luebbe
GREECE: Memento LP
ITALY: Piemme
JAPAN: Kodansha Ltd.
LATVIA: Latvijas Mediji
LITHUANIA: Terra Publica
NORWAY: Aschehoug
RIGHTS FILM & TV: Solar Films
UKRAINE: Laboratory LLC

Reading materials:
English sample + full English draft translation,
English synopsis
French edition, German edition, Finnish edition

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.

Jessica Niemi series is being adapted into a English-language TV series by Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures

“An exceptional combination of hardboiled Scandi-noir and eerie ghost story. [--] Seeck marries breathtaking suspense with an expertly drawn heroine. This is guaranteed to send shivers up even the most unshakable readers’ spines." – Publisher's Weekly, starred review (Ghost island)

"Each new step has been an artistic success. Max Seeck, last year's winner of the Glass Key Award for best Nordic detective story, has a golden touch for Finnish suspense fiction." - Kai Hirvasnoro, Kansan Uutiset newspaper

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

His Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! The new MILO series has already been sold to 9 territories, 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.

Photo credit: Mikko Rasila

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Milo #2: Betrayed

Max Seeck


2024, Crime & Suspense

Milo #1: Checkmate

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

Enni Amanda Secures 8-Book World English Deal with Corvus

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that our new romcom star Enni Amanda has signed an eight-book World English Language deal with Corvus, an imprint of Atlantic Books UK. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Ahlbäck Agency.

Corvus has acquired:

  • The Holiday Grump

  • The upcoming sequel, The Fall Roomie

  • The Love New Zealand series (3 books)

  • A brand-new, unpublished Sisu Lakes series (3books)

This deal follows a recent eight-book acquisition in Finland by Gummerus, confirming strong and growing international enthusiasm for Enni’s work.

The team at Atlantic Books has been very enthusiastic and passionate. This is what the team  thought of her:

‘I am utterly spellbound… it’s got everything readers like me love in this space (characters written with emotional depth as well as cute tropes, an adorable setting, and a steamy love story for the ages) and it’s the sort of timeless seasonal romcom that will do beautifully year on year.’Stephanie Carey, Editorial Director, Corvus

It was a genuine delight to be transported to the charming, cosy hamlet of Hideaway Harbour. [–] That there are seven further books to read from Enni Amanda is an extremely cheering thought!’ – Clare Drysdale, Group Associate Publisher

Enni Amanda writes warm, funny, emotionally grounded romantic comedies with a Finnish touch – blending strong commercial tropes (grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, enemies to lovers, second chances…) with vivid settings and big-hearted storytelling. She is perfect for the readers of Jenny Colgan, Beth O’Leary, Abby Jimenez, and Emily Henry.

Books available by Enni:

The Holiday Grump series: The Holiday Grump (2025), The Fall Roomie (upcoming)
A spicy, small‑town Christmas rom‑com from the Hideaway Harbor world, featuring a grumpy lead matched with the holiday spirit.

Love New Zealand series: Nest or Invest (2021), Hidden Gem (2021), Night and Day (2022)
A lighthearted rom‑com series rooted in contemporary New Zealand life.

Sisu Lakes series: Love & Lost Words: MS delivery 31 March, 2026, Love & Cinnamon Lattes: MS delivery 31 August, 2026, Love & Bucket Lists: MS delivery 31 January, 2027

A contemporary small-town romcom series set in a Finnish-American mill town in northern Minnesota, where the winters are long, the fairy lights are excessive, and the town monument is a giant sauna bucket often mistaken for a hot tub (or a garbage can).

Other books: A Tiny House on Wheels (2019), Coffee on Waihi Beach (2020), My Lucky Star (2023), My Turkish Fling (2024)

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS HERE

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Gummerus
WORLD ENGLISH: Corvus, Atlantic Books UK

Reading materials:
English editions for all books
English synopses and series overviews

About author


Enni Amanda

Enni Amanda is a Finnish–New Zealand romantic comedy author and illustrator who writes warm, witty love stories with real-life bite. Born in Finland, she moved to New Zealand in 2006 and now lives in the Waikato with her husband and two sons.

Trained as a graphic designer, Enni designs and illustrates character-forward covers for romantic comedy and romance, and her visual background carries through into her fiction. She later studied filmmaking and spent years writing screenplays. She brings that cinematic sensibility to her novels through vivid locations, wanderlust-inducing storylines, and clever banter. Together with her husband, she also co-founded Uneton48, the 48-hour filmmaking competition in Finland.

A lifelong storyteller, Enni wrote her first “book” at age eleven on her dad’s Amstrad computer. It was seventy pages in Finnish and starred her dolls in an imaginary coastal town in Norway. Years later, she returned to fiction, writing in English, and built a growing body of romantic comedies that blend humor, big feelings, and swoony chemistry, often set in small towns that become characters in their own right.

Enni’s work has been featured on the TODAY Show. When she’s not writing, she’s usually drawing, spending time with her boys, or trying to learn something insanely hard, like pole fitness.

Bibliography


2027, Romance

Love & Bucket Lists

Enni Amanda


2026, Romance

The Fall Roomie

Enni Amanda


2026, Romance

Love & Cinnamon Lattes

Enni Amanda


2026, Romance

Love & Lost Words

Enni Amanda


2025, Romance

The Holiday Grump

Enni Amanda


2023, Romance

Hidden Gem

Enni Amanda


2023, Romance

Nest or Invest

Enni Amanda


2023, Romance

Night and Day

Enni Amanda

A DISOBEDIENT GIRL sold to Croatia!

We are incredibly happy to share the news, that A DISOBEDIENT GIRL by Sara Al Husaini has been sold to Naklada Ljevak in Croatia! This marks the first foreign sale for Al Husaini. The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlbäck Agency in collaboration with our wonderful co-agent Antonija Radic at Corto Literary.

Based on the author’s own experiences, A Disobedient Girl takes a very close and visceral look at the normalized misogyny and oppression of women in conservative Islamic tradition and deals with themes such as liberty, womanhood, and self-determination. It also highlights how such traumas can be inherited through the generations and how these grievances can only be transcended with dialogue and the will to change.

Originally published June 2023, A Disobedient Girl was one of the most successful debut titles of 2023 in Finland. It has sold over 35,000 copies, was nominated for the Helsingin Sanomat Literature Prize 2023 and the Savonia Prize 2023, won the Young Aleksis Award in 2024, and it won the BookBeat Newcomer of the Year Award of 2023!

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR A DISOBEDIENT GIRL HERE

An honest and authentic debut novel by the winner of the Refugee Woman of the Year Award, a novel that shakes the reader to their core

A mother is escorting her daughter, trembling with fear, to the wedding suite door. This is what she’s been raised for ever since she was little, kept in wrapping paper like a precious sweet. This is the reason why she was brought back from Finland to Iraq.

You shouldn’t have abandoned the headscarf”, her siblings say. “He is your husband now”, her mother says.

A Disobedient Girl is an astonishingly honest and authentic story about the history of subjugating and silencing women, about abandoning one’s faith, honour violence, forced marriage, Islamic purity culture, the price of freedom, and the desperate desire for the right to self-determination. Above all, it is about a fearless woman who wants to survive and change the world.

A DISOBEDIENT GIRL
Huono tyttö
Like 2023, 295 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Like (orig.)
CROATIA: Naklada Ljevak d.o.o.

Reading materials:
Finnish PDF, English sample and synopsis

About author


Sara Al Husaini

Sara Al Husaini (1992) is a human rights activist, feminist, and English major from Helsinki. She was born to Iraqi refugees in Saudi Arabia and moved to Finland as a child. She has studied English philology at the University of Helsinki and has worked as an intern at the European Parliament. She is currently a board member in The Finnish Women’s Association Union and a member of the steering group for UN Women Finland. In 2021, Al Husaini was chosen as the Refugee Woman of the Year by the Finnish Refugee Council.

Her debut novel A Disobedient Girl (orig. Huono tyttö) is a deeply personal story of experiences for which there haven’t been words before. Al Husaini's writing delves into the human psyche, weaving a tale that unravels the threads of cultural expectations and the resilience of those who defy them. Through her storytelling, Al Husaini seeks to provoke thought, challenge stereotypes, and ignite conversations that lead to meaningful societal shifts.

Photo credit: Niclas Mäkelä

Bibliography


2023, Literary Fiction

A Disobedient Girl

Sara Al Husaini

Villa Hilda series continues in Estonia!

We are super happy to tell you that Hea Lugu in Estonia has aquired the rights to the second book in the Villa Hilda series by Michaela von Kügelgen, Home to the Island! Book one was published in Estonia at the end of 2025. The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlbäck Agency.

REQUEST MATERIALS FOR HEM TILL HALSTERÖ HERE

When Sanne’s dream job in Oslo is derailed by her mother’s illness, she returns to the idyllic yet shadowed archipelago of Halsterö—where secrets, loss, and unexpected love await. Amid organic farms, fractured families, and the pull of the past, will Sanne finally discover where she belongs?

The story follows Sanne, who is about to start her dream job in Oslo when she learns that her mother Birgit is ill. Instead of moving to Norway, she now travels back home to Halsterö. There, her neighbour Sebastian has been taking care of Birgit in Sanne’s absence. Sebastian is an organic farmer who has lost both his wife and his father and is struggling to recover from a mental slump.

In Helsinki, there is Henrik, who is set to take over the family business. After a divorce, he goes from one Tinder date to another, without any goal or meaning. But one day, he receives a call that changes his life. In the background, there are also Thomas and Louise, whom we got to know in Summer at Villa Hilda. But this time, the focus is on Sanne. Will she finally find her way home?

The Villa Hilda series is set in an archipelago environment where the sea, nature and community create a sense of refuge. But beneath the idyll lie shadows – the past, secrets and difficult choices that shape people’s lives. The series balances sorrow and hope and explores themes such as new beginnings, responsibility, loneliness and love.

HOME TO THE ISLAND
Hem till Halsterö
Schildts & Söderströms 2026, 302 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Schildts & Söderströms (orig. Finland-Swedish), Schildts & Söderströms (Finnish), SWEDEN: Schildts & Söderströms
DENMARK: Lindhardt og Ringhof
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu
GERMANY: Aufbau Verlage
NETHERLANDS: Singel Uitgeverijen
NORWAY: H. Aschehoug & Co

Reading materials:
Swedish edition
English synopsis

About author


Michaela von Kügelgen

Michaela "Kugge" von Kügelgen (1986) has four published titles under her belt. Her most recent novel, Sommar på Villa Hilda, will be published in eight territories and has been optioned for the screen.

Since 2020, Kugge offers highly regarded online writing courses, which have attracted participants from both Sweden and Finland. Her newsletters on writing and entrepreneurship have 1,600 subscribers. In the newsletters she shares her journey, offering encouragement to others while candidly discussing her own challenges and triumphs. Together with author Anne Hietanen, Kugge is working on a crime novel series with book #1, The Last Word slated to be published in 2026.

In addition to her writing career, Kugge plays handball, has recently developed a passion for second-hand fashion, and slow travels to Berlin whenever she can — after having lived there for two years.

Photo credit: Frida Lönnroos

Bibliography


2026, Crime & Suspense

The Last Point

Michaela von Kügelgen


2026, Commercial/Upmarket

Home to the Island

Michaela von Kügelgen


2025, Commercial/Upmarket, Romance

Summer at Villa Hilda

Michaela von Kügelgen

ADRIFT sold to Poland and Romania!

We are incredibly happy to announce that our new picture book ADRIFT Or How Some Balloonists Got Lost Underground and Encountered Something Incredibly Strange by Jukka Laajarinne, illustrated by Elina Warsta has been sold to Poland and Romania! The Polish rights have been sold to SmartBooks, and Romanian rights to Vellant. Both deals were closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlbäck Agency, the Romanian deal in collaboration with our wonderful co-agent Simona Kaleva at Corto Literary.

Adrift tells, through stunning images and words, how freedom can be found in friendship and belonging. The book was nominated for the Finlandia prize in children’s literature in 2025:

“In this work, text and illustrations are combined in a way that allows them, as equal elements, to carry the fairy tale and the hot-air balloon forward through the pages of the book. Through the meticulous images and landscapes brimming with detail, the story deepens continuously, and new dimensions can be discovered even after several readings. Although it is a picture book aimed at younger children, its subtlety makes it appealing to readers of many ages.”
– Finlandia Prize jury 2025

For Adrift, we have the full English translation available!

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS FOR ADRIFT HERE

Laule-Lii is used to soaring alone in her airship, free as a bird in the sky. Somewhat reluctantly, she accepts the company of two other pilots, Giant-Putti and Mirella, and together they set out to help farmers plagued by a fierce dragon.

An exhilarating adventure awaits, where all three will need to use their different skills. Laule-Lii finds herself in a tighter spot than ever before: among others, on solid ground. Yet her heart leaps with joy when, together, they drive away the intruder.

ADRIFT Or How Some Balloonists Got Lost Underground and Encountered Something Incredibly Strange
Tuuliajolla eli kuinka pilvien kiertolaiset eksyivät maan alle ja kohtasivat siellä jotakin hyvin kummallista
Otava 2025, 48 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
POLAND: SmartBooks
ROMANIA: Editura VELLANT

Reading materials:
English translation
English synopsis
Finnish PDF

About author


Elina Warsta

Elina Warsta is an illustrator and graphic designer focused on book design and illustration. Warsta received the Finnish State Award for Children’s Culture in 2016 and has been awarded multiple times in the ‘Most Beautiful Book of the Year’ competition. She has also been nominated for the Finlandia Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature in 2013, 2019 and twice in 2025, as well as for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize in 2016. Books she has illustrated have been translated and published in over ten languages.

Photo credit: Ilkka Vuorinen

About author


Jukka Laajarinne

Jukka Laajarinne (b. 1970) is an author who has published books for both children and adults, including fiction and nonfiction. He has received several awards, among them the Tietopöllö Prize. His picture book Adrift, created together with Elina Warsta, was published in 2025.

DAD MAN sold to Estonia!

We are super happy to announce that the DAD MAN series by Arttu Unkari, illustrated by Kai Vaalio now travels to Estonia, as Ühinenud Ajakirjad has acquired the rights to DAD MAN AND THE EXPLODING POOP! The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlbäck Agency.

“We are very happy to publish this great series and appreciate the effort made by Arttu Unkari and Kai Vaalio, to bring more fun to the lives of our young readers!”
– Marko Tamme, Managing Director of Ühinenud Ajakirjad, Estonia

The Dad Man series has sold over 300,000 copies in Finland! The series is fast-paced, visually bold, and hilarious – perfect for readers 7+! Book #7 in the series will be published this Spring – stay tuned!

Request materials for the DAD MAN series here!

Dad Man is a dad to a nine-year-old daughter Oona, and a policeman who think he knows everything, but the reality is different. Oona and her friends follow her dad and helps him secretly to solve all of the issues herself. The series offers a fast-paced adventures and humor for all ages, especially lower middle grade. Bold and fresh 4-colour comic-style artwork adds visual jokes to the narration. A perfect “gateway series to literature” for reluctant readers and for fans of David Walliams and Captain Underpants.

The rights for the series are still available in Sweden, Turkey, France, Czechia…

The Dad Man series:
Arttu Unkari, illustrated by Kai Vaalio

#1 Dad Man and the Exploding Poop
#2 Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother
#3 Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis
#4 Dad Man and the Impossible Time Warp
#5 Dad Man and the Doppelgänger Disaster
#6 Dad Man and the Mysterious Puppet Master
coming up soon #7 Dad Man and the Secret Script

The quirkiest cop in town! The Dad Man Series offers fast-paced adventures and humour for all ages – especially lower middle grade.

DAD MAN AND THE EXPLODING POOP
Isämies ja räjähtävä kakka
Otava 2020, 176 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
DENMARK: Bogoo (2 books)
ESTONIA: Ühinenud Ajakirjad (1 book)
GERMANY: Mixtvision (3 books)
NETHERLANDS: De Vier Windstreken (2 books)
POLAND: Kropka (2 books)

Reading materials:
Finnish editions, German edition books 1-3, Danish edition book 1, English sample book 4

About author


Arttu Unkari

Arttu Unkari is a teacher from Helsinki and a Master of Education (University of Helsinki, 2015) who majored in ethics and philosophy.  He combines his educational background and experience as a teacher in his books – his stories are anarchist and zany, but at the same time the humour often revolves around profound and intriguing concepts such as honesty, obedience, and morality in ways that speak to children in their own language. His books are enjoyed by adults as well because they contain layers that open up differently to readers of all ages. This is one of the reasons Dad Man is such a great series for the whole family.

As an author Unkari is a Runeberg prize nominee 2023 for the third instalment of the Dad Man series: Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis (Isämies ja hyytävä hypnoosi, Otava 2022). The Runeberg Prize is a literary prize awarded by the newspaper Uusimaa, the City of Porvoo, the Finnish Writers' Union, the Finnish Critics' Association and the Finland’s-Swedish Writer’s Association. The prize was established in 1986 and it is awarded annually in Porvoo on 5th February, the day when Finland celebrates their national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg.  All of his previous books (Dad Man and the Exploding poop, Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother, Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis and Dad Man and the Impossible Time Warp) have been nominated for best children’s audiobook in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Finnish Storytel awards. He’s also participated in making a Finnish language schoolbook (Loikka 3, Otava 2022).

Unkari is a sought after inspirational speaker in his home country. He’s visited schools all over Finland advocating for the importance of reading.

Photo credit Jonne Räsänen / Otava 2019

About author


Kai Vaalio

Kai Vaalio (b. 1986) is an illustrator, comic artist, and a bit of a cosmopolitan as well. He’s written and illustrated underground comic books for adults about his travels in South-East Asia and Latin America — the latter won Mondo magazine’s Travel book of the year award back in 2014. Recently he’s ventured into the world of illustrating children’s books mainly with Arttu Unkari’s Dad Man Series. Together they’ve made several books about this goofy detective and his clever little posse. The Dad Man Series has received Storytel Awards and Runeberg Junior 2023 award nominations. Vaalio’s been on and off in the graphic industry since 2005 when he graduated as a graphic designer from Lahti College of Arts and Crafts. In 2018 he got his bachelor’s degree from Lahti University of Applied Science.

Photo credit: Jonne Räsänen / Otava

Eight-book deal for Enni Amanda!

We are delighted to announce a fantastic eight‑book deal in Finland for Enni Amanda! Gummerus has acquired the rights to: The Holiday Grump series (2 books), Love New Zealand series (3 books) and Sisu Lakes series (3 books).
The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlback Agency after a highly competitive auction, underscoring the excitement surrounding Enni’s stories and growing global appeal.

Just before Christmas, John Searles recommended Enni Amanda’s THE HOLIDAY GRUMP on NBC’s Today Show as one of the top books to read during the holiday season. You can watch the clip here. Following this national spotlight, publishers everywhere have shown strong interest in Enni’s work.

This is what Leenastiina Kakko, Editorial Manager for fiction at Gummerus, says about Enni:

Enni Amanda is such a talent! Her witty, effortless prose, atmospheric settings, and confident use of genre conventions— always with a personal twist—make her truly stand out. She brings international star quality with a delightful Finnish touch.

I flew through The Holiday Grump and loved every word! I can’t wait to dive into the Sisu Lakes stories—the synopses alone were such a joy, packed with clever, laugh-out-loud details.

Enni Amanda’s books offer everything a devoted romance reader could want. There’s a perfect spot on our list for the next big name in Finnish romance—and with our track record of international success, we’re ready to position her right there.”

Enni is an accomplished indie writer with ten published rom‑com novels—and her rise has been nothing short of remarkable. She writes warm, funny, real‑life–grounded romantic comedies set largely in New Zealand, where Enni herself lives, and small-town communities. Her stories often feature fake dating, enemies‑to‑lovers, second chances, small‑town charm, and holiday romance energy. The books are originally written in English.

Books available by Enni:

The Holiday Grump series: The Holiday Grump (2025), The Fall Roomie (upcoming)
A spicy, small‑town Christmas rom‑com from the Hideaway Harbor world, featuring a grumpy lead matched with the holiday spirit.

Love New Zealand series: Nest or Invest (2021), Hidden Gem (2021), Night and Day (2022)
A lighthearted rom‑com series rooted in contemporary New Zealand life.

Sisu Lakes series: Love & Lost Words: MS delivery 31 March, 2026, Love & Cinnamon Lattes: MS delivery 31 August, 2026, Love & Bucket Lists: MS delivery 31 January, 2027
A contemporary small-town romcom series set in a Finnish-American mill town in northern Minnesota, where the winters are long, the fairy lights are excessive, and the town monument is a giant sauna bucket often mistaken for a hot tub (or a garbage can).

Other books: A Tiny House on Wheels (2019), Coffee on Waihi Beach (2020), My Lucky Star (2023), My Turkish Fling (2024)

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS HERE

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Gummerus

Reading materials:
English editions for all books
English synopsis

About author


Enni Amanda

Enni Amanda is a Finnish–New Zealand romantic comedy author and illustrator who writes warm, witty love stories with real-life bite. Born in Finland, she moved to New Zealand in 2006 and now lives in the Waikato with her husband and two sons.

Trained as a graphic designer, Enni designs and illustrates character-forward covers for romantic comedy and romance, and her visual background carries through into her fiction. She later studied filmmaking and spent years writing screenplays. She brings that cinematic sensibility to her novels through vivid locations, wanderlust-inducing storylines, and clever banter. Together with her husband, she also co-founded Uneton48, the 48-hour filmmaking competition in Finland.

A lifelong storyteller, Enni wrote her first “book” at age eleven on her dad’s Amstrad computer. It was seventy pages in Finnish and starred her dolls in an imaginary coastal town in Norway. Years later, she returned to fiction, writing in English, and built a growing body of romantic comedies that blend humor, big feelings, and swoony chemistry, often set in small towns that become characters in their own right.

Enni’s work has been featured on the TODAY Show. When she’s not writing, she’s usually drawing, spending time with her boys, or trying to learn something insanely hard, like pole fitness.

Bibliography


2027, Romance

Love & Bucket Lists

Enni Amanda


2026, Romance

The Fall Roomie

Enni Amanda


2026, Romance

Love & Cinnamon Lattes

Enni Amanda


2026, Romance

Love & Lost Words

Enni Amanda


2025, Romance

The Holiday Grump

Enni Amanda


2023, Romance

Hidden Gem

Enni Amanda


2023, Romance

Nest or Invest

Enni Amanda


2023, Romance

Night and Day

Enni Amanda

Arttu Tuominen’s Crystal trilogy sold to Estonia!

We are excited to share that the Estonian rights for the Crystal Trilogy by Arttu Tuominen have been sold in a pre-empt to Rahva Raamat! They have bought the rights to ALEC and it’s two sequels. The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlback Agency.

The trilogy has now been sold to Estonia, France, the Netherlands, and Germany!

Request the materials for ALEC here!

ALEC (Otava, 2025)

The destructive power of the criminal underworld meets vulnerable humanity in Arttu Tuominen’s new crime series.

During the economic recession of the 1990s, illegal businesses flow into Finland from across the eastern border. A drug war rages on Finnish soil, where human life has no value.

The quiet life of the village community in Salla is shattered when more than a dozen partygoers are murdered at a remote farm. Fourteen-year-old Liina, who witnesses the massacre, is forced to grow up quickly as senseless violence invades her childhood world

CRYSTAL #2 (Otava, 2026)

A novel about the destructive power of money and addiction.

Juhani Roine, a gambling-addicted bank director, falls into massive debt to international drug syndicates. Julia, a flight attendant and sister to Liina, tries to help him. Their fates intertwine with devastating consequences in a Parisian suburb.

CRYSTAL #3 (Otava, 2027)

A novel about the morality of revenge.

At the heart of the story is Liina Aho, whose past is marked by trauma. Members of a notorious drug cartel are being killed in brutal ways across Helsinki. Tommi Kivi, drowning in personal grief, believes he knows who’s behind it – and is determined to hold them accountable.

ALEC
Otava 2025, 360 pp.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat AS (3 books)
FRANCE: Éditions de la Martinière (3 books)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe (3 books!)
NETHERLANDS: De Fontein (3 books)

Reading materials:
Finnish edition book 1
English sample + full draft translation book 1
English synopsis books 1-3

About author


Arttu Tuominen

Arttu Tuominen (b. 1981) is a Spiegel bestselling author and environmental inspector based in Pori, Finland. During the evenings, he writes dark and tough crime novels. He is best known for his psychologically nuanced and gripping crime novels. Tuominen's novels are acclaimed for their intense atmosphere, compelling plots, and richly drawn characters.

His River Delta series has sold over 230,000 copies in Finland alone and has been published in six different languages. Tuominen has received numerous accolades, including the Vuoden Johtolanka (Clue of the Year) award for The Oath and the Palle Rosenkrantz Prize from the Danish Crime Academy for Jeopardy. In addition he has been nominated for the prestigious Glass Key Award. His novels have earned praise from both critics and readers, firmly establishing him as a leading voice in Finnish crime fiction.

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Alec

Arttu Tuominen


2024, Crime & Suspense

The Stager

Arttu Tuominen


2023, Crime & Suspense

The Liberator

Arttu Tuominen


2022, Crime & Suspense

Shamed

Arttu Tuominen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Silenced

Arttu Tuominen


2020, Crime & Suspense

Jeopardy

Arttu Tuominen


2019, Crime & Suspense

The Oath

Arttu Tuominen

STOP CHASING HAPPINESS’s World Spanish rights sold!

What a wonderful way to enter Christmas holidays as we are excited to announce that Frank Martela’s STOP CHASING HAPPINESS’s World Spanish rights have been acquired by Planeta Mexico! The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlbäck Agency in collaboration with our co-agent Anna Ascolies at IMC Agencias.

What if the secret to happiness isn’t about finding it—but about letting it go? In a world obsessed with success and self-improvement, the relentless pursuit of happiness often leaves us feeling more anxious and unfulfilled. The truth is, real contentment begins when we stop chasing and start living.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR STOP CHASING HAPPINESS

In Stop Chasing Happiness, Frank Martela, PhD—Finland’s leading happiness expert and internationally bestselling author—offers a refreshing perspective on well-being. Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world eight years in a row, and Martela has shared the Finnish approach to happiness with global audiences through outlets like Fox News, The New York Times, Scientific American, and New Scientist. Now, he brings that wisdom directly to you.

Drawing on cutting-edge psychological research, philosophy, and his own personal experiences, Martela reveals why our fixation on happiness and achievement often makes us miserable. Instead of measuring your worth by possessions or obsessing over what others think, this book invites you to unlearn the habits that hold you back. It’s about freeing yourself from the pressure of what you “should” do, embracing life as it is, and pursuing what truly matters to you.

Through Martela’s unique blend of science and storytelling, you’ll discover the courage to break free from societal expectations, the serenity to accept life’s unpredictability, and the energy to follow your own values with purpose. Stop the anxious chase—you’ve already arrived. Happiness isn’t a destination; it’s a way of living. Accept the past, savor the present, and work toward a better future. It all starts here.

Rights sold:
UK: Allen & Unwin
FINLAND: Gummerus
GERMANY: Knesebeck
WORLD ENGLISH: Allen & Unwin
WORLD SPANISH: Planeta Mexico

Reading material:
English edition

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


2025, Personal Growth & Lifestyle

Stop Chasing Happiness: A Pessimist’s Guide to a Good Life

Frank Martela


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

THE HAPPINESS PUZZLE’s World Spanish rights sold!

We are very happy to announce that Newton Compton Editores has acquired the World Spanish rights for Dr Jennifer De Paola’s The Happiness Puzzle! The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlbäck Agency in collaboration with our co-agent Anna Ascolies at IMC Agencias.

This is what Marina Sánchez from Newton Compton Editores had to say about this exciting nonfiction title:

Combining cutting-edge research, interviews with Finns and clinical practice, this book shows that happiness is not a fixed state but a flexible skill we can all cultivate. We are sure it will resonate strongly with readers in Spain and consider it an excellent fit for our non‑fiction list. “

Building on Finland’s paradoxical position in the World Happiness Report, this book reveals the limitations of defining happiness purely as life satisfaction (contentment). Adopting a fresh perspective, it suggests a fuller, more nuanced understanding of happiness — one that begins with how ordinary people define and experience it. By exploring how ordinary people in Finland describe their own happiness, the book paints a picture that goes beyond the simple contentment, highlighting the skills needed to navigate three essential dimensions of happiness: emotions, contentment and meaning.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR THE HAPPINESS PUZZLE HERE

8th year in the row – Finland is the happiest country in the world! Think of happiness as a kaleidoscope. When you shake it, the small colorful pieces get all mixed up, and the three mirrors inside it create beautiful patterns through multiple reflections. Now think of Emotions, Contentment and Meaning as those three mirrors.

✓  English book proposal with new chapter samples available! Original edition will be in English.

✓  An innovative and unique take on the happiness paradox by researcher Jennifer De Paola, PhD!

Finns are known for their quiet, reserved nature and their tendency to keep emotions in check, don’t exactly fit the traditional image of a “happy” nation. They don’t smile on command or express emotions as openly as people in other countries might. And yet, Finland continues to top the happiness rankings year after year.

Through a blend of cutting-edge happiness studies, personal anecdotes, and actionable advice drawn from reliable, science-backed therapeutic practices, The Happiness Puzzle is both a framework and a practical guide. This book introduces a simple yet profound framework for understanding happiness based on three aspects:

  • Emotions: signal what brings joy into our lives and alert us to what may harm our well-being
  • Contentment: provides a sense of calm and satisfaction with what we have, helping us appreciate the present moment
  • Meaning: gives our lives purpose and direction

Happiness isn’t a goal or destination — it’s a skill.

Rights sold:
ITALY: Newton Compton Editori s.r.l.
WORLD SPANISH: Newton Compton Spain

Reading materials:
English book proposal, Sample chapters.

About author


Jennifer De Paola

Jennifer De Paola, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and researcher with a fascination for how ordinary people understand life’s biggest questions. Her research on happiness—particularly its cultural aspect in Finland—has been published in top social sciences journals like Public Understanding of Science, Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, and Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science. Along the way, her research has sparked conversations on international platforms, including interviews on BBC TV and Business Insider.

Jennifer divides her time between research at the University of Eastern Finland and clinical practice in the private sector. But what truly drives her is listening to people’s stories—whether in the therapy room, in an interview, or over a cup of coffee. Currently, her work focuses on immigrants in Finland and how they imagine their futures, a topic that resonates deeply with her as an immigrant herself. In Helsinki, she also provides psychological support to the English-speaking community drawing from evidence-based and scientifically supported therapeutic approaches such as Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Despite having lived in Finland for 15 years, a part of her is still the child from rural southern Italy. Her happiest moments? Passing on little pieces of that heritage to her two-year-old Finnish-Italian son—through museums, library visits, and long hikes where she teaches him Italian words and he sneaks in Finnish and English ones.

Bibliography


2026, Personal Growth & Lifestyle

The Happiness Puzzle

Jennifer De Paola

Max Seeck’s Milo #2 and Milo #3 sold to Norway!

We are extremely happy to let you know that Aschehoug has acquired the Norwegian rights for Max Seeck’s Milo#2: Betrayed and Milo #3: Guarded! The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlback Agency.

Milo #3: Guarded will be published in Finland in June 2026.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR THE MILO SERIES HERE

✓ Max Seeck’s books have sold over 1 MILLION COPIES worldwide, 500,000 copies in Finland and the rights have been sold to 41 territories! Finland’s Bestselling Crime Author!

✓ The New York Times & Spiegel Bestselling Author Max Seeck has been included in Vogue’s list of the 19 best Nordic noir books of all time!

✓ Solar Films adapts Milo to an international TV series for global distribution, with production slated to commence in 2026!

Milo#2: Betrayed: When a breathtakingly beautiful woman sits opposite art gallery owner Milo Perho on a terrace in Helsinki, Milo has no way of anticipating where their meeting leads. Soon, the Helsinki police are dealing with several murders and Milo is being chased by someone for whom Milo’s past is no mystery. A pursuit ensues where the hunter can be anyone and finding a place where to hide is impossible.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
ESTONIA: Pegasus
FRANCE: MERA éditions
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
GREECE: Memento LP
LATVIA: AS “LATVIJAS MEDIJI”
NORWAY: Aschehoug

Reading materials:
Full English draft translation, synopsis.
Finnish edition.

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.

Jessica Niemi series is being adapted into a English-language TV series by Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures

“An exceptional combination of hardboiled Scandi-noir and eerie ghost story. [--] Seeck marries breathtaking suspense with an expertly drawn heroine. This is guaranteed to send shivers up even the most unshakable readers’ spines." – Publisher's Weekly, starred review (Ghost island)

"Each new step has been an artistic success. Max Seeck, last year's winner of the Glass Key Award for best Nordic detective story, has a golden touch for Finnish suspense fiction." - Kai Hirvasnoro, Kansan Uutiset newspaper

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

His Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! The new MILO series has already been sold to 9 territories, 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.

Photo credit: Mikko Rasila

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Milo #2: Betrayed

Max Seeck


2024, Crime & Suspense

Milo #1: Checkmate

Max Seeck


2022, Crime & Suspense

Ghost Island

Max Seeck


2021, Crime & Suspense

The Last Grudge

Max Seeck


2020, Crime & Suspense

The Ice Coven

Max Seeck


2019, Crime & Suspense

The Witch Hunter

Max Seeck


2018, Crime & Suspense

The Mephisto Touch

Max Seeck


2018, Crime & Suspense

The Call of Hades

Max Seeck


2016, Crime & Suspense

Angels of Hammurabi

Max Seeck

Estonian rights sold for PEARL RING, ENCLOSED

We have happy news for THE YELLOW HOUSE CHRONICLES by Mari Renko! The first book in the feel-good series, Pearl Ring, Enclosed, has now been sold to Estonia, Varrak! The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlbäck Agency.

This is a four-book series, and each novel focuses on the life and love of one of the siblings living in the yellow house. The first two books have already been published, and they have also been sold to the Netherlands! The series has sold over 30,000 copies in Finland this year alone!

What happens when the small-town romance trope is set in an eastern Finnish village? Can an American influencer find happiness among stoic and quiet Finns?

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS FOR THE YELLOW HOUSE CHRONICLES HERE

A captivating two-timeline novel contrasting the fast-paced life of a modern social media influencer from New York with the quiet, traditional rhythms of a small town in North Karelia, Finland, woven together by a mysterious pearl ring connected to the Titanic

Two women, two choices, and a secret from a century ago. A fresh new Finnish romance series for fans of Lucinda Riley.

Mari Renko’s Pearl Ring, Enclosed is a delightful and charming novel that takes place in two different times, where the sparkling world of social media and boring everyday life come crashing together as a woman from New York sets out to trace the fascinating story of a ring that has been passed down in her family.

On the shore of Lake Pielinen in North-Eastern Finland stands a weathered yellow wooden house. The house is home to Henri Ikonen and his younger siblings, of whom he is taking care of. One day, Caroline Taylor steps onto the front yard of the house, wearing luxurious high heels and bringing with her an old letter and a pearl ring that she insists are related to the Ikonen family. Henri is not delighted to see this surprise guest, but this social media influencer and socialite turns Henri’s sawdust-smelling everyday life upside down. At the same time, Caroline’s own glamorous life in New York is in danger of slipping from her hands like an Instagram story.

In another time, in 1912, Anna has just married, left Nurmes behind, and steps onto the deck of the RMS Titanic with a singer’s career in her dreams. When Anna meets a handsome businessman on the ship, melodies of hope start sounding in her unruly heart.

Pearl Ring, Enclosed is an irresistible reading experience that takes the readers from the glittering Atlantic to the shores of rural Lake Pielinen in North Karelia. Each novel in this series focuses on the life and love of one of the Ikonen siblings.

PEARL RING, ENCLOSED
Helmisormus kirjekuoressa
Bazar, January 2025, 444 pp.

WHISPERS IN LACE
Pitsihuntuun kuiskattu
Bazar, August 2025, 448 pp.

READING MATERIALS:
English sample book for 1
English synopsis for books 1-2
Series presentation
Finnish PDFs

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Bazar (orig.)
ESTONIA: Varrak
NETHERLANDS: Park Uitgevers/Oceaan

About author


Mari Renko

Mari Renko (b. 1994) is an Eastern Finnish author from Kuopio. She writes both the two-timeline romantic book series The Yellow House Chronicles aimed at adults, as well as The Fader Files, which combines YA fantasy and detective adventures. She wrote her debut novel Pearl Ring, Enclosed after growing tired of the one-dimensional male heroes in romantic books. Her goal is to show that the world is full of different love stories, each worth telling, even if they don’t end in marriage and children, or even if the love in question is something other than romantic love.

In fantasy, Mari is fascinated by other worlds where one can escape everyday life, and by gripping adventures into which important themes can be woven, without forgetting romance.

Mari has studied medicine and writing. She is also active on book-related social media, where she talks about her writing and shares writing tips.
On Instagram and TikTok, you can find Mari under the username @renkomari.

Photo credit: Anna-Katri Hänninen Bazar kustannus

Bibliography


2025, Commercial/Upmarket, Romance

Whispers in Lace

Mari Renko


2025, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Red Rowan Manor

Mari Renko


2025, Commercial/Upmarket, Romance

Pearl Ring, Enclosed

Mari Renko

Seven-book deal for Kaisu Tuokko’s THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS series!

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Gyldendal Astra has acquired the rights for Kaisu Tuokko’s THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS series books 1-6 and its prequel, total of seven books. The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlbäck Agency.

This is what Mette Bentholm the Commissioning Editor from Gyldendal Astra says about Tuokko’s books: “We are so exited to present and publish the Kristinestad series in Denmark.  It’s a gripping small-town mystery series, where everyone knows each other and secrets run deep beneath the idyllic surface. The main characters – the journalist Eevi Manner and the police officer Mats Bergholm – are relatable and well written and you really want to follow them throughout the series, both personally and professionally. This is a sort of crime series that Danish readers love.”

The peace of the idyllic seaside town Kristinestad is broken in the addictive crime series. Nordic Noir with heart  and consequences.

REQUEST MATERIALS FOR THE SERIES HERE

✓  Swedish and German editions published! Full English translation available!
✓  For fans of Viveca Sten’s The Sandhamn Murders, Camilla Läckberg, Mari Jungstedt and Åsa Larsson!
✓  Crimance at its best: where crime fiction meets emotional intelligence all set against the haunting beauty of Finland’s west coast. Suspenseful, raw, and unforgettable.
✓  Bestselling series – over 50,000 copies sold, nominated for BookBeat’s Newcomer Of The Year Award 2023!

About author


Kaisu Tuokko

Kaisu Tuokko is a bestselling Finnish crime author and publishing professional whose fresh, emotionally intelligent voice is reshaping what Nordic Noir can be. With a strong background in the book industry, she understands not only how to craft a compelling novel, but how to build a lasting literary brand.

Her stories don’t just ask “whodunnit,” but “why do we stay silent?” Crimes are never just plot points; they’re rooted in empathy, social fault lines, and the moral complexity of everyday life.

Set against the eerie beauty of small-town Finland, her Kristinestad Murders series explores what lies beneath idyllic surfaces: buried secrets, fractured families, and relationships haunted by longing, silence, and shame. At its core is the idea that we may never truly know the people closest to us — and that some secrets are more dangerous than others.

Tuokko lives in Helsinki, loves rainy autumn evenings, small-town mysteries, and Swedish language, and named her unforgettable lead characters after her grandparents.

Photo credit: Maria Metsäranta

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Moments of Darkness

Kaisu Tuokko


2025, Crime & Suspense

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #3: Lies

Kaisu Tuokko


2024, Crime & Suspense

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #2: Alone

Kaisu Tuokko


2023, Crime & Suspense

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #1: Revenge

Kaisu Tuokko

THE OUTBACK series by Joona Keskitalo has sold over 50,000 copies!

We have incredible news! THE OUTBACK SERIES by Joona Keskitalo has sold over 50,000 copies in Finland!

In the Outback series, readers travel to the ends of long sandy roads, into regions where the Finnish mindset thrives in its most stubborn form. In these stories, small local communities in remote villages across Finland tackle crimes on their own, often by questionable means. Each book is a standalone story with its own colorful cast of characters, and the series can be read and published in any order. This series is for the readers of Jens Lapidus and for the fans of the Fargo series!

So far, four books have been published: The Island That Torn Apart, The Swamp That Sank, Howl of the Arctic Fell, and The Lake That Cracked. The fifth thriller will be released in May 2026!

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS FOR THE OUTBACK SERIES HERE

Each book in the series is a unique story with its own set of characters, creating a series of thriller-like visits to the ends of long dirt roads, unleashing the Finnish mental landscape at its most naked and exotic!

The Island Torn Apart

Korppoo: a place where many have died.

The Island Torn Apart promises the reader at least one thing – when the earth’s crust tears, things will be revealed that no one would have dared to dig out.

The Swamp That Sank

Revonlahti, the final break from life.

THE SWAMP THAT SANK is a story about two gas stations and six bodies along the expressway cutting through North Ostrobothnia.

Howl of the Arctic Fell

Muonio, a place where to live and a place where to die.

Janita left the Muonio night to return home with a new love of her life. Nine hours later, she finds it hard to remember what it was about him that she fell in love with. But today, the mild aftertaste of a love adventure turns promisingly sweet.
Janita has been living out of control and has accumulated debts to every second person in Muonio. All that’s left is her own house with a backyard, next to which lives an old misanthrope called Odd. Despite the fiendish neighbor, Janita’s nocturnal chosen one offers to buy Janita’s house out of the blue. So all is for the better – or it would be if the property inspection wouldn’t produce a corpse as a by-product – and if Odd stayed on his own property.

The Lake That Cracked

A story about the seven signs of evil, a few rolls of plastic, and a newt who has made a forest in Southern Karelia its territory.

When Kari Kinnunen has made up his mind to cut down a forest, he cuts it down, no matter what endangered newt lives on his land. One can get rid of the creature by draining the waters of a small lake across the border as a nuisance for the Russians. But the water rushes in the wrong direction, destroys everything, and leaves Kari unable to speak. All that is left is a horrible find: four corpses lying on the lakebed.

THE OUTBACK SERIES #1: THE ISLAND TORN APART
SAARI, JOKA REPESI, Bazar 2024, 400 pp.

#2: THE SWAMP THAT SANK
SUO, JOKA UPPOSI, Bazar 2024, 320 pp.

#3: HOWL OF THE ARCTIC FELL
TUNTURI, JOKA ULVOI, Bazar 2025, 320 pp.

#4: THE LAKE THAT CRACKED
JÄRVI, JOKA MURTUI, Bazar 2025, 284 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample book 1, English translation books 2-3
English synopsis (books 1-3)
German sample (book #2)
Series presentation
Finnish editions (books 1-4), Series presentation

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Bazar (orig.)

About author


Joona Keskitalo

Joona Keskitalo was born in Oulu, grew up in Hämeenlinna, and now lives with his family in Espoo. His work experience includes everything from storage work to managing athletes and developing products for marketing companies. He now works as a full-time writer. As a writer, he is known for being a skilled plot developer, adding humor and well-drawn characters to his gripping stories.

Keskitalo's literary career began with The Disobedient crime trilogy, which follows the journey of former schoolmates to the top of the drug trade.

Keskitalo's The Outback series connects stories of crimes occurring in remote villages across Finland and their resolution by the local community's colorful characters. The Outback books can be read in any order. The series includes the works The Island That Tore Apart, The Swamp That Sank, Howl of the Arctic Fell, and The Lake That Cracked. The fifth thriller will be released in May 2026!

Photo credit: Uupi Tirronen

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

The Lake That Cracked

Joona Keskitalo


2025, Crime & Suspense

Howl of the Arctic Fell

Joona Keskitalo


2024, Crime & Suspense

The Swamp That Sank

Joona Keskitalo


2024, Crime & Suspense

The Island Torn Apart

Joona Keskitalo

Three book ITTY BITTY PRINCESS deal to Estonia!

We are super happy to announce that Kirjastus Elust Enesest in Estonia will be continuing with the ITTY BITTY PRINCESS series by Hannele Lampela, illustrated by Ninka Reittu! They have bought the rights to three different titles in the series: Itty Bitty Princess: All Kinds of Emotions, Itty Bitty Princess and the Fart Fairy’s Surprise Clean-Up, and Itty Bitty Princess’s Teeny Bit Terrific Fairy Tales! The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlbäck Agency.

“I’m delighted that the new installments of the Itty Bitty Princess series are now reaching Estonian readers as well. The stories are honest and full of real-life flavor, showing that Itty Bitty knows no borders. Although Hannele wrote them in Finland and Ninka illustrated them there, Itty Bitty children can be found all over the world! Children who are like Itty Bitty themselves will find joy and connection in these books, and those who have a Itty Bitty-type friend will learn to understand them better. Adults should also read these books out loud to their children, as the books offer good-natured humor about life itself, something that is a pleasure to follow.”
– Lauri Juursoo, CEO, Elust Enesest, Estonia

Itty Bitty Princess: All Kinds of Emotions was also recently nominated for the Arvid Lydecken Award!

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR THE ITTY BITTY PRINCESS SERIES HERE

Itty Bitty Princess: All Kinds of Emotions

Itty Bitty Princess is slightly afraid to go to the child health clinic, as they could give her a little jab.

She is full of bubbling joy when she figures out how to persuade her mom to go on a fun adventure-filled trek. And her pride knows no bounds when, on a particularly beautiful day, she does all of her morning chores completely on her own.

In addition to love and all the other wonderful emotions, Itty Bitty Princess’s world also includes negative emotions such as envy and disgust which have their own time and place as well.

Nine captivating and fun stories where both Itty Bitty Princess and the readers learn how to recognize and process emotions.

Itty Bitty Princess and the Fart Fairy’s Surprise Clean-Up

Itty Bitty’s dad believes the house should always be neat and tidy, while Itty Bitty thinks it’s perfectly fine to live in a bit of a mess! After all, playing is way more fun than cleaning. Luckily, Itty Bitty comes up with the idea that the Fart Fairy can take care of the cleaning for her. But to her surprise, Dad has his own exciting cleaning plan — and together they find a compromise that makes everyone happy.

Through this story, children will discover the magic of cleaning and finally learn how to keep their rooms in order — for the sake of both grown-ups and fart fairies.

At the end of the book, a magical cleaning trick is revealed to help keep the home a little tidier. Yay!

Itty Bitty Princess’s Teeny Bit Terrific Fairy Tales

Have you ever thought of how a witch feels when her magnificent gingerbread house is eaten? Or the fairy who doesn’t get invited to a birthday party? Indeed, probably not so good.

Itty Bitty Princess has noticed that the ones who are already kind are the ones who always win the battles. Like her little brother. That’s why she has decided to tell a few stories from the side of the scoundrels, like the dragon that gets constantly poked by swords. After all, Itty Bitty Princess knows what it’s like to be kind and naughty at the same time.

ITTY BITTY PRINCESS: ALL KINDS OF EMOTIONS
Prinsessa Pikkiriikki ja kaiken maailman tunteet, Otava 2025, 64 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.), ESTONIA: Elust Enesest

Reading materials:
Finnish PDF, English sample

ITTY BITTY PRINCESS AND THE FART FAIRY’S SURPRISE CLEAN UP
Prinsessa Pikkiriikki ja Kakkakeijun siivousyllätys, Otava 2025, 40 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

Reading materials:
Full English PDF, Finnish PDF

ITTY BITTY PRINCESS’S TEENY BIT TERRIFIC FAIRY TALES
Prinsessa Pikkiriikin hiukkasen hurjat sadut, Otava 2022, 80 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

Reading materials:
Full English PDF, Finnish PDF

About author


Hannele Lampela

Hannele Lampela's lovable works have been praised above all for their rich humor and ability to truly show the world from a child's perspective. She has the ability to enchant her readers, and that is why both children and adults love her stories. Lampela's works have been dramatized for example by the Finnish National Theater, Kuopio City Theater and YLE's radio plays. She has been awarded the prestigious Kaarina Helakisa Prize for her work and she has been nominated for Runeberg Junior award in 2019 and for Storytel Award, and Arvid Lydecken Award five times, most recently in 2025.

In addition to her fictional works, Lampela has written and created  a world of stories for the next national ABC book of Finnish schools. First graders across the country will learn to read through Hannele’s texts. Lampela lives in a small wooden house in the middle of apple trees with her family, and spends her days not only writing, but also pampering herself and others on a regular basis.

About author


Ninka Reittu

Ninka Reittu is an illustrator and children's book writer.

Reittu lives in an old clergy house in Liperi, Finland, with her son and carpenter husband. Their family also includes two cats, several dogs, and a flock of sheep.

In addition to her own picture books Messi ja Mysteeri and Sinä olet superrakas, she has illustrated the titles of Hannele Lampela (The Itty-Bitty Princess) and Kreetta Onkelin.

Italian rights sold to Newton Compton Editori for THE HAPPINESS PUZZLE!

We are very excited to announce, that the Italian rights for THE HAPPINESS PUZZLE by Dr. Jennifer De Paola have been acquired by Newton Compton Editori in an auction! The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlback Agency.

This is what Gabriele Anniballi from Newton Compton had to say about De Paola:

For a long time, Scandinavian countries have been the benchmark we look to for learning how to be happier. This book, written by an Italian expert who relocated to Finland, offers a fresh perspective on the topic for Italian readers. We are delighted to add it to the Newton Compton catalog.

Newton Compton celebrates over 50 years of publishing success with an unswerving commitment to making knowledge accessible to everyone. In 2019, Newton Compton was acquired by the GeMS group and continues with renowned vigor on a mission to encourage Italians to read more. It is also highly regarded for its unalloyed passion for history, for works on regional traditions, for how-to manuals and a variety of other non-fiction areas, to all of which its rich catalogue bears witness. It publishes a selection of prestigious authors exploring the most diverse topics.

Building on Finland’s paradoxical position in the World Happiness Report, this book reveals the limitations of defining happiness purely as life satisfaction (contentment). Adopting a fresh perspective, it suggests a fuller, more nuanced understanding of happiness — one that begins with how ordinary people define and experience it. By exploring how ordinary people in Finland describe their own happiness, the book paints a picture that goes beyond the simple contentment, highlighting the skills needed to navigate three essential dimensions of happiness: emotions, contentment and meaning.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR THE HAPPINESS PUZZLE HERE

8th year in the row – Finland is the happiest country in the world! Think of happiness as a kaleidoscope. When you shake it, the small colorful pieces get all mixed up, and the three mirrors inside it create beautiful patterns through multiple reflections. Now think of Emotions, Contentment and Meaning as those three mirrors.

✓  English book proposal with new chapter samples available! Original edition will be in English.

✓  An innovative and unique take on the happiness paradox by researcher Jennifer De Paola, PhD!

Finns are known for their quiet, reserved nature and their tendency to keep emotions in check, don’t exactly fit the traditional image of a “happy” nation. They don’t smile on command or express emotions as openly as people in other countries might. And yet, Finland continues to top the happiness rankings year after year.

Through a blend of cutting-edge happiness studies, personal anecdotes, and actionable advice drawn from reliable, science-backed therapeutic practices, The Happiness Puzzle is both a framework and a practical guide. This book introduces a simple yet profound framework for understanding happiness based on three aspects:

  • Emotions: signal what brings joy into our lives and alert us to what may harm our well-being
  • Contentment: provides a sense of calm and satisfaction with what we have, helping us appreciate the present moment
  • Meaning: gives our lives purpose and direction

Happiness isn’t a goal or destination — it’s a skill.

Rights sold:
ITALY: Newton Compton Editori s.r.l.

Reading materials:
English book proposal, Sample chapters.

About author


Jennifer De Paola

Jennifer De Paola, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and researcher with a fascination for how ordinary people understand life’s biggest questions. Her research on happiness—particularly its cultural aspect in Finland—has been published in top social sciences journals like Public Understanding of Science, Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, and Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science. Along the way, her research has sparked conversations on international platforms, including interviews on BBC TV and Business Insider.

Jennifer divides her time between research at the University of Eastern Finland and clinical practice in the private sector. But what truly drives her is listening to people’s stories—whether in the therapy room, in an interview, or over a cup of coffee. Currently, her work focuses on immigrants in Finland and how they imagine their futures, a topic that resonates deeply with her as an immigrant herself. In Helsinki, she also provides psychological support to the English-speaking community drawing from evidence-based and scientifically supported therapeutic approaches such as Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Despite having lived in Finland for 15 years, a part of her is still the child from rural southern Italy. Her happiest moments? Passing on little pieces of that heritage to her two-year-old Finnish-Italian son—through museums, library visits, and long hikes where she teaches him Italian words and he sneaks in Finnish and English ones.

Bibliography


2026, Personal Growth & Lifestyle

The Happiness Puzzle

Jennifer De Paola

BRIDE OF PRANKENSTEIN sold to Latvia!

We are very excited to announce that Petergailis has acquired the Latvian rights for the hilarious BRIDE OF PRANKENSTEIN by Kaisa Paasto, illustrated by Mari Ahokoivu! This is the sequel to Prankenstein which was published in Latvia earlier this year! The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlbäck Agency.

The series follows a fifth grader, Elmeri, who never thought of a career in pranks, until he accidentally manages a great prank. Now, he will become the amazing Prankenstein. The prank ends up being the hottest topic in the school, earns Elmeri the attention of a girl next door, and inspires his cousin Robin to become Elmeri’s PPT (Prank Personal Trainer). Elmeri embarks on a number of pranks which also help him stand up to a school bully named Leo, but which eventually start to turn against him. In addition to his prankster career, Elmeri also tries to lift the spirits of her sister Ida who has recently lost a foot in an accident.

The second book continues the story: After the previous prank disaster, Elmeri has sworn off pranks for good. No more pranks. At all. Zilch. Until someone starts pulling pranks on the principal, making it look like Elmeri is behind it. And things just keep getting worse…

We have the full English PDF of the first book, and full English text for the second book.

DOWNLOAD ALL MATERIALS FOR PRANKENSTEIN HERE

PRANKENSTEIN
Tammi 2024, 112 pp.

BRIDE OF PRANKENSTEIN
Prankensteinin morsian
Tammi 2025, 100 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi
LATVIA: Petergailis
POLAND: Greg
WORLD SPANISH (excl. Spain): V&R Editoras

Reading materials:
Full English PDF (book 1), Full English text (book 2), Finnish PDFs

About author


Kaisa Paasto

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

About author


Mari Ahokoivu

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

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

Cotton Candy Dilemma sold to Ukraine!

We are very happy to announce that the Ukrainian rights for COTTON CANDY DILEMMA by Ulla Onerva have been sold to Publishing House Ranok! This marks the first foreign rights deal for Ulla Onerva! The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlbäck Agency.

This heartwarming and uplifting debut novel proudly celebrates romantic literature and marks the beginning of the Quirky Romantics trilogy, a fresh, witty, and captivating series that embraces both romance and the love of reading itself.

Ranok Publishing House was founded in 1997 and their young adult list has been rapidly expanding. This is what the team had to say about Cotton Candy Dilemma:

“The book fits perfectly within our publishing line. At READBERRY, we specialize in contemporary Young Adult and New Adult literature, and this novel aligns beautifully with our vision: an intelligent, heartfelt, and warm story for teens and young adults.

We especially appreciated the central idea of the book — rehabilitating romantic literature in a world that often undervalues “pink” stories. This is a very contemporary theme that resonates strongly with young Ukrainian readers, particularly those who actively read and run book blogs.

The tone of the novel is witty and kind, with self-irony and respect for emotions. The heroine, who fights for the right to love romantic stories, feels like the voice of a new generation — bold, open, and sincere. References to Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë add depth and create a bridge between classic and contemporary literature.

We would also like to highlight the trilogy format. It provides an excellent opportunity to build a brand and a community of readers, which aligns perfectly with our approach to YA series projects. Our audience enjoys feel-good stories with warm humor and recognizable characters — exactly the kind of experience Cotton Candy Dilemma delivers.

We believe this novel has strong potential in the Ukrainian market thanks to its light style, relevant message, and the opportunity to create a positive reading community around it.”

The second book in the series, Caramel Catastrophe, will be published in April 2026.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR COTTON CANDY DILEMMA HERE

Let the romantic rebellion begin!

A witty feel-good novel about Emma, named after Jane Austen’s heroine, who defends romantic literature but is drawn to an insufferable hater of romance.

Ulla Onerva’s debut novel Cotton Candy Dilemma is the first title in the Quirky Romantics series, a humorous commercial trilogy that cleverly weaves the romantic classics of Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë into the modern day. The trilogy is perfect for anyone who refuses to hide their love of romance books!

COTTON CANDY DILEMMA
Hattaradilemma
Tammi 2025, 336 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample
Chapter-by-chapter synopsis
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
UKRAINE: Publishing House “Ranok” Limited

About author


Ulla Onerva

Ulla Onerva (b. 1995) is an author, journalist, award-winning reading enthusiast, and the BookTok queen of Finland. She is one of the most popular literature-related content producers in Finland. Ulla has written stories since early childhood, and she has studied journalism, literature, and writing. She started to write romantic stories because she wants to get the readers, especially young adults, hooked on good books.

In Instagram and TikTok, Ulla can be found by the nickname @tarinannuppuja.

Photo credit: Sabrina Bqain

Bibliography


2026, Romance, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Caramel Catastrophe

Ulla Onerva


2025, Romance, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Cotton Candy Dilemma

Ulla Onerva

Arttu Tuominen’s River Delta series books #5 and #6 to France!

We are extremely happy to announce that the French rights for Arttu Tuominen’s River Delta series books #5 The Liberator and #6 The Stager have been acquired by Éditions de La Martinière. The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlback Agency.

✓ Each novel can be read as a standalone.

✓ Arttu Tuominen is a Palle Rosenkrantz Prize-winning and a Spiegel Bestselling author! Shortlisted for the Glass Key Awards 2021, a nominee Book Beat Finland’s Best Finnish Crime Author 2021-2023 and won the ‘Clue of the Year’ Crime Novel of the Year Award 2020.

River Delta #1: The Oath (2019): A Touching crime novel about secrets and guilt. Commissioner Jari Paloviita works on a murder case where the prime suspect is on old friend he feels indebted to.

River Delta #2: Jeopardy (2020): The grenade attack on the restaurant claims casualties – and at the same time threatens to expose Chief Commissioner Herik Oksman’s life-long secret.

River Delta #3: Silenced (2021): Pori police detectives Jari Paloviita, Linda Toivonen and Henrik Oksman are faced with an exceptionally cruel series of international crimes against elderly citizens.

River Delta #4: Shamed (2022): An investigation into a girl’s murder takes the police into the world of predators on the Internet and becomes personal for Linda Toivonen, whose daughter knew the victim.

River Delta #5: The Liberator (2023): The charred body of a man is discovered on a sports field in Pori. The victim had been doused with petrol and set on fire. Suspicions are directed at a group of young adults known to have harassed rough sleepers in the past.

River Delta #6: The Stager (2024):  On a remote forest farm a cruel killing is revealed. A family – mother, father, and their daughter – have all been murdered and embalmed, staged to watch television with their dog dead quiet by their feet. The killer is nicknamed Stager.

Request the materials for River Delta series here!

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

Reading material:

English synopsis, Finnish edition, River Delta Series presentation.

Reading materials: French edition 1-3,  Dutch edition 1-3,  German edition 1-4, Danish edition 1-4

About author


Arttu Tuominen

Arttu Tuominen (b. 1981) is a Spiegel bestselling author and environmental inspector based in Pori, Finland. During the evenings, he writes dark and tough crime novels. He is best known for his psychologically nuanced and gripping crime novels. Tuominen's novels are acclaimed for their intense atmosphere, compelling plots, and richly drawn characters.

His River Delta series has sold over 230,000 copies in Finland alone and has been published in six different languages. Tuominen has received numerous accolades, including the Vuoden Johtolanka (Clue of the Year) award for The Oath and the Palle Rosenkrantz Prize from the Danish Crime Academy for Jeopardy. In addition he has been nominated for the prestigious Glass Key Award. His novels have earned praise from both critics and readers, firmly establishing him as a leading voice in Finnish crime fiction.

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Alec

Arttu Tuominen


2024, Crime & Suspense

The Stager

Arttu Tuominen


2023, Crime & Suspense

The Liberator

Arttu Tuominen


2022, Crime & Suspense

Shamed

Arttu Tuominen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Silenced

Arttu Tuominen


2020, Crime & Suspense

Jeopardy

Arttu Tuominen


2019, Crime & Suspense

The Oath

Arttu Tuominen

Finland’s #1 Bestseller

Milo #2: BETRAYED by Max Seeck, New York Times & Spiegel Bestselling Author, is the number one bestseller in Finland! Betrayed was the number one bestseller in all three categories: physical books, audio books, and e-books in Finland in September! The Milo series has sold 85,000 copies in Finland already.

Milo #2: Betrayed is the thrilling second installment in the Milo series and was published in Finland this SeptemberEstonian, German, Latvian and French rights were sold pre-publication!

The whole series has recently been sold to Greece in a 3-book pre-empt.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR THE MILO SERIES HERE

Milo #1: Checkmate is an exciting and gripping start for a new series, with rights sold to 11 territories. A 6-episode international TV series adaptation by Solar Films is currently in pre-production.

Max Seeck has been translated in 41 languages and his novels sold over 1 million copies globally.

Bodies with chess pieces in their mouth – Milo needs to understand the game of chess in order to catch a killer.

The game has only just begun.

On a cold November evening, a body is discovered on the shore of Seurasaari. The victim’s skin is covered with a thick layer of white paint, and during the autopsy, a chess piece is found lodged in its throat.  The police are baffled. Why would the murderer go to such lengths to disguise the body? And why wasn’t there any attempt to hide it?  Milo Perho, an art gallery owner specializing in profiling killers, is called in to assist. What follows is a nerve-wracking game where every move costs a life, and no one wants it to end in checkmate.

Book #3 will be published in June 2026: A suspicious suicide in Helsinki leads detective Minka Laine into a chilling investigation, where a mysterious sun pendant links multiple deaths. As Milo recovers and joins the case, he joins the hunt for a killer whose methods are as cryptic as they are cruel, and they uncover a dark web of psychological manipulation and a killer hiding in plain sight.

MILO #1: Checkmate
Merkitty, Tammi September 2024, 400 pp.
MILO #2: Betrayed
Petetty, Tammi September 2025, 344 pp.
MILO #3: Guarded
Varjeltu, Tammi, June 2026

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
ESTONIA: Pegasus
FRANCE: Mera Editions
GERMANY: Bastei Luebbe
GREECE: Memento LP
ITALY: Piemme
JAPAN: Kodansha Ltd.
LATVIA: Latvijas Mediji
NORWAY: Aschehoug
RIGHTS FILM & TV: Solar Films
UKRAINE: Laboratory LLC

READING MATERIALS:
Book #1: English sample, English synopsis, German edition, French edition, Finnish edition
Book #2: English synopsis, Finnish edition
Book #3: Short synopsis

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.

Jessica Niemi series is being adapted into a English-language TV series by Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures

“An exceptional combination of hardboiled Scandi-noir and eerie ghost story. [--] Seeck marries breathtaking suspense with an expertly drawn heroine. This is guaranteed to send shivers up even the most unshakable readers’ spines." – Publisher's Weekly, starred review (Ghost island)

"Each new step has been an artistic success. Max Seeck, last year's winner of the Glass Key Award for best Nordic detective story, has a golden touch for Finnish suspense fiction." - Kai Hirvasnoro, Kansan Uutiset newspaper

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

His Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! The new MILO series has already been sold to 9 territories, 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.

Photo credit: Mikko Rasila

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Milo #2: Betrayed

Max Seeck


2024, Crime & Suspense

Milo #1: Checkmate

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

MABEL MERRYWEATHER AND THE KING OF THIEVES by Noora Kunnas and Teemu Juhani sold to Bulgaria!

We are thrilled to announce that the Bulgarian rights for the second book in the Mabel Merryweather series, MABEL MERRYWEATHER AND THE KING OF THIEVES by Noora Kunnas and Teemu Juhani, have been acquired by Enthusiast! The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Ahlbäck Agency, in collaboration with our co-agent Simona Kaleva from Corto Literary.

Enthusiast in an imprint of Alto Communications and Publishing Ltd. and their children’s authors include Tim Collins, Roald Dahl, Marcella Ward, Sam McBratney, and Quentin Blake.

What happens when Pippi Longstocking meets Miss Marple? Enter the world of Mabel Merryweather, the eccentric supergranny at the heart of this fast-paced, funny middle-grade mystery series, brimming with quirky characters and hilarious plot twists. These delightfully crazy stories, books are a treat for readers aged 8–12 (and anyone young at heart!).

This wonderful middle-grade series has been sold to 9 territories and in 2023 the first book was awarded with the Prix Chronos literature prize in Switzerland:

Two children, two elderly people, a rooster and a horde of mini pirates: A colorful bouquet of different people and animals plays into this story and makes the book a unique and humorous reading pleasure
– Prix Chronos 2023 jury

Rights are available in US, UK, France, Spain, Korea, Portugal, Turkey…

Request materials for the MABEL MERRYWEATHER series here!

Mabel Merryweather and the King of Thieves

Noora Kunnas, illustrated by Teemu Juhani

The wild gang is back! Nick, Lilly, Supergranny Mabel and her speaking rooster face a new enemy: an art hustler. Second book of a new middle grade mystery series!

The town of Dalton is celebrating a local children’s poet’s 140th anniversary, and everyone is dressed up as a character from a poem. But amongst the happy people there’s also a gentleman thief who has terrorized art museums all spring. Through many mistakes and misunderstandings Nick and Lilly help the police to catch a thief – and to teach a lesson to a grumpy literary critic.

MABEL MERRYWEATHER AND THE MINIATURE PIRATES
SALMANTERIN TERTTU JA MINIMERIROSVOT
Otava, 2019, 140 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample and synopsis, German, Danish, Italian PDF

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
BULGARIA: Enthusiast
DENMARK: ABC Forlag
GERMANY: Mixtvision
HUNGARY: Pagony
ITALY: Terre di Mezzo
NETHERLANDS: Veltman Uitgevers
POLAND: Znak
RUSSIA: Eksmo

 

MABEL MERRYWEATHER AND THE KING OF THIEVES
SALMANTERIN TERTTU JA HUIJAREIDEN KUNINGAS
Otava, 2020, 140 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample and synopsis, German PDF, Danish text

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
BULGARIA: Enthusiast
DENMARK: ABC Forlag
GERMANY: Mixtvision
POLAND: Znak
RUSSIA: Eksmo

 

MABEL MERRYWEATHER AND THE CHEESY MYSTERY
SALMANTERIN TERTTU JA JUUSTOINEN MYSTEERI
Otava, 2021, 144 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample and synopsis

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
POLAND: Znak
RUSSIA: Eksmo

 

MABEL MERRYWEATHER AND THE CROWBAR GALA
SALMANTERIN TERTTU JA SORKKARAUTAGAALA
Otava, 2022, 144 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample and synopsis

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

 

MABEL MERRYWEATHER AND THE GENTLE GENIE
SALMANTERIN TERTTU JA HÖVELI HENKI
Otava, 2025, 173 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English synopsis

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

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.

MILO series by Max Seeck sold in 3-book pre-empt to Greece!

We are very happy to announce that the MILO trilogy by Max Seeck has been sold to Memento LP, Greece in a three-book pre-empt deal! The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlbäck Agency.

Milo #2: Betrayed is the thrilling second installment in the Milo series and was published in Finland this SeptemberEstonian, German, Latvian and French rights were sold pre-publication!

Milo #1: Checkmate is an exciting and gripping start for a new series, with rights sold to 9 territories. A 6-episode international TV series adaptation by Solar Films is currently in pre-production.

Max Seeck has been translated in 41 languages and his novels sold over 1 million copies globally The Milo series has sold 85,000 copies in Finland already.

Book #3 will be published in May 2026: A suspicious suicide in Helsinki leads detective Minka Laine into a chilling investigation, where a mysterious sun pendant links multiple deaths. As Milo recovers and joins the case, he joins the hunt for a killer whose methods are as cryptic as they are cruel, and they uncover a dark web of psychological manipulation and a killer hiding in plain sight.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR THE MILO SERIES HERE

Bodies with chess pieces in their mouth – Milo needs to understand the game of chess in order to catch a killer.

The game has only just begun.

On a cold November evening, a body is discovered on the shore of Seurasaari. The victim’s skin is covered with a thick layer of white paint, and during the autopsy, a chess piece is found lodged in its throat.  The police are baffled. Why would the murderer go to such lengths to disguise the body? And why wasn’t there any attempt to hide it?  Milo Perho, an art gallery owner specializing in profiling killers, is called in to assist. What follows is a nerve-wracking game where every move costs a life, and no one wants it to end in checkmate.

MILO #1: Checkmate
Merkitty, Tammi September 2024, 400 pp.
MILO #2: Betrayed
Petetty, Tammi September 2025, 344 pp.
MILO #3: Guarded
Varjeltu, Tammi, May 2026

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
ESTONIA: Pegasus
FRANCE: Mera Editions
GERMANY: Bastei Luebbe
GREECE: Memento LP
ITALY: Piemme
JAPAN: Kodansha Ltd.
LATVIA: Latvijas Mediji
NORWAY: Aschehoug
RIGHTS FILM & TV: Solar Films
UKRAINE: Laboratory LLC

READING MATERIALS:
Book #1: English sample, English synopsis, German edition, French edition, Finnish edition
Book #2: English synopsis, Finnish edition
Book #3: Short synopsis

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.

Jessica Niemi series is being adapted into a English-language TV series by Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures

“An exceptional combination of hardboiled Scandi-noir and eerie ghost story. [--] Seeck marries breathtaking suspense with an expertly drawn heroine. This is guaranteed to send shivers up even the most unshakable readers’ spines." – Publisher's Weekly, starred review (Ghost island)

"Each new step has been an artistic success. Max Seeck, last year's winner of the Glass Key Award for best Nordic detective story, has a golden touch for Finnish suspense fiction." - Kai Hirvasnoro, Kansan Uutiset newspaper

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

His Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! The new MILO series has already been sold to 9 territories, 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.

Photo credit: Mikko Rasila

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Milo #2: Betrayed

Max Seeck


2024, Crime & Suspense

Milo #1: Checkmate

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

De Fontein Acquires the Dutch Rights to Jenni Multisilta’s DEAD GIRLS DON’T DANCE

Following the buzz at the Gothenburg Book Fair and just ahead of Frankfurt, we are thrilled to share a major development: De Fontein has acquired the Dutch rights to true crime YA thriller Dead Girls Don’t Dance by Jenni Multisilta! The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Ahlbäck Agency.

Dead Girls Don’t Dance is the first installment in the YA thriller series @buriedpodies, blending Nordic noir with contemporary teen drama and true crime podcasts. The series follows a group of high school students who investigate cold cases while navigating the emotional complexities of adolescence.

Jenni Multisilta has crafted a story of gripping suspense set against bleak suburban landscapes, filled with addictive twists and heartwarming friendships. The novel evokes the atmosphere of Holly Jackson’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, blended with the emotional depth of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper and Adam Silvera’s YA novels.

Having previously written both thrillers and lighter fiction, Multisilta blends the best of both in her @buriedbodies series. The series will continue with two new books next year, one in spring and one in fall.

Rights to the series are still available in the Nordics, Germany, Estonia, Ukraine, the UK, France…

REQUEST MATERIALS FOR DEAD GIRLS DON’T DANCE HERE

16-year-old Oona must start high school without any familiar friends when her family moves back to her childhood hometown of Pori. On her very first day, she overhears a chilling story about a girl who was murdered in the school’s locker room – and soon realizes it’s about her older sister Roosa, who died fourteen years ago. Oona was told Roosa, a talented dancer, took her own life, but could there be something darker behind her sister’s mysterious death?

The thought haunts Oona, even as she immerses herself in dance and navigates the colorful, chaotic world of high school. Determined to uncover the truth, Oona teams up with her friend Kaisla, Rafael, a true crime podcasterand Roosa’s stepsister Rosanna to investigate Roosa’s death. But their search quickly takes a dark and dangerous turn. The murderer is still out there and willing to silence anyone who digs too deep. Why do Oona’s own parents seem to be hiding secrets of their own?

Publication info:
KUOLLEET TYTÖT EIVÄT TANSSI 
Myllylahti, August 2025, 240 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Myllylahti (orig.)
NETHERLANDS: De Fontein

Reading material:
Finnish edition
English sample & synopsis

About author


Jenni Multisilta

Jenni Multisilta is a Master of Economics and a writer. Multisilta's works include the YA thriller series @buriedpodies, feel-good romance novels, and psychological thrillers.

In addition to writing, she is a former national-level competitive athlete who teaches aerial acrobatics and pole dancing, as well as yoga. In her free time, Multisilta hangs upside down here and there, for the world looks more interesting from different perspectives.

Bibliography


2026, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Lost Girls Don't Talk

Jenni Multisilta


2025, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Dead Girls Don't Dance

Jenni Multisilta


2024, Commercial/Upmarket

A Downhill Wedding

Jenni Multisilta


2023, Commercial/Upmarket, Romance

Arctic Wedding Nightmare

Jenni Multisilta

World Spanish rights for THE CURIOSITY CODE acquired by PRH Mexico!

We are thrilled to let you know, in the post-Gothenburg and pre-Frankfurt Book Fair buzz, that the World Spanish rights for Dr. Alexander Puutio’s THE CURIOSITY CODE have been acquired by PRH Mexico in an auction! The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlback Agency in collaboration with our co-agent Anna Ascolies at IMC Agencias.

The title is drawing very strong interest in France, Germany, Norway, Estonia, Italy, Sweden, Japan and the rights have been sold to 8 languages!

“The Curiosity Code outlines a new path to success—one that is neither linear nor vertical, but rather flexible and, above all, realistic and within reach of most people. It is the book we should have read when choosing our career, and the one that ought to accompany us throughout our professional journey. We are very happy to be the future publishers of the book in Spanish language.” – Ana María Bermúdez – Penguin Random House Mexico

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS HERE

What if the very playbook we’ve been handed for success – grit, passion, specialization – isn’t just incomplete, but entirely counterproductive to a fulfilling life? The Curiosity Code is a practical guide to thriving in a world of constant change by teaching readers how to use curiosity, not rigid career ladders, as the engine for reinvention, resilience, and meaning.

The Curiosity Code: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change
70,000-80,000 words. Full manuscript in May 2026.

Reading materials:
English Book Proposal, Sample Chapters 1 & 2, Pitch, Author Bio

Rights sold:
UK & Commonwealth: The Bodley Head (PRH UK) (orig.)
BRAZIL: Companhia das Letras/Objetiva (PRH Brazil)
GREECE: Psichogios
KOREA: Seosamdok
NETHERLANDS: HarperCollins Holland
POLAND: Otwarte
ROMANIA: Publica
WORLD SPANISH: PRH Mexico

About author


Alexander Puutio

Teemu Alexander Puutio, PhD, is a Harvard lecturer, perennial student with his third PhD in the making and a writer whose work spans leadership, curiosity, and purposeful reinvention in the age of disruption.

With a background that bridges law, economics, and behavioral science, Alexander has held senior roles at the United Nations, and in Boston Consulting Group before he took on teaching and research full time. He currently teaches at Harvard, where his work focuses on leadership in uncertain environments and decision-making in the face of rapid change. As a part of his research on success and life satisfaction, he has interviewed over 600 global CEOs and executives. He is a writer at Forbes, and his articles have appeared in Psychology Today, Fast Company, and TechCrunch with more than 1.5 million readers reached in 2024. His public speaking and teaching portfolio spans media, institutions and private companies from Adobe to the Rockefeller Foundation, and he is a sought-after voice on the future of work, the limitations of grit, and the underleveraged power of curiosity. His work fuses sharp insight with warm provocation, making him a trusted guide for high-achievers looking to reinvent. Originally from Finland, Alexander now lives in New York with his wife and three sons. He drinks too much decaf diet coke, writes to learn, and is proudly building a career that looks nothing like a straight line.

Photo credit: Julia Neganova

Bibliography

Korean rights sold for The Women I Think About At Night!

We are very excited to announce that Mia Kankimäki’s The Women I Think About At Night travels around the World as the Korean rights have been acquired by Acanet Inc.! The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlback Agency in co-operation with our co-agent Duran Kim Agency.

The Women I Think About At Night has sold over 50 000 copies in all formats in Finland and the translation rights have been sold to over 20 territories.

“Complicated and engaging [–] Through each chapter, you’ll learn about women who went against the grain and set out on personal adventures to unapologetically live their lives with passion and fervor. You’ll read about a woman who ran a coffee plantation in Kenya; a travel writer who suffered from depression until she took the advice of a doctor to explore the high seas; a Buddhist nun who became the first white woman to enter Lhasa, a forbidden city in the mid 1920’s; an inventor who traveled around the world with just a handbag; and many more.”
—Forbes

What can a 40-something childless woman do with her life? Hop on a plane and follow the footsteps of the historical female heroes of their time!

Finnish writer Mia Kankimäki decided to do something wild. She sold her house, packed her suitcase and traveled the world to find out why 10 women, who kept their own head and followed their hearts, have been forgotten by history books. Part biography, part travelogue, this book takes you from Karen Blixen’s farm in Kenya to Renaissance artists’ Florence and modern-day Japan.

Warning: May cause a strong case of wanderlust!

Download the Full English manuscript

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
ALBANIA: Muza
CHINA: Beijing Huaxia Winshare Books Co., Ltd.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Albatros Media / Motto
DENMARK: Bilgrav
ESTONIA: Varrak Publishers
FILM & TV RIGHTS: napafilms oy
FRANCE (paperback): Folio
FRANCE: Editions Leduc
GERMANY: BTB
HUNGARY: Kossuth
ITALY: Neri Pozza Editore
JAPAN: Soshisha
KOREA: Acanet, Inc.
LATVIA: Zvaigzne ABC Publishers
LITHUANIA: Leidykla Gelmes
NETHERLANDS: Orlando
NORWAY: Gursli Berg Forlag
POLAND: Poznańskie
RUSSIA: Eksmo
SLOVENIA: Didakta
SWEDEN: Wahlström & Widstrand
UK: Simon & Schuster, USA: Simon & Schuster

About author


Mia Kankimäki

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

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

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

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

Bibliography


2018, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

The Women I Think About At Night

Mia Kankimäki


2013, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

Things That Make One's Heart Beat Faster

Mia Kankimäki

SNOWSINGER by Emmi Itäranta sold to Estonia!

We are so happy to announce, that the Estonian rights for SNOWSINGER by Emmi Itäranta have been sold to Argo kirjastus! The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlback Agency.

Snowsinger is the enchanting origin story of Louhi, the witch queen of Pohjola from the Finnish national epic Kalevala. The title combines folklore and mythology to fantasy elements, presenting the fantastical Finnish Pohjola to new readers. Emmi Itäranta’s debut novel, Memory of Water has sold to over 25 languages to date, and it has also been nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award, the Arthur C. Clarke Award recognizing the best science fiction novel published in the UK in 2014, and the Golden Tentacle award. In addition, Itäranta has been included on the Honor List of the Otherwise Award (formerly James Tiptree, Jr. Award).

This is what Lea Adamson, Managing Director of Argo kirjastus had to say about Itäranta:

“A powerful tale that takes you to the mythic Nordic world, a gripping journey that makes the book hard to put down. Hope Estonian readers will agree.“

Argo Publishers (est. in 2000) specialises in original and translated historical literature, popular science and academic textbooks supported by professional competence. Over the years Argo has evolved into one of Estonia’s major publishers of historical titles from both established and emerging authors, from renowned scholars and talented young historians alike.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR SNOWSINGER HERE

Award-winning author Emmi Itäranta’s latest novel Snowsinger takes the readers to a mythological past, a world of magic and shapeshifting. Harmony and respect reign between humans, nature, and animals. Until the idyll is broken and the lust for power, the desire for revenge, and greed arise.

Lauha is living her childhood in Pohjola where strong women rule, each of them with their spell-shape, or animal form. When Lauha is nine, a foreign tribe attacks Pohjola and kills most of her family, while Lauha flees with her mother and two younger sisters. After many hardships, Lauha ends up in the safety of a women’s forest community known as Metsänpeitto, where she lives silently for years.

After a tragic incident, Lauha decides to have revenge on the conquerors of Pohjola and reclaim her home. Defending Pohjola and keeping her family safe shapes Lauha into Louhi, a woman feared by many. The painful memories of her escape drive Louhi to choices that have fateful consequences to the people of Pohjola and to Louhi herself.

Publication info:
Lumenlaulaja
Teos 2025, 320 pp.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Teos (orig.)
ESTONIA: Argo

Reading materials:
English sample & synopsis, Finnish PDF
Full English edition by December 2025

About author


Emmi Itäranta

Emmi Itäranta (b.1976) holds two MA degrees, one in Drama and another in Creative Writing. Her award-winning debut novel Memory of Water (Teemestarin kirja) was published in Finland in 2012 to great accolades, followed by The Weaver (Kudottujen kujien kaupunki) in 2015, and The Moonday Letters (Kuunpäivän kirjeet) in September 2020. Her new title Snowsinger (Lumenlaulaja) was published in 2025.

Itäranta’s writing has been compared to that of Ursula K. Le Guin. Her honours include the Young Aleksis Kivi Prize 2013, the Kalevi Jäntti Literary Prize 2012 and first place in the Teos Fantasy and Sci-Fi Literary Contest 2011.

Memory of Water has sold to over 25 languages to date, and it has also been nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award, the Arthur C. Clarke Award recognizing the best science fiction novel published in the UK in 2014, and the Golden Tentacle award. In addition, Itäranta has been included on the Honor List of the Otherwise Award (formerly James Tiptree, Jr. Award).

Itäranta’s CV is an eclectic mix of writing-related activities, including stints as a columnist, theatre critic, press officer and dramaturge. Her poems, short stories, articles and essays have appeared in anthologies, film magazines and science fiction magazines in the UK and Finland. She now lives in Finland after 14 years in the United Kingdom.

Photo credit: Liisa Takala

Bibliography


2025, Literary Fiction, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Snowsinger

Emmi Itäranta


2020, Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Moonday Letters

Emmi Itäranta


2015, Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Weaver

Emmi Itäranta


2012, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Memory of Water

Emmi Itäranta

Little Mouse sold to Latvia and Lithuania in three-book-deals!

We are very happy to announce that the Latvian and Lithuanian rights for the first three titles, Little Mouse, Little Mouse Helps Out, and Little Mouse’s Christmas, in the Little Mouse picture book series by Riikka Jäntti have been sold to Rahva Raamat! The deals were closed by Satu Sallantaus at Ahlback Agency.

The Little Mouse picture books series has already ten titles in total, with a new book being published in Spring 2026. The series also includes three chapter books, for young readers aged 5+, and more!

The Little Mouse series is an international bestseller with rights sold in over 20 territories. The stories focus on the toddler Little Mouse, who lives with Mummy Mouse and has fun and exciting adventures, whether they go camping, playing in the park, or cleaning up the house in preparation for guests. The lovely illustrations and familiar scenarios make the series relatable for children.

Request materials for the LITTLE MOUSE books here!

Publication info:
Little Mouse series
2015 -, 48 pp.

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, UK: Scribble/Scribe
AZERBAIJAN: Alatoran
BULGARIA: UNISCORP
CATALAN: HarperCollins Iberica
CHINA: Beijing Yuntu Hongya Technology Co., Ltd
DENMARK: ABC Forlag
ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat AS
FRANCE: Cambourakis
GERMANY: Cross Cult
HUNGARY: Cerkabella Könyvek
ITALY: Sinnos
LATVIA: Rahva Raamat
LITHUANIA: Rahva Raamat
NEPAL: Kathalaya Inc.
POLAND: Filia
PORTUGAL: HarperCollins Iberica
ROMANIA: Editura Paralela 45
RUSSIA: Strecoza
SLOVAKIA: Fortuna Libri
SPAIN: HarperCollins Iberica
SWEDEN: Epix Bokförlag

Reading materials:
English editions

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 over 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


2026, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes Flying

Riikka Jäntti


2025, Chapter Books (3-6 Years)

Little Mouse's Hilarious Halloween

Riikka Jäntti


2025, Chapter Books (3-6 Years)

Welcome, Christmas! 24 Little Mouse Stories

Riikka Jäntti


2025, Chapter Books (3-6 Years)

Little Mouse and the Amazing Universe

Riikka Jäntti


2024, Chapter Books (3-6 Years)

Little Mouse's School Picture Day

Riikka Jäntti


2024, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes on a Cruise

Riikka Jäntti


2023, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Welcomes Spring

Riikka Jäntti


2023, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes to the Museum

Riikka Jäntti


2022, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Fables

Riikka Jäntti


2022, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse and the Birthday Present

Riikka Jäntti


2021, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes Camping

Riikka Jäntti


2020, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Summer

Riikka Jäntti


2019, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Winter

Riikka Jäntti


2018, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Holiday

Riikka Jäntti


2017, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Christmas

Riikka Jäntti


2016, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Helps Out

Riikka Jäntti


2015, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse

Riikka Jäntti

Arttu Tuominen’s Crystal trilogy sold to France!

We are very excited to announce, that the rights to Arttu Tuominen’s Crystal trilogy have been acquired by Éditions de La Martinière in a three-book-deal. The deal was closed by Noora Al-Ani at Ahlback Agency.

Congratulations to Arttu and La Martinière! This follows the recent 3-book-deal to Germany with Bastei Lübbe and the Netherlands with De Fontein.

The first book in the gripping Crystal trilogy, ALEC, was published by Otava in August and has sold close to 20 000 copies and receiving extremely positive reviews! ALEC kicks off a new thriller trilogy from Arttu Tuominen, bestselling author of the River Delta series, taking the reader deep into the world of crime, addictions, and the drug trade.

“Arttu Tuominen once again seems to have outdone himself, even though after so many previous triumphs it should already be impossible. A gentle-looking man writes rock-hard crime stories with inexhaustible skill and versatility.” – kirjojahyllystäni book blog

Request the materials for ALEC here!

ALEC (Otava, 2025)

The destructive power of the criminal underworld meets vulnerable humanity in Arttu Tuominen’s new crime series.

During the economic recession of the 1990s, illegal businesses flow into Finland from across the eastern border. A drug war rages on Finnish soil, where human life has no value.

The quiet life of the village community in Salla is shattered when more than a dozen partygoers are murdered at a remote farm. Fourteen-year-old Liina, who witnesses the massacre, is forced to grow up quickly as senseless violence invades her childhood world

CRYSTAL #2 (Otava, 2026)

A novel about the destructive power of money and addiction.

Juhani Roine, a gambling-addicted bank director, falls into massive debt to international drug syndicates. Julia, a flight attendant and sister to Liina, tries to help him. Their fates intertwine with devastating consequences in a Parisian suburb.

CRYSTAL #3 (Otava, 2027)

A novel about the morality of revenge.

At the heart of the story is Liina Aho, whose past is marked by trauma. Members of a notorious drug cartel are being killed in brutal ways across Helsinki. Tommi Kivi, drowning in personal grief, believes he knows who’s behind it – and is determined to hold them accountable.

Publication info:
Alec, Otava
2025, 360 pages

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
FRANCE: Éditions de la Martinière (3 books)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe (3 books!)
NETHERLANDS: De Fontein (3 books)

Reading materials:
Finnish edition
English sample (80 pages!)
English synopsis

About author


Arttu Tuominen

Arttu Tuominen (b. 1981) is a Spiegel bestselling author and environmental inspector based in Pori, Finland. During the evenings, he writes dark and tough crime novels. He is best known for his psychologically nuanced and gripping crime novels. Tuominen's novels are acclaimed for their intense atmosphere, compelling plots, and richly drawn characters.

His River Delta series has sold over 230,000 copies in Finland alone and has been published in six different languages. Tuominen has received numerous accolades, including the Vuoden Johtolanka (Clue of the Year) award for The Oath and the Palle Rosenkrantz Prize from the Danish Crime Academy for Jeopardy. In addition he has been nominated for the prestigious Glass Key Award. His novels have earned praise from both critics and readers, firmly establishing him as a leading voice in Finnish crime fiction.

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Alec

Arttu Tuominen


2024, Crime & Suspense

The Stager

Arttu Tuominen


2023, Crime & Suspense

The Liberator

Arttu Tuominen


2022, Crime & Suspense

Shamed

Arttu Tuominen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Silenced

Arttu Tuominen


2020, Crime & Suspense

Jeopardy

Arttu Tuominen


2019, Crime & Suspense

The Oath

Arttu Tuominen

Arttu Tuominen’s Crystal trilogy sold to the Netherlands!

We are very thrilled to announce, that the Dutch rights to Arttu Tuominen’s ALEC and its two sequels have been acquired by De Fontein in a three-book-deal. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Congratulations to Arttu and De Fontein! This follows the recent 3-book-deal to Germany with Bastei Lübbe.

The first book in the gripping Crystal trilogy, Alec, was published by Otava in August. Selling over 10 000 copies and receiving excitingly positive reviews!

ALEC is without a doubt one of the most impressive thriller series openers of the year, and Tuominen only strengthens his position among the top names both domestically and internationally.
– Salon Seudun Sanomat newspaper

Alec kicks off a new thriller trilogy from Arttu Tuominen, bestselling author of the River Delta series, taking the reader deep into the world of crime, addictions, and the drug trade.

The rights are still available in the UK, Sweden, Poland, Italy, Croatia, Hungary… Contact us to hear more!

Request the materials for ALEC here!

ALEC (Otava, 2025)

The destructive power of the criminal underworld meets vulnerable humanity in Arttu Tuominen’s new crime series.

During the economic recession of the 1990s, illegal businesses flow into Finland from across the eastern border. A drug war rages on Finnish soil, where human life has no value.

The quiet life of the village community in Salla is shattered when more than a dozen partygoers are murdered at a remote farm. Fourteen-year-old Liina, who witnesses the massacre, is forced to grow up quickly as senseless violence invades her childhood world

CRYSTAL #2 (Otava, 2026)

A novel about the destructive power of money and addiction.

Juhani Roine, a gambling-addicted bank director, falls into massive debt to international drug syndicates. Julia, a flight attendant and sister to Liina, tries to help him. Their fates intertwine with devastating consequences in a Parisian suburb.

CRYSTAL #3 (Otava, 2027)

A novel about the morality of revenge.

At the heart of the story is Liina Aho, whose past is marked by trauma. Members of a notorious drug cartel are being killed in brutal ways across Helsinki. Tommi Kivi, drowning in personal grief, believes he knows who’s behind it – and is determined to hold them accountable.

Publication info:
Alec, Otava
2025, 360 pages

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe (3 books!)
NETHERLANDS: De Fontein (3 books)

Reading materials:
Finnish edition
English sample (80 pages!)
English synopsis

About author


Arttu Tuominen

Arttu Tuominen (b. 1981) is a Spiegel bestselling author and environmental inspector based in Pori, Finland. During the evenings, he writes dark and tough crime novels. He is best known for his psychologically nuanced and gripping crime novels. Tuominen's novels are acclaimed for their intense atmosphere, compelling plots, and richly drawn characters.

His River Delta series has sold over 230,000 copies in Finland alone and has been published in six different languages. Tuominen has received numerous accolades, including the Vuoden Johtolanka (Clue of the Year) award for The Oath and the Palle Rosenkrantz Prize from the Danish Crime Academy for Jeopardy. In addition he has been nominated for the prestigious Glass Key Award. His novels have earned praise from both critics and readers, firmly establishing him as a leading voice in Finnish crime fiction.

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Alec

Arttu Tuominen


2024, Crime & Suspense

The Stager

Arttu Tuominen


2023, Crime & Suspense

The Liberator

Arttu Tuominen


2022, Crime & Suspense

Shamed

Arttu Tuominen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Silenced

Arttu Tuominen


2020, Crime & Suspense

Jeopardy

Arttu Tuominen


2019, Crime & Suspense

The Oath

Arttu Tuominen

Arttu Tuominen’s bestselling River Delta series sold to Czechia!

We are very excited to tell that the first two titles in Arttu Tuominen’s internationally bestselling River Delta series , The Oath and Jeopardy, have been sold to Czechia to Knihy Dobrovský, to be published under its imprint Naše nakladatelství. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency in co-operation with our co-agent Antonija Radić at Corto Literary.

Naše nakladatelstvi focuses mainly on commercial fiction for adults and children but over the past few years we have successfully explored the fields of non-fiction as well as literary fiction.

Arttu Tuominen’s River Delta series has become a commercial and critical hit, with more than 230,000 copies sold in Finland alone. The books have been sold to seven territories worldwide, earning both popular and critical acclaim. In Germany, the series reached the Spiegel Bestseller List, while Jeopardy (book #2) received the prestigious Palle Rosenkrantz Award 2022.

“They are fierce, these Finns, and this year, one of their best crime writers, Arttu Tuominen is awarded the Rosenkrantz Prize for Sendebuddet (Jeopardy) […] Tuominen’s writing is like moonshine when writing about brutally bitter souls.”
– Palle Rosenkrantz Prize jury statement

The rights to the RIVER DELTA series are still available in e.g. the US, the UK, Turkey, Estonia, Poland, Norway…

Set in the city of Pori on the Gulf of Bothnia, the novels follow a Finnish police unit whose investigations force them to confront their own actions, values, and moral boundaries. Each installment can be enjoyed as a standalone story, making the series accessible to all readers.

Click here to request all materials for the RIVER DELTA series.

Arttu Tuominen’s thrillers are characterized by their solid style and skillful twists. Add to that the fact that Tuominen chooses current, socially engaged themes in his books. His work is among the best from Scandinavia.’
– Claudia van der Werf, Editor, De Fontein, the Netherlands

 

River Delta #1: The Oath (2019): A Touching crime novel about secrets and guilt. Commissioner Jari Paloviita works on a murder case where the prime suspect is on old friend he feels indebted to.

River Delta #2: Jeopardy (2020): The grenade attack on the restaurant claims casualties – and at the same time threatens to expose Chief Commissioner Herik Oksman’s life-long secret.

River Delta #3: Silenced (2021): Pori police detectives Jari Paloviita, Linda Toivonen and Henrik Oksman are faced with an exceptionally cruel series of international crimes against elderly citizens.

River Delta #4: Shamed (2022): An investigation into a girl’s murder takes the police into the world of predators on the Internet and becomes personal for Linda Toivonen, whose daughter knew the victim.

River Delta #5: The Liberator (2023): The charred body of a man is discovered on a sports field in Pori. The victim had been doused with petrol and set on fire. Suspicions are directed at a group of young adults known to have harassed rough sleepers in the past.

River Delta #6: The Stager (2024):  On a remote forest farm a cruel killing is revealed. A family – mother, father, and their daughter – have all been murdered and embalmed, staged to watch television with their dog dead quiet by their feet. The killer is nicknamed Stager.

RIVER DELTA SERIES

WSOY 2019-2024

Reading material:
English samples and synopses
French editions books 1-4
German editions books 1-4
Danish editions books 1-4
Dutch editions books 1-4
Finnish editions (6 books)

Rights sold to River Delta Series:

FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
CZECHIA: Knihy Dobrovsky / Naše nakladatelstvi (2 books)
DENMARK: Modtryk (6 books)
FRANCE: La Martinière (4 books)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe (6 books)
NETHERLANDS: De Fontein (6 books)
SLOVENIA: Litera (3 books)
SWEDEN: Lind & Co (3 books)
FILM & TV: Lucy Loves Drama

About author


Arttu Tuominen

Arttu Tuominen (b. 1981) is a Spiegel bestselling author and environmental inspector based in Pori, Finland. During the evenings, he writes dark and tough crime novels. He is best known for his psychologically nuanced and gripping crime novels. Tuominen's novels are acclaimed for their intense atmosphere, compelling plots, and richly drawn characters.

His River Delta series has sold over 230,000 copies in Finland alone and has been published in six different languages. Tuominen has received numerous accolades, including the Vuoden Johtolanka (Clue of the Year) award for The Oath and the Palle Rosenkrantz Prize from the Danish Crime Academy for Jeopardy. In addition he has been nominated for the prestigious Glass Key Award. His novels have earned praise from both critics and readers, firmly establishing him as a leading voice in Finnish crime fiction.

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Alec

Arttu Tuominen


2024, Crime & Suspense

The Stager

Arttu Tuominen


2023, Crime & Suspense

The Liberator

Arttu Tuominen


2022, Crime & Suspense

Shamed

Arttu Tuominen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Silenced

Arttu Tuominen


2020, Crime & Suspense

Jeopardy

Arttu Tuominen


2019, Crime & Suspense

The Oath

Arttu Tuominen

Polish rights pre-empted by OTWARTE for THE CURIOSITY CODE!

We are so excited to announce that the Polish rights for THE CURIOSITY CODE: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change by Dr. Alexander Puutio have been pre-empted by Otwarte! The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

OTWARTE is one of the leading trade publishers in Poland. They publish a stellar array of authors from prize-winning literary fiction and non-fiction to internationally bestselling crime writers.

What if the very playbook we’ve been handed for success – grit, passion, specialization – isn’t just incomplete, but entirely counterproductive to a fulfilling life? The Curiosity Code is a practical guide to thriving in a world of constant change by teaching readers how to use curiosity, not rigid career ladders, as the engine for reinvention, resilience, and meaning.

DOWNLOAD MATERIALS FOR CURIOSITY CODE HERE

For decades, we’ve been told that specialization, grit, and mastering a single craft are the keys to success. However, success stories like Warren Buffet, Jack Ma, and Marc Benioff suggest a different formula: breadth over specialization, questions over certainty. And most important of all, an insatiable sense of curiosity that leads from one rabbit hole to another.

In The Curiosity Code, Ph.D. Alexander Puutio draws on his research at Harvard spanning 550+ assessments of global CEOs, a colorful career lived across disciplines (including three PhDs) to uncover what truly drives fulfilling lives. The answer isn’t found in the grind. Instead, it stems from weaponized curiosity: the courage to question, to pivot, and to explore without apology. Blending business insight, behavioral science, and lessons from Finland’s quietly radical “permission culture,” this book redefines success for an age where reinvention is not an exception, but the norm.

This book is a guide for anyone who’s ever been told they are too scattered, too unfocused, or too unconventional to succeed, and is ready for the validation they deserve. And for those who have bought into the cult of grit and the 10,000 hours, this book offers an invitation: to join a more rangeful, curious exploration of life.

The Curiosity Code: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change
70,000-80,000 words. Full manuscript in May 2026.

Reading materials:
English Book Proposal, Sample Chapters 1 & 2, Pitch, Author Bio

Rights sold:
World Rights available.
POLAND: Otwarte
ROMANIA: Publica

About author


Alexander Puutio

Teemu Alexander Puutio, PhD, is a Harvard lecturer, perennial student with his third PhD in the making and a writer whose work spans leadership, curiosity, and purposeful reinvention in the age of disruption.

With a background that bridges law, economics, and behavioral science, Alexander has held senior roles at the United Nations, and in Boston Consulting Group before he took on teaching and research full time. He currently teaches at Harvard, where his work focuses on leadership in uncertain environments and decision-making in the face of rapid change. As a part of his research on success and life satisfaction, he has interviewed over 600 global CEOs and executives. He is a writer at Forbes, and his articles have appeared in Psychology Today, Fast Company, and TechCrunch with more than 1.5 million readers reached in 2024. His public speaking and teaching portfolio spans media, institutions and private companies from Adobe to the Rockefeller Foundation, and he is a sought-after voice on the future of work, the limitations of grit, and the underleveraged power of curiosity. His work fuses sharp insight with warm provocation, making him a trusted guide for high-achievers looking to reinvent. Originally from Finland, Alexander now lives in New York with his wife and three sons. He drinks too much decaf diet coke, writes to learn, and is proudly building a career that looks nothing like a straight line.

Photo credit: Julia Neganova

Bibliography

Xander acquires the Dutch rights to Martta Kaukonen’s Follow the Butterfly!

We are thrilled to tell that we’ve closed a Dutch deal for Martta Kaukonen’s FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY! The rights to the Spiegel-bestselling thriller were acquired by Xander. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.  

Stijn de Vries, Commissioning Editor, at Xander praised the title saying:

I fell in love with the dynamic between Ida (Ira) and Clarissa, as The Times already said it is a brilliant game of cat and mouse. Ida reminds me, in the best ways, of Lisbeth Salander, and the book as a whole does have a very Gillian Flynn vibe. The many twists and turns make it an absolute joy to read, and gradually piecing together who the real villain of the story is, is just expertly done. The characters are morally complex, it’s impossible to know who to trust, and that back and forth really, really works.

Martta Kaukonen’s internationally bestselling psychological thriller FOLLOW THE BUTTERLY has been sold to 17 territories  Film & TV rights acquired by Legendary Tobis!

Heyne Verlag published Therapiert in Germany in February 2023, where it became a Spiegel Bestseller with 30,000 copies sold. They have since acquired the full trilogy, with book #3, Free, set for Spring 2026. In Italy, Longanesi launched the book in January 2025, hitting the bestseller list for weeks and selling over 20,000 copies. Book #2, Meet Me in the Darkness, will follow in 2026.

Rights to this unique international bestseller are still available e.g. in France, Spain, Türkie, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden… etc.

English and German editions are available!

Request the materials for FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY here!

Follow the Butterfly

Martta Kaukonen

An addictive psychological thriller in the spirit of Gillian Flynn

Ira, 20, a serial killer who was abducted as a child, starts therapy with celebrity therapist Clarissa. Only one of them knows that they share a mutual secret from the past. Will the other one realize it before she gets murdered?

Clarissa is a middle-aged psychotherapist, the best in her field. She is familiar to everyone from her TV appearances and from glossy magazines. For her, every patient is a princess. And someone only she can save. Or can she? Clarissa already has one suicide to answer for; a teenage boy’s death never seizes to haunt her.

When Ira becomes Clarissa’s patient, a cat-and-mouse game begins in which rules are followed by no one. The kind of game that never ends well.

FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY
Terapiassa, WSOY, 2021, 471 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English edition
German edition
Italian edition
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
CROATIA: Znanje
CZECHIA: Kniha Zlin/Albatros
DENMARK: Falco
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu
GERMANY: Heyne
GREECE: Psichogios
HUNGARY: Partvonal
ITALY: Longanesi
ICELAND: Storytel
LATVIA: Jumava
LITHUANIA: Obuolys
NETHERLANDS: Xander
POLAND: Czarna Owca
UNITED KINGDOM: Pushkin Press
UNITED STATES: Pushkin Press
WORLD ARABIC: Al Arabi Publishing
WORLD ENGLISH (Audio): Audible

About author


Martta Kaukonen

Martta Kaukonen (1976) lives in Helsinki. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a film critic, whose reviews have been published in both Finland’s biggest newspaper Helsingin Sanomat and a popular women’s weekly magazine Me Naiset. Martta has a master’s degree in arts. She has interviewed the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Justin Bieber. Martta met her husband at a second hand bookshop and fell in love. Alongside writing, Martta loves psychological thrillers, film noir, flea markets, abandoned houses and travelling.

Photo credit: Otto Virtanen

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Free

Martta Kaukonen


2023, Crime & Suspense

Meet Me in the Darkness

Martta Kaukonen


2022, Crime & Suspense

In Your Shadow

Martta Kaukonen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Follow the Butterfly

Martta Kaukonen

Bastei Lübbe acquires Arttu Tuominen’s Crystal trilogy in a three-book-deal!

We are very thrilled to announce, that the German rights to Arttu Tuominen’s ALEC and its two sequels have been acquired by Bastei Lübbe in a three-book-deal. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Congratulations to Arttu and Bastei Lübbe! This is what Claudia Müller, Senior Editor from Bastei Lübbe had to say:

Arttu Tuominen’s novels are suspense-packed crime stories as well as stirring novels with powerful character portayals. After the excellent „Delta-series“ with the setting Pori (the hometown of Arttu) we are at Lübbe very much looking forward to publishing the new trilogy.

The first book in this gripping Crystal trilogy, Alec, was published by Otava two weeks ago. And it is a great success – selling close to 10 000 copies in two weeks and receiving excitingly positive reviews!

Tuominen’s storytelling is cinematic, the plot moves at the speed of a snowmobile, and in the end, all the loose ends are beautifully tied together.

Mari Paalosalo-Jussinmäki, Eeva magazine

“The reader is swept along in a way rarely encountered in these circles.”

– Kai Hirvasnoro, Kulttuuriuutiset magazine

Liina Aho has the makings of a new Lisbeth Salander.

Kirsin Book Club blog

Alec kicks off a new thriller trilogy from Arttu Tuominen, bestselling author of the River Delta series, taking the reader to the fells of Lapland, deep into the world of crime, addictions, and the drug trade.

The rights are still available in the UK, Sweden, Poland, Italy, Czechia…

Request the materials for ALEC here!

ALEC (Otava, 2025)

The destructive power of the criminal underworld meets vulnerable humanity in Arttu Tuominen’s new crime series.

During the economic recession of the 1990s, illegal businesses flow into Finland from across the eastern border. A drug war rages on Finnish soil, where human life has no value.

The quiet life of the village community in Salla is shattered when more than a dozen partygoers are murdered at a remote farm. Fourteen-year-old Liina, who witnesses the massacre, is forced to grow up quickly as senseless violence invades her childhood world

CRYSTAL #2 (Otava, 2026)

A novel about the destructive power of money and addiction.

Juhani Roine, a gambling-addicted bank director, falls into massive debt to international drug syndicates. Julia, a flight attendant and sister to Liina, tries to help him. Their fates intertwine with devastating consequences in a Parisian suburb.

CRYSTAL #3 (Otava, 2027)

A novel about the morality of revenge.

At the heart of the story is Liina Aho, whose past is marked by trauma. Members of a notorious drug cartel are being killed in brutal ways across Helsinki. Tommi Kivi, drowning in personal grief, believes he knows who’s behind it – and is determined to hold them accountable.

Publication info:
Alec, Otava
2025, 360 pages

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe (3 books!)

Reading materials:
Finnish edition
English sample (80 pages!)
English synopsis

About author


Arttu Tuominen

Arttu Tuominen (b. 1981) is a Spiegel bestselling author and environmental inspector based in Pori, Finland. During the evenings, he writes dark and tough crime novels. He is best known for his psychologically nuanced and gripping crime novels. Tuominen's novels are acclaimed for their intense atmosphere, compelling plots, and richly drawn characters.

His River Delta series has sold over 230,000 copies in Finland alone and has been published in six different languages. Tuominen has received numerous accolades, including the Vuoden Johtolanka (Clue of the Year) award for The Oath and the Palle Rosenkrantz Prize from the Danish Crime Academy for Jeopardy. In addition he has been nominated for the prestigious Glass Key Award. His novels have earned praise from both critics and readers, firmly establishing him as a leading voice in Finnish crime fiction.

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Alec

Arttu Tuominen


2024, Crime & Suspense

The Stager

Arttu Tuominen


2023, Crime & Suspense

The Liberator

Arttu Tuominen


2022, Crime & Suspense

Shamed

Arttu Tuominen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Silenced

Arttu Tuominen


2020, Crime & Suspense

Jeopardy

Arttu Tuominen


2019, Crime & Suspense

The Oath

Arttu Tuominen

Karl Rauch Verlag acquires the German rights to Juha Itkonen’s Tomorrow I’ll Tell You Everything

We are very excited to announce the first foreign deal to Juha Itkonen’s TOMORROW I’LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING. The German rights were acquired by Karl Rauch Verlag. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Congratulations to Juha Itkonen and the publisher! This is a literary title to watch out for!

Kathrin Kunter, Publishing Manager at Karl Rauch Verlag shared her thoughts:

“We look forward to Juha Itkonen! Tomorrow I’ll Tell You Everything is an intelligent, accessible novel that will touch many readers.”

Karl Rauch Verlag was founded in 1923, a publishing house for sophisticated European fiction and children’s books. First publisher of German translations of Antoine de Saint-Exupèry, Albert Camus and others, currently home to authors mainly from Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, Southern Europe and Germany, many of them award-winning.

During the summer, this stunning novel climbed to #2 on the national Bestseller list among printed books and the only literary fiction in the top ten, its strong sales come even before the digital edition launches in September.

The rights are still available in the Nordics, France, Estonia, Spain, the Netherlands…

Request the materials for TOMORROW I’LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING

TOMORROW I’LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING

Juha Itkonen

Passion shakes the very foundations of existence in Juha Itkonen’s new novel

Marja walks into Lasse’s secondhand bookstore on a cold and clear winter day. It’s an opportune moment for them both. Their romance long ago serves as the spark for a passionate relationship in which two hungry souls find their perfect match, and Lasse and Marja share everything with each other, their thoughts as well as their bodies.

Marja is estranged from her husband, an executive at Nokia, and is coming into her own in middle age. Lasse, who has always lived alone, understands the opportunity he’s been given: the unbearable lightness of love is within his reach, and yet something holds him back. Years later, Lasse returns to this turning point in his life. What happened and why?

Tomorrow I’ll Tell You Everything is a charged and elegant story that makes the readers ponder the greatest choices in life.

Publication Info:
Huomenna kerron kaiken
Gummerus, 2025, 348 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Gummerus (orig.)
GERMANY: Karl Rauch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG

Reading material:
Finnish edition, English sample & synopsis

About author


Juha Itkonen

Juha Itkonen (b. 1975) is one of the most recognized voices in contemporary Finnish literature. He has published eight novels, a novella collection, a children’s book, several plays, and an epistolary novel co-written with Kjell Westö. His works often explore themes of family, generations, and parenthood, and are known for their emotional depth, energy, and a touch of melancholy.

He has received the Finnish State Prize for Literature, the Kalevi Jäntti Prize, and the Veijo Meri Prize, and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Finlandia Prize. In 2019, his novel Beyond Our Reach (Ihmettä kaikki, Otava in 2018).) was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize.

Itkonen loves music, both as a listener and a player, which shows in his books. The passing of time is an eternal mystery at the core of his writing – his novels tend to have a melancholy undertone, yet they are also filled with life, humor, and energy. He lives in the Arabianranta district of Helsinki with his wife, Maija Itkonen, and their four children.

A film based on his novel The More Loving One (Anna minun rakastaa enemmän, Teos 2005) was released in Fall 2025.

Bibliography


2025, Literary Fiction, Romance

Tomorrow I'll Tell You Everything

Juha Itkonen


2021, Literary Fiction, Commercial/Upmarket

They Had It All

Juha Itkonen

Oceaan acquires Dutch rights to The Yellow House Chronicles in a two-book pre-empt!

We are very happy to announce a Dutch two-book deal for Mari Renko’s charming The Yellow House Chronicles. The Dutch rights for PEARL RING, ENCLOSED and WHISPERS IN LACE were acquired by Oceaan, an imprint of Park Uitgevers. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Susanne van Leeuwen, Senior Commissioning Editor at Oceaan, praised Renko’s work:

A dual timeline series with all the classic elements, modern tropes, fresh additions such as diverse and inclusive characters, and a captivating setting in Finland.. What’s not to love! Mari Renko writes seemingly effortlessly and makes me feel that I am present in the story as well, so clear and vivid. I can’t wait to read more.

Oceaan publishes accessible, historical, and contemporary novels for a wide audience — captivating stories full of love, adventure, and unexpected twists. Its authors include Soraya Lane, Virginie Grimaldi, Rebecca Alexander, Victoria Henry, and Robinne Lee, among others.

The Yellow House Chronicles, a romantic feel-good series that explores the lives and loves of the Ikonen siblings. The series sweeps readers between modern-day Finland and pivotal moments in the past, blending romance, family secrets, and the enduring power of love across generations.

Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Soraya Lane, Beth O’Leary, and Jojo Moyes. With two books already out, the series has sold close to 20,000 copies in Finland. The two remaining titles will be tentatively published in 2026!

“A smoothly progressing page-turner with irresistibly lovable characters and crisp imagery.”
Kotiliesi magazine

Request materials for THE YELLOW HOUSE CHRONICLES here!

Publication Info:
Helmisormus kirjekuoressa
Bazar, January 2025, 444 pp.

Pitsihuntuun kuiskattu
Bazar, August 2025, 448 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Bazar (orig.)
NETHERLANDS: Park Uitgevers / Oceaan

Reading material:
Book#1: English sample & synopsis, Finnish edition
Book #2: English synopsis, Finnish edition

About author


Mari Renko

Mari Renko (b. 1994) is an Eastern Finnish author from Kuopio. She writes both the two-timeline romantic book series The Yellow House Chronicles aimed at adults, as well as The Fader Files, which combines YA fantasy and detective adventures. She wrote her debut novel Pearl Ring, Enclosed after growing tired of the one-dimensional male heroes in romantic books. Her goal is to show that the world is full of different love stories, each worth telling, even if they don’t end in marriage and children, or even if the love in question is something other than romantic love.

In fantasy, Mari is fascinated by other worlds where one can escape everyday life, and by gripping adventures into which important themes can be woven, without forgetting romance.

Mari has studied medicine and writing. She is also active on book-related social media, where she talks about her writing and shares writing tips.
On Instagram and TikTok, you can find Mari under the username @renkomari.

Photo credit: Anna-Katri Hänninen Bazar kustannus

Bibliography


2025, Commercial/Upmarket, Romance

Whispers in Lace

Mari Renko


2025, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Red Rowan Manor

Mari Renko


2025, Commercial/Upmarket, Romance

Pearl Ring, Enclosed

Mari Renko

The Finnish rights for A HEART WITH TWO MINDS acquired by Otava Publishing Company!

We are happy to share, that the Finnish rights to A HEART WITH TWO MINDS by Ann-Luise Bertell has been sold to sold to Karisto, an imprint of Otava Publishing Company! In addition, they have acquired the rights to the first book in her upcoming new trilogy. The deal was negotiated by Noora Al-Ani at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Ann-Luise Bertell, one of Finland’s most powerful literary voices, delivers a sensual, compact epic that pulses with longing, resilience, and the quiet heroism of everyday life. A HEART WITH TWO MINDS is a story of forbidden connection, haunting memory, and the fierce complexity of love in wartime.

“Skuggas is a captivating historical novel by a masterful storyteller and distinctive author. The airy yet straightforward narrative draws the reader deep into the feelings of the main character, Ruti, and into the time and community described. The text is beautiful and emotional without being the slightest bit saccharine. The story of forbidden love is compelling, and the author has a strong, distinctive voice and an irresistible charm in her writing.

Ann-Luise Bertell is a masterful storyteller and a writer with a unique voice. Her language is beautiful, her characterizations precise. She has the ability to write emotionally without being mawkish, and with originality without being difficult. Her sentences have an irresistible charm, drawing the reader deep into the story from the very first lines. Karisto is delighted and honored to offer this distinguished Finland-Swedish author a new beginning as a storyteller for the general public in the Finnish-language market.”

— Silka Raatikainen, Executive Editor at Karisto

Download reading materials here

“What a fantastic love story!”

“A burning hot tale of passion with a surprising ending.” – Aftonbladet

Rut had loved two. Or loved. Loves. She had also loved her children, both the living and the dead, her parents, her grandmother, perhaps a friend or two. But two men.

The Continuation War rages in Finland, “a corner, one of the corners of the world”. Rut Blom is more than 40 years old, mother of three, and a farmer on Skuggas, a farm in Ostrobothnia that was her inheritance and from which she has never left. Her husband Verner and their 18-year-old son are fighting at the front line in Karelia and her unrest is constant. She finds it difficult to cope with all the work on the fields. A Soviet prisoner of war, Lieutenant Anton Demchenko from Ukraine, comes to her aid. He speaks the language of the enemy, but to Rut it sounds like a song.

Ann-Luise Bertell has secured her place as a great storyteller with her sensual, historical novels. Her novels are often set in her native area of Ostrobothnia, are short in the number of pages but with an epic breadth. A Heart With Two Minds depicts an intense half a year in one human’s life.

Publication info:
Skuggas, Förlaget
2025, 219 pages

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Förlaget (orig. Finland-Swedish)
FINLAND: Otava/Karisto (Finnish)

Reading materials:
Original Swedish edition
English synopsis

 

About author


Ann-Luise Bertell

Ann-Luise Bertell is a versatile artist who, with sensitivity, precision, and authenticity, has enriched both literature and the theater scene. Ann-Luise was born in Oravais in 1971 and lives in Vörå, and her artistry has deep roots in Ostrobothnia, with her heart beating for the power of storytelling.
She debuted as a poet in 1997 and has since written everything from children’s books and drama to acclaimed novels such as Vänd om min längtan, Glöm bort din saknad, and Heiman, which was nominated for the Finlandia Prize and the Runeberg Prize in 2020. Her latest novel, Skuggas, was published in the spring of 2025.
Her works are characterized by strong emotional depth, historical themes, and often deal with longing and sorrow, identity, and family ties. Her authorship has been compared to the great Västerbotten storytellers such as Sara Lidman and Torgny Lindgren, as well as Selma Lagerlöf. Ann-Luise herself admires authors such as Sofi Oksanen and Sara Stridsberg. She has also dramatized both Vänd om min längtan and Heiman for the stage.
As former director of Wasa Theatre (2010–2015 and 2020–2025), she has also demonstrated leadership and artistic vision, and her contributions have been recognized with several awards, including Svenska Yle’s Literature Prize, an award from the Swedish Academy, the Choraeus Prize, and in the spring of 2025, the Cultural Prize from the Swedish Ostrobothnian Society.

Photo credit: Linus Lindholm

Bibliography


2025, Literary Fiction, Romance

A Heart with Two Minds

Ann-Luise Bertell


2022, Literary Fiction

Yearning

Ann-Luise Bertell


2020, Literary Fiction

Homestead

Ann-Luise Bertell


2016, Literary Fiction

Longing

Ann-Luise Bertell

The Romanian rights to THE CURIOSITY CODE pre-empted by Publica!

We are very happy to announce the first foreign sale for Dr. Alexander Puutio’s THE CURIOSITY CODE: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change to Publica in Romania! We are especially glad the publisher saw such an instant and strong match with the title. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency Agency in co-operation with our co-agent Antonija Radić at Corto Literary.

The Curiosity Code is a practical guide to thriving in a world of constant change by teaching readers how to use curiosity, not rigid career ladders, as the engine for reinvention, resilience, and meaning.

 

THE CURIOSITY CODE: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change

What if the very playbook we’ve been handed for success – grit, passion, specialization – isn’t just incomplete, but entirely counterproductive to a fulfilling life?

✓ A no-bullshit blueprint for a more meaningful life—by Finland’s most curious export that has taught leaders at Harvard, Columbia and NYU Stern

✓ In 2024, dr. Puutio reached 1,5 million readers with his columns on Forbes, Fast Company and Psychology Today, and speaking invitations from Adobe to Thomson Reuters

✓ Bold Nordic take on reinvention and permission: you don’t need approval to change paths – you just need curiosity

They told us to specialize and stick with it. But in a world of constant reinvention, that advice now feels like sabotage. In The Curiosity Code: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change, I draw on research from 600+ CEO interviews, insights from teaching at Harvard, and a life built across law, economics, AI, and VC backed startup world to uncover the simple truth behind resilient, fulfilling lives: they’re built in loops, not ladders. This book reclaims curiosity not as a childlike trait, but as a serious strategic edge in an age of AI and relentless uncertainty. Blending cognitive science, leadership insight, and surprising lessons from slime molds to Leonardo da Vinci, this is a call to those who sense there must be more to life, and a guide to finding it.

The Curiosity Code: Stay Curious or Stay Stuck in a World of Constant Change
70,000-80,000 words. Full manuscript in May 2026.

Reading materials:
English Book Proposal, Sample Chapters 1 & 2, Pitch, Author Bio

Rights sold:
ROMANIA: Publica

About author


Alexander Puutio

Teemu Alexander Puutio, PhD, is a Harvard lecturer, perennial student with his third PhD in the making and a writer whose work spans leadership, curiosity, and purposeful reinvention in the age of disruption.

With a background that bridges law, economics, and behavioral science, Alexander has held senior roles at the United Nations, and in Boston Consulting Group before he took on teaching and research full time. He currently teaches at Harvard, where his work focuses on leadership in uncertain environments and decision-making in the face of rapid change. As a part of his research on success and life satisfaction, he has interviewed over 600 global CEOs and executives. He is a writer at Forbes, and his articles have appeared in Psychology Today, Fast Company, and TechCrunch with more than 1.5 million readers reached in 2024. His public speaking and teaching portfolio spans media, institutions and private companies from Adobe to the Rockefeller Foundation, and he is a sought-after voice on the future of work, the limitations of grit, and the underleveraged power of curiosity. His work fuses sharp insight with warm provocation, making him a trusted guide for high-achievers looking to reinvent. Originally from Finland, Alexander now lives in New York with his wife and three sons. He drinks too much decaf diet coke, writes to learn, and is proudly building a career that looks nothing like a straight line.

Photo credit: Julia Neganova

Bibliography

De Vier Windstreken pre-empts Dutch rights to bestselling DAD MAN series – 4th international sale!

We are thrilled to announce the fourth international sale for the bestselling DAD MAN series written by Arttu Unkari and illustrated by Kai Vaalio: the Dutch rights have been pre-empted, in a two-book deal, by De Vier Windstreken! The deal includes books #1 and #2, Dad Man and the Exploding Poop and  Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

DAD MAN is a hilarious series for the reluctant readers and for fans of Captain Underpants and David Walliams – with the comic-style illustrations and priceless plot lines, one just has to keep on turning pages. The series has sold over 200 000 copies in Finland and has been nominated for the Runeberg Prize and for Storytel Awards! 

A funny and engaging series [–] The series has such delightful characters, carefree school anarchy, and flight of imagination, and one is looking forward to the continuation.”
–Ilkka Valpasvuo on Kulttuuritoimitus magazine

“The duo smartly combines the narrative styles of comics and prose. Vaalio’s illustrations offer many visual jokes and almost accidentally urges one to read Unkari’s story.”
– Savon Sanomat newspaper

The rights for the series are still available in Estonia, Sweden, Turkey, Spain, Czechia…

Request materials for the DAD MAN series here!

 

The Dad Man Series

by Arttu Unkari, illustrated by Kai Vaalio

#1 Dad Man and the Exploding Poop
#2 Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother
#3 Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis
#4 Dad Man and the Impossible Time Warp
#5 Dad Man and the Doppelgänger Disaster
#6 Dad Man and the Mysterious Puppet Master

The quirkiest cop in town! The Dad Man Series offers fast-paced adventures and humour for all ages – especially lower middle grade.

Dad Man is a dad, and a policeman – but he also has a superpower! Too bad his superpower is one shared by almost all dads – an unwavering belief in himself and his own abilities. Dad Man truly believes he knows everything and can do anything, but as it goes with most dads, the reality is quite different. And it follows that Dad Man’s nine-year-old daughter Oona needs to solve all of the issues herself.

Publication info:
Isämies ja räjähtävä kakka
Otava 2020, 176 pp.

Isämies ja paha pikkuveli
Otava 2021, 176 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
DENMARK: Bogoo (2 books)
GERMANY: Mixtvision (3 books)
NETHERLANDS: De Vier Windstreken (2 books)
POLAND: Kropka (2 books)

Reading materials:
Finnish editions, German edition books 1-2, Danish edition book 1, English sample book 4

About author


Arttu Unkari

Arttu Unkari is a teacher from Helsinki and a Master of Education (University of Helsinki, 2015) who majored in ethics and philosophy.  He combines his educational background and experience as a teacher in his books – his stories are anarchist and zany, but at the same time the humour often revolves around profound and intriguing concepts such as honesty, obedience, and morality in ways that speak to children in their own language. His books are enjoyed by adults as well because they contain layers that open up differently to readers of all ages. This is one of the reasons Dad Man is such a great series for the whole family.

As an author Unkari is a Runeberg prize nominee 2023 for the third instalment of the Dad Man series: Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis (Isämies ja hyytävä hypnoosi, Otava 2022). The Runeberg Prize is a literary prize awarded by the newspaper Uusimaa, the City of Porvoo, the Finnish Writers' Union, the Finnish Critics' Association and the Finland’s-Swedish Writer’s Association. The prize was established in 1986 and it is awarded annually in Porvoo on 5th February, the day when Finland celebrates their national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg.  All of his previous books (Dad Man and the Exploding poop, Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother, Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis and Dad Man and the Impossible Time Warp) have been nominated for best children’s audiobook in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Finnish Storytel awards. He’s also participated in making a Finnish language schoolbook (Loikka 3, Otava 2022).

Unkari is a sought after inspirational speaker in his home country. He’s visited schools all over Finland advocating for the importance of reading.

Photo credit Jonne Räsänen / Otava 2019

About author


Kai Vaalio

Kai Vaalio (b. 1986) is an illustrator, comic artist, and a bit of a cosmopolitan as well. He’s written and illustrated underground comic books for adults about his travels in South-East Asia and Latin America — the latter won Mondo magazine’s Travel book of the year award back in 2014. Recently he’s ventured into the world of illustrating children’s books mainly with Arttu Unkari’s Dad Man Series. Together they’ve made several books about this goofy detective and his clever little posse. The Dad Man Series has received Storytel Awards and Runeberg Junior 2023 award nominations. Vaalio’s been on and off in the graphic industry since 2005 when he graduated as a graphic designer from Lahti College of Arts and Crafts. In 2018 he got his bachelor’s degree from Lahti University of Applied Science.

Photo credit: Jonne Räsänen / Otava

Two new deals for Max Seeck!

We are thrilled to share not one, but two exciting new foreign deals for MILO #2: BETRAYED! French and Latvian rights to the gripping sequel by New York Times and Spiegel bestselling author Max Seeck have been acquired by Mera Editions (France) and Latvijas Mediji (Latvia). The French deal was negotiated by Elina Ahlbäck and the Latvian deal by Satu Sallantaus at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

MILO #1: CHECKMATE was published in France in January and just few weeks ago in Latvia.

Milo #1: Checkmate is an exciting and gripping start for a new series, that has sold over 45,000 copies in Finland, with rights sold to 9 territories. A 6-episode international TV series adaptation by Solar Films is currently in pre-production.

Milo #2: Betrayed is the thrilling second installment in the Milo series and will be published in Finland this SeptemberEstonian and German rights have already been sold pre-publication!

Max Seeck has been translated in 41 languages and his novels sold over 1 million copies globally!

Rights are still available in the UK/US, Spain, Poland, Lithuania, Iceland etc…

Request materials for MILO here!

Milo #1: Checkmate

Bodies with chess pieces in their mouth – Milo needs to understand the game of chess in order to catch a killer.

The game has only just begun.

On a cold November evening, a body is discovered on the shore of Seurasaari. The victim’s skin is covered with a thick layer of white paint, and during the autopsy, a chess piece is found lodged in its throat.  The police are baffled. Why would the murderer go to such lengths to disguise the body? And why wasn’t there any attempt to hide it?  Milo Perho, an art gallery owner specializing in profiling killers, is called in to assist. What follows is a nerve-wracking game where every move costs a life, and no-one wants it to end in checkmate.

Milo is the gripping debut of the Milo series by internationally acclaimed author Max Seeck. Even before its release, the book’s translation rights were sold to numerous countries, and a TV series adaptation is already in the works.

Milo is a slightly different Seeck detective story and, as such, a quality piece of work. More than that, it’s an outright masterpiece in how to breathe new life into an oft-treated narrative and raise the tension with wit, not brutal violence.

Milo #2: Betrayed

How to survive in a world where nothing is as it seems?

They know your every step.

When a breathtakingly beautiful woman sits opposite art gallery owner Milo Perho on a terrace in Helsinki, Milo has no way of anticipating where their meeting leads. Soon, the Helsinki police are dealing with several murders and Milo is being chased by someone for whom Milo’s past is no mystery. A pursuit ensues where the hunter can be anyone and finding a place where to hide is impossible.

Milo #2: Betrayed is a hardened thriller about the world of espionage and part #2 of the Milo series.

MILO series publication info:

MILO #1: Checkmate
Merkitty, Tammi September 2024, 400 pp.

MILO #2: Betrayed
Petetty, Tammi September 2025, 344 pp.

READING MATERIALS
Book #1: English sample, English synopsis, German edition, French edition, Finnish edition
Book #2: English synopsis, Finnish edition

Rights sold MILO series:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.),
ESTONIA: Pegasus (2 books)
FRANCE: Mera Editions (2 books)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe (2 books)
ITALY: Piemme
JAPAN: Kodansha Ltd.
LATVIA: Latvijas Mediji (2 books)
NORWAY: Aschehoug
UKRAINE: Laboratoria
FILM & TV RIGHTS: Solar Films

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.

Jessica Niemi series is being adapted into a English-language TV series by Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures

“An exceptional combination of hardboiled Scandi-noir and eerie ghost story. [--] Seeck marries breathtaking suspense with an expertly drawn heroine. This is guaranteed to send shivers up even the most unshakable readers’ spines." – Publisher's Weekly, starred review (Ghost island)

"Each new step has been an artistic success. Max Seeck, last year's winner of the Glass Key Award for best Nordic detective story, has a golden touch for Finnish suspense fiction." - Kai Hirvasnoro, Kansan Uutiset newspaper

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

His Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! The new MILO series has already been sold to 9 territories, 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.

Photo credit: Mikko Rasila

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Milo #2: Betrayed

Max Seeck


2024, Crime & Suspense

Milo #1: Checkmate

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

DAD MAN series two book sale to Poland!

We are so happy to announce that the first two books of the DAD MAN series by Arttu Unkari and Kai Vaalio have been sold to Poland! Dad Man and the Explosive Poop and Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother have been acquired by Kropka, an imprint of publishing house Marginesy. Marginesy is the Polish part of Bonnier Group. The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Here’s what Karolina Wojciechowska, translator for Kropka publishing house had to say about the series:

“The first part of “Dad-Man” is dynamic and absurd from first to last page. The book is rich in wordplays, sharp dialogues, and witty illustrations. As you might expect from the title, toilet humor dominates, but young readers may enjoy it, especially since Unkari masterfully balances uninhibited freedom with scurrility.

One of the most interesting elements is the grumpy grandmother, who periodically makes negative comments that transcend the narrative and interrupt the action. The grandmother complains about the poor author, unattractive language, the inappropriate topic, and the characters’ bad behavior. This creates a contrast between the grandmother’s “stiff” approach to literature and parenting and the authors’ “rebellious” vision.”

The Dad Man series is a 6 book series and has sold over 200,000 copies in Finland! This sale follows the recent deal to Germany, where Mixtvision acquired the rights to the third title in the series. The series is fast-paced, visually bold, and hilarious – perfect for readers 7+!

The rights for the series are still available in Estonia, Sweden, Turkey, France, Czechia…

DOWNLOAD ALL MATERIALS TO THE SERIES HERE

The Dad Man series:
Arttu Unkari, illustrated by Kai Vaalio

#1 Dad Man and the Exploding Poop
#2 Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother
#3 Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis
#4 Dad Man and the Impossible Time Warp
#5 Dad Man and the Doppelgänger Disaster
#6 Dad Man and the Mysterious Puppet Master

The quirkiest cop in town! The Dad Man Series offers fast-paced adventures and humour for all ages – especially lower middle grade.

Dad Man is a dad, and a policeman – but he also has a superpower! Too bad his superpower is one shared by almost all dads – an unwavering belief in himself and his own abilities. Dad Man truly believes he knows everything and can do anything, but as it goes with most dads, the reality is quite different. And it follows that Dad Man’s nine-year-old daughter Oona needs to solve all of the issues herself.

Publication info:
Isämies ja räjähtävä kakka
Otava 2020, 176 pp.

Isämies ja paha pikkuveli
Otava 2021, 176 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
DENMARK: Bogoo (2 books)
GERMANY: Mixtvision (3 books)
POLAND: Kropka (2 books)

Reading materials:
Finnish pdfs books 1-6, German edition books 1-2, Danish edition book 1, English sample book 4

About author


Arttu Unkari

Arttu Unkari is a teacher from Helsinki and a Master of Education (University of Helsinki, 2015) who majored in ethics and philosophy.  He combines his educational background and experience as a teacher in his books – his stories are anarchist and zany, but at the same time the humour often revolves around profound and intriguing concepts such as honesty, obedience, and morality in ways that speak to children in their own language. His books are enjoyed by adults as well because they contain layers that open up differently to readers of all ages. This is one of the reasons Dad Man is such a great series for the whole family.

As an author Unkari is a Runeberg prize nominee 2023 for the third instalment of the Dad Man series: Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis (Isämies ja hyytävä hypnoosi, Otava 2022). The Runeberg Prize is a literary prize awarded by the newspaper Uusimaa, the City of Porvoo, the Finnish Writers' Union, the Finnish Critics' Association and the Finland’s-Swedish Writer’s Association. The prize was established in 1986 and it is awarded annually in Porvoo on 5th February, the day when Finland celebrates their national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg.  All of his previous books (Dad Man and the Exploding poop, Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother, Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis and Dad Man and the Impossible Time Warp) have been nominated for best children’s audiobook in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Finnish Storytel awards. He’s also participated in making a Finnish language schoolbook (Loikka 3, Otava 2022).

Unkari is a sought after inspirational speaker in his home country. He’s visited schools all over Finland advocating for the importance of reading.

Photo credit Jonne Räsänen / Otava 2019

About author


Kai Vaalio

Kai Vaalio (b. 1986) is an illustrator, comic artist, and a bit of a cosmopolitan as well. He’s written and illustrated underground comic books for adults about his travels in South-East Asia and Latin America — the latter won Mondo magazine’s Travel book of the year award back in 2014. Recently he’s ventured into the world of illustrating children’s books mainly with Arttu Unkari’s Dad Man Series. Together they’ve made several books about this goofy detective and his clever little posse. The Dad Man Series has received Storytel Awards and Runeberg Junior 2023 award nominations. Vaalio’s been on and off in the graphic industry since 2005 when he graduated as a graphic designer from Lahti College of Arts and Crafts. In 2018 he got his bachelor’s degree from Lahti University of Applied Science.

Photo credit: Jonne Räsänen / Otava

Czech rights sold for 36 URNS: A HISTORY OF BEING WRONG by Sirpa Kähkönen!

A future classic, Finlandia Prize winner and bestselling novel 36 URNS: A History of Being Wrong by multiple award-winning author Sirpa Kähkönen will be published by HOST, one of the largest publishing houses in the Czech Republic. The deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency Agency in co-operation with our wonderful co-agent Antonija Radić at Corto Literary.

Here’s what Lucie Bregantová, translated fiction editor in Host, Czechia, had to say about Kähkönen:

“Reading Sirpa Kähkönen 36 Urns is a true literary feast. The balance between introspective ruminations and narrative parts is very delicate and gives the text an immense emotional impact. The book is about silence, pain and trauma but also about understanding and love, showing hope in places than at first sight seem impenetrably dark. Host publishing is extremely proud to have the honour to introduce Sirpa Kähkönen to Czech readers, accompanied by other exquisite writers like Annie Ernaux, Tove Ditlevsen or Pirkko Saisio.”

Rights are still available in the UK and US, Poland, Italy, Denmark, France…

DOWNLOAD ALL MATERIALS HERE

About 36 URNS:

Author Sirpa Kähkönen’s mother Riitta (b. 1941) died in March 2022 after a long illness. In life, she struggled to accept love. “I do not grieve your death, I grieve your life,” Sirpa Kähkönen writes, knowing fully well that her mother wouldn’t like the phrase. Her mother rejected love, despite longing for it the most. Riitta was athletic, beautiful, and gifted. A traffic accident at the age of 16 changed the course of her life for ever.

Drawing on her mother’s diaries, Kähkönen depicts the life of a 1950s girl and the dramatic change that followed the accident. The novel talks about community dance halls, a broken mind, flowing hems, a 1960s mother, anxiety, anger and hate, addiction, and moments of psychosis. It talks about how wars and other crises become corporeal, how violence is inherited, and how the culture of discouragement and submission is passed down through the generations in sayings and attitudes, with the author clearly seeing herself as part of the tradition of anger and violence.

The novel is permeated by a fiery love, as if an ancient Finnish spell that, with the power of words, is capable of bringing loved ones back from the dead.

“The book is a skillful literature work, perceptive and insightful. Confession-like. The prose is clear and precise. [—] The personal experience of the author grows into a universal reach, and she finds something globally applicable about humans, hate, anger, lies, hope, dreams and their crumbling, death. This brings forth a masterpiece, which is worth living for. ”
Jorma Uotinen, Finlandia Literature Prize Grand Juror

Publication info:
36 UURNAA. VÄÄRÄSSÄ OLEMISEN HISTORIA
Siltala 2023, 267 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Siltala (orig.)
AZERBAIJAN: Qanun
CZECHIA: Host s.r.o.
ESTONIA: Koolibri
GERMANY: Blessing Verlag
HUNGARY: Polar Könyvek
SWEDEN: Lind & Co

Reading materials:
English sample & synopsis, German manuscript, Swedish edition, Finnish edition

About author


Sirpa Kähkönen

Sirpa Kähkönen was born to a family that had been harshly treated by the history of the 1900s. World War II and the Civil War preceding it had wounded her family members and marked them with heavy silence and unspoken words.

Mapping out that silence became Sirpa’s work. The first questions that arose were related to her closest circle: what had happened to her beloved grandparents? From her personal sphere the intellectual curiosity widened to touch upon the history of Finland and then the history of Europe, and finally, researching the fate of an individual during times of crisis.

Sirpa Kähkönen lives and works in Helsinki. She constructs her works upon research, using a wide array of archives, newspaper clippings, research material, and contemporary literature. Inspired by microhistorical research tradition, Sirpa writes about how mentalities are formed, and how the immaterial inheritance runs in family lines and in societies.

Sirpa Kähkönen’s historical novel begins where source information ends. It opens the gates to experiencing the past in a sensory way; the characters live out the story as physical, sensual beings.

Sirpa Kähkönen has published thirteen novels of which one (36 Urns: A History of Being Wrong) has won and four others have been nominated for the prestigious Finlandia prize and one has been nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize. She has also published three non-fiction titles, one of which was nominated for the Tieto-Finlandia prize for non-fiction literature. In 2022, Kähkönen received the Finnish Cultural Foundation's Grand Prize for significant achievements in culture. She has also written five stageplays.

Awards and nominations:

Kirjallisuuden valtionpalkinto 1992 - The State Literary Prize 1992

Savonia-palkinto 1999 - Savonia Prize 1999

Kuopion taiteilijaseuran kirjallisuuden tunnustuspalkinto 2003 - The Kuopio Artist Society's Literary Award 2003

Kiitos kirjasta -mitali 2008 - Thank You for the book medallion 2008

Savon Sanomien Savonmuan Hilima -titteli 2010

Otavan kirjasäätiön Veijo Meri -palkinto 2012 - Otava Literary Fund Veijo Meri Prize 2012

Pro-Finlandia -mitali 2015 - Pro Finlandia Medallion 2015

Suomi-palkinto 2016 - Suomi-Finland Prize 2016 from the Ministry of Education and Culture

Savonia-palkinto 2021 - Savonia Prize 2021

Suomen Kulttuurirahaston suurpalkinto - The Finnish Cultural Foundation's Grand Prize 2021

Finlandia-palkinto 2023 - Finlandia Prize 2023

Photo credit: Jonne Räsänen

Bibliography


2023, Literary Fiction

36 Urns: A History of Being Wrong

Sirpa Kähkönen


2021, Literary Fiction

The Green Chamber

Sirpa Kähkönen

German rights sold for A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE!

Following the US deal to Flatiron Books, we have another deal for A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE by Tiina Raevaara! The German rights have been acquired by mairisch Verlag in collaboration with Kommode Verlag! The deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency. We also have a Portuguese offer on the table for the title. The rights have been sold so far in 7 territories and counting!

This is what Annette Beger from Kommode Verlag says about Raevaara:

“I first heard about the book when I was invited by FILI for the Editors Fellowship in Helsinki last year. Since then, A Short Story of Eternal Life has been constantly on my mind. I am certain that this topic will become increasingly relevant. We are only just beginning to learn about the things that could or should prolong our lives through science and technology. Or they are already doing it. For this very reason, it is important that a book containing facts on the subject—similar to a reference work—will soon be available in German-speaking countries. I like Tiina Raevaara’s objective style. It’s the reason why I had enough space to think about the chapters I’ve read and form my very own opinion. Without a “third voice”. Just me interacting with the content. Loved it.”

mairisch Verlag (founded in 1999) and Kommode Verlag (founded in 2010) is an independent publishing alliance located in Hamburg (Germany) and Zürich (Switzerland). The focus of the program is on narrative non-fiction, which creates a stimulating field of tension in the areas of people and the environment, philosophy or psychology, providing an impetus for new perspectives rather than ready-made answers to complex questions. The focus is on relevant and topical issues that promote discourse on the diversity of society.

The rights are still available in e.g. in the Nordics, Estonia, France, Poland, Czechia, Asian territories… Join the success of A Short History of Eternal Life now!

Click here to request materials for A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE!

About A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE:

Science is developing at an even faster pace, and people are living longer and longer. With what methods has humanity over time fought against aging and death, and what methods will be used in the future?

Tiina Raevaara’s book weaves together the beginnings of scientific history, vampire stories, as well as the discoveries of stem cell treatment and gene editing. It dives into the cryotank and asks whether the vision of a lengthy life is still worth pursuing. If humanity accepted that they are part of all things organic – both living and dead – could we finally get rid of all the exhaustion, anxiety and need to rush?

Publication Info:
Ikuisen elämän lyhyt historia
Otava/Like 2024, 318 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava/Like (orig.)
GERMANY: mairisch Verlag
ITALY: Salani Editore
NETHERLANDS: Uitgeverij De Bezige Bij
PORTUGAL: Offer on the table
WORLD ENGLISH: Flatiron Books (Macmillan US)
WORLD SPANISH: Planeta Mexico

Reading Material:
English sample & synopsis, Finnish edition

About author


Tiina Raevaara

Tiina Raevaara (b. 1979) is a writer, science journalist, and biologist who received a PhD for her work in genetics. She received the State Award for Public Information and the Pro Scientia Prize from the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. She has published ten novels, five non-fiction books, and a novella collection which was awarded the Runeberg Prize. Her suspense novel Double Helix (2020), the opening chapter of a new thriller series, received the Laurin Kirja audio book award, and the second installment in the series, Polar Vortex (2021), has been widely praised.

Raevaara’s books combine grand perspectives of natural science with compelling literary expression. She draws inspiration from Nordic nature, the major questions of science, and the complexities of humanity. In 2025, she received an honorary doctor title at the University of Turku.

Raevaara lives in Kerava, a small town in Southern Finland, and goes on daily walks in the forest with her two black dogs.

Bibliography


2026, Crime & Suspense

The Forest Within the City

Tiina Raevaara


2024, Narrative Nonfiction

A Short History of Eternal Life

Tiina Raevaara


2022, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

Me, My Dog, and Humanity: A History of Coexistence Between Species

Tiina Raevaara

World English rights sold for A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE by Tiina Raevaara!

We are over the moon to announce a new deal for A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE by Tiina Raevaara! The World English rights have been acquired by Flatiron Books (Macmillan, US)! The deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

This is what Hallie Schaeffer, Associate Editor at Flatiron Books US says about Raevaara:

“I found Tiina’s writing both lyrical and touching. She moves beautifully between literary criticism, science, and self-reflection, and I think this is a book that readers will find moving as well as educational. Flatiron has a very strong list in the health and wellness space, as well as a more general bent toward titles that engage deeply with concepts like longevity, aging, and mortality, and I think Tiina’s book would be complemented by these strengths. This project is also exactly what I’m looking for as an editor–a title that uses science (and history and literature) to wrestle with big ideas and tough concepts. I’d love to count Tiina among my authors.”

Flatiron Books is a division of Macmillan US, founded in 2014 with a simple philosophy: publish a relatively small number of titles so that each book could be supported by an extraordinary amount of editorial attention, marketing, and publicity. Flatiron Books has published 115 New York Times bestsellers in our first ten years, including 22 #1 bestsellers. Flatiron has published non-fiction by such authors as Oprah Winfrey, President Joe Biden, Dr. Michael Greger, Melinda French Gates, Jamie Oliver, Ashley C. Ford, Tarana Burke, Dr. David Kessler, and Bruce Perry.

These news follow our recent deal with Salani Editore, who acquired the Italian rights, and Planeta Mexico who acquired the World Spanish rights to RaevaaraThe Spanish edition will be published in 2026. Earlier this year, Dutch rights were acquired by De Bezige Bij, who will publish the book in January 2026. See their beautiful cover here.

A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE is a narrative non-fiction title by the award-winning popular science author for fans of Yuval Noah Harari and Rutger Bregman. The book was awarded the 2024 Nonfiction Jury Award by the Association of Finnish Nonfiction Writers.

Would you like to find out more about this title and join the success? We have an extensive English sample for you to read!

Click here to request materials for A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE!

About A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE:

Science is developing at an even faster pace, and people are living longer and longer. With what methods has humanity over time fought against aging and death, and what methods will be used in the future?

Tiina Raevaara’s book weaves together the beginnings of scientific history, vampire stories, as well as the discoveries of stem cell treatment and gene editing. It dives into the cryotank and asks whether the vision of a lengthy life is still worth pursuing. If humanity accepted that they are part of all things organic – both living and dead – could we finally get rid of all the exhaustion, anxiety and need to rush?

Publication Info:
Ikuisen elämän lyhyt historia
Otava/Like 2024, 318 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava/Like (orig.)
ITALY: Salani Editore
NETHERLANDS: Uitgeverij De Bezige Bij
WORLD ENGLISH: Flatiron Books (Macmillan US)
WORLD SPANISH: Planeta Mexico

Reading Material:
English sample & synopsis, Finnish edition

About author


Tiina Raevaara

Tiina Raevaara (b. 1979) is a writer, science journalist, and biologist who received a PhD for her work in genetics. She received the State Award for Public Information and the Pro Scientia Prize from the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. She has published ten novels, five non-fiction books, and a novella collection which was awarded the Runeberg Prize. Her suspense novel Double Helix (2020), the opening chapter of a new thriller series, received the Laurin Kirja audio book award, and the second installment in the series, Polar Vortex (2021), has been widely praised.

Raevaara’s books combine grand perspectives of natural science with compelling literary expression. She draws inspiration from Nordic nature, the major questions of science, and the complexities of humanity. In 2025, she received an honorary doctor title at the University of Turku.

Raevaara lives in Kerava, a small town in Southern Finland, and goes on daily walks in the forest with her two black dogs.

Bibliography


2026, Crime & Suspense

The Forest Within the City

Tiina Raevaara


2024, Narrative Nonfiction

A Short History of Eternal Life

Tiina Raevaara


2022, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

Me, My Dog, and Humanity: A History of Coexistence Between Species

Tiina Raevaara

STELLA, STIVEN and THE VOLE AND THE MOON sold to the US!

We are thrilled to announce that three of our beloved and enchanting picturebooks STELLA, STIVEN and THE VOLE AND THE MOON will be published in the United States!

The U.S. rights for Stiven and Stella by Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander, as well as The Vole and the Moon, written by Mila Teräs and illustrated by Nora Surojegin, have been acquired by Spinning Wheel Stories. The deals were closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

This is what the publisher had to say about Stella and Stiven:

This witty and heartwarming bedtime story captures the overactive imagination of Stella, a dog who just can’t settle down during storytime. Ted Forsström brings Stella’s dramatic inner monologue to life with playful humor, while Åsa Lucander’s richly detailed illustrations amplify the energy and charm. Perfect for families who know that even the most well-planned bedtime routines can take a few detours, and for anyone valuing stories about imagination, connection, and a little bit of canine mischief. Spinning Wheel Stories is delighted to bring this joyful story to children and families in the U.S.

A deliciously dramatic tale of a perpetually hungry cat convinced he’s moments from starvation. Ted Forsström hilariously channels Stiven’s outrageous inner voice, while Åsa Lucander’s expressive illustrations heighten the humor and theatrical flair of a cat’s single-minded quest for food. Perfect for anyone who’s ever wondered what really goes on in their pet’s mind, or who’s been guilt-tripped to fill a bowl by a pleading stare. Spinning Wheel Stories is thrilled to bring this wonderfully entertaining story to U.S. readers of all ages.

And this is what Spinning Wheel Stories had to say about the Vole and the Moon:

A poetic, deeply calming tale about stillness, self-discovery, and the quiet magic of the natural world. Mila Teräs’s lyrical storytelling follows a small vole on a journey to find something she’s forgotten, only to discover meaning not through action, but through presence. Paired with Nora Surojegin’s dreamy, ethereal illustrations, this is a picture book that invites quiet reflection and reveals new layers with every read. A gentle reminder that wonder is not something to possess, but something to pause for. Spinning Wheel Stories is honored to share this luminous story with children and families in the U.S.

Spinning Wheel Stories is a women-owned independent publishing company dedicated to bringing the world heartfelt, beautifully illustrated children’s books that nurture early literacy, imagination, and positive emotional health. Their titles are distributed through Pathway Book Service and are available for purchase on our website, at live events, and through numerous retailers.

 

Request the materials for STELLA & STIVEN here

Stella

Ted Forsström, illustrated by Åsa Lucander

A father tries to put his child to bed, but keeps getting interrupted by Stella the dog barking hysterically. Something unexpected always happens, and the reader is treated to Stella’s lively imagination: it may be a door opening or a car driving by, but Stella is strongly convinced it’s Grandma coming to give her food, or that squirrels have built a nest in the toaster.

Anyone who has ever tried to put a child to bed knows how cozy yet fragile the situation is. It requires the right amount of patience and determination. The right bedtime story can be the key to a successful, quiet night. Stella is a book you can read again and again, night after night.

Stella is full of warmth, playful rhymes and an unusual mix of familiar ordinariness with fantastic antics. Very familiar for anyone trying to combine cozy moments with a pet!

Stiven

Ted Forsström, illustrated by Åsa Lucander

The food is gone! Stiven roars. This is urgent! Come out!

Have you ever thought how frustrating life can be for a cat? When something as simple as getting fed turns into a daily battle? For Stiven, the logic is simple: an empty bowl must be filled immediately. How can an entire family have such a hard time understanding this?

The glutton Stiven is a stubborn drama queen, holding the whole family hostage with one mission: more food immediately! He’s a big personality, alternately majestic and pathetic, and neither mom, dad, the child, nor the baby escapes his constant demands for food and attention. This leads to comedic moments in the everyday life of a young family with a pet, brilliantly captured in Åsa Lucander’s lively illustrations.

Ted Forsström’s text is atmospheric and down-to-earth, with his characteristic playful rhymes occasionally shining through. It’s highly relatable for families with young children and especially for anyone who owns a cat—or is owned by one.

Rights for STIVEN and STELLA are still available in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Taiwan…

Request the materials for THE VOLE AND THE MOON here!

The Vole and the Moon

Mila Teräs, illustrated by Nora Surojegin

A charmingly sweet picture book about the beauty of living in the moment. Mila Teräs’ enchanting prose is accompanied by Nora Surojegin’s gentle illustrations.

Millie the vole has a strange feeling. She is preparing for the upcoming winter well in advance. However, she feels like she has forgotten something. She is so busy planning and doing things that there is no time to go to watch the Moon and celebrate with other animals. When Millie decides to look up to the sky, she has to stop and stare.

The book tells of how important it is to stop: instead of the constant hurry and overachieving, it is important to pause and just exist without feeling guilty. At the same time, the book highlights what a wonder and secret life really is.

Rights for THE VOLE AND THE MOON are still available in Germany, Sweden, Poland, Spain, Bulgaria…

Publication info:
STELLA
Snälla Stella, sluta skälla!
Förlaget 2023, 44 pp.

STIVEN
Stivens fat är utan mat

Förlaget 2025, 44 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND, SWEDEN: Förlaget (orig. Finland-Swedish)
FINLAND: Etana Editions (Finnish) (Stella)
FINLAND: Teos (Finnish) (Stiven)
DENMARK: Gads Forlag
ESTONIA: Tammerraamat
GERMANY: Mixtvision (Stella)
GERMANY: dtv (Stiven)
HUNGARY: Cerkabella (Stiven and Stella)
NORTH MACEDONIA: Ars Lamina
POLAND: Widnokrag
SLOVAKIA: Arkus
TÜRKIYE: Doğan Kitap (Stiven and Stella)
UNITED STATES: Spinning Wheel Stories (Stiven and Stella)

Reading Materials:
Full English pdf & Swedish edition

 

Publication info:
THE VOLE AND THE MOON
Myyrä, joka katsoi kuuta
Karisto, 2023, 32 pp.

Reading Materials:
Full English PDF

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Karisto (orig.)
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu

About author


Åsa Lucander

Åsa Lucander is a director and designer, working in illustration and animation both in the UK as well as Scandinavia.

Originally from Finland, she moved to London in 2001 where she was introduced to animation while studying illustration. After graduating she joined the animation studio 12foot6 where she stayed until 2014.

In 2015 she joined Aardman Animations in Bristol, where she is now based.

With multi-faceted strengths in storytelling, design and animation she loves exploring various creative styles, be it in 2d, stop motion or CGI. Åsa has a passion for hand rendered drawings and explores many different textures and mediums in all areas of her work. She loves mixing humour with melancholy and thrills in bringing characters of every shape and form to life with compelling scripts and inventive visions. She nimbly blends music, authentic dialogue, film segments, hand drawn characters and dolls in innovative ways.

Åsa has directed multiple shorts, including her award-winning film Lost Property, as well as many heart-warming commercial films for clients including Blue Peter, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Project Every- one and Childline, and a VR documentary film for BBC. Most recently she directed the music video for Coldplay’s track Daddy that has won numerous awards.

The Finlandia-nominated Stella (2023) was the first picture book by Åsa Lucander, who, in addition to being a director and illustrator at Aardman Animations, has also animated music videos for artists such as Coldplay. She created the book together with Ted Forsström. In spring 2025 her and Ted's second collaboration, Stiven, was published.

About author


Mila Teräs

Mila Teräs has been awarded the prestigious Kaarina Helakisa Prize for her works for children's and YA literature, and her works have been nominated for e.g. the Finlandia and Topelius Prizes. She writes for children, young adults and adults, and often incorporates fantasy and historical elements into her realistic work.

About author


Nora Surojegin

Nora Surojegin is an illustrator, children’s author and a graphic designer. She lives in Kirkkonummi, between the sea and the forest, where she creates worlds with images and words, gets inspired by the forest trolls and potters around in her secret garden. In her work she wants to mix the strange with the incredible and create art that makes you stop. Her books have been translated into ten languages.

About author


Ted Forsström

Ted Forsström is a Finnish-Swedish media personality, author, and comedian based in Ostrobothnia. He has worked as an actor, director, and screenwriter, and is widely known as one half of the popular duo Ted & Kaj. Together with Kaj Korkea-aho, he co-wrote the Finlandia Junior-nominated YA trilogy ZOO! and currently co-hosts Ted & Kaj, the most popular Swedish-language podcast in Finland.

Forsström also creates children’s content for Svenska Yle. In 2023, he published the Finlandia-nominated children’s book Stella together with illustrator Åsa Lucander. In spring 2025, the follow-up Stiven was published. His new book The Blue Flame (Den blåa flamman) will be published soon...

Turkish rights sold for STIVEN and STELLA!

We have very happy news! The Turkish rights for both STIVEN and STELLA by Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander have been acquired by Doğan Kitap! The deal was closed by Satu Sallantaus at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

This follows the recent Hungarian deal for Stiven with the publisher of Stella. Doğan Kitap is part of Doğan Yayınları, one of Turkey’s leading book and magazine publishers.

Rights are available in Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, France, Latvia…

CLICK HERE TO REQUEST MATERIALS FOR BOTH TITLES

About STELLA

A father tries to put his child to bed, but keeps getting interrupted by Stella the dog barking hysterically. Something unexpected always happens, and the reader is treated to Stella’s lively imagination: it may be a door opening or a car driving by, but Stella is strongly convinced it’s Grandma coming to give her food, or that squirrels have built a nest in the toaster.

Anyone who has ever tried to put a child to bed knows how cozy yet fragile the situation is. It requires the right amount of patience and determination. The right bedtime story can be the key to a successful, quiet night. Stella is a book you can read again and again, night after night.

Stella is full of warmth, playful rhymes and an unusual mix of familiar ordinariness with fantastic antics. Very familiar for anyone trying to combine cozy moments with a pet!

About STIVEN

The food is gone! Stiven roars. This is urgent! Come out!

Have you ever thought how frustrating life can be for a cat? When something as simple as getting fed turns into a daily battle? For Stiven, the logic is simple: an empty bowl must be filled immediately. How can an entire family have such a hard time understanding this?

The glutton Stiven is a stubborn drama queen, holding the whole family hostage with one mission: more food immediately! He’s a big personality, alternately majestic and pathetic, and neither mom, dad, the child, nor the baby escapes his constant demands for food and attention. This leads to comedic moments in the everyday life of a young family with a pet, brilliantly captured in Åsa Lucander’s lively illustrations.

Ted Forsström’s text is atmospheric and down-to-earth, with his characteristic playful rhymes occasionally shining through. It’s highly relatable for families with young children and especially for anyone who owns a cat—or is owned by one.

Publication info:
STELLA
Snälla Stella, sluta skälla!
Förlaget 2023, 44 pp.

STIVEN
Stivens fat är utan mat

Förlaget 2025, 44 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND, SWEDEN: Förlaget (orig. Finland-Swedish)
FINLAND: Etana Editions (Finnish) (Stella)
FINLAND: Teos (Finnish) (Stiven)
DENMARK: Gads Forlag
ESTONIA: Tammerraamat
GERMANY: Mixtvision (Stiven)
GERMANY: dtv (Stella)
HUNGARY: Cerkabella (Stiven and Stella)
NORTH MACEDONIA: Ars Lamina
POLAND: Widnokrag
SLOVAKIA: Arkus
TÜRKIYE: Doğan Kitap (Stiven and Stella)
UNITED STATES: Spinning Wheel Stories (Stiven and Stella)

Reading Materials:
Full English pdf & Swedish edition

About author


Åsa Lucander

Åsa Lucander is a director and designer, working in illustration and animation both in the UK as well as Scandinavia.

Originally from Finland, she moved to London in 2001 where she was introduced to animation while studying illustration. After graduating she joined the animation studio 12foot6 where she stayed until 2014.

In 2015 she joined Aardman Animations in Bristol, where she is now based.

With multi-faceted strengths in storytelling, design and animation she loves exploring various creative styles, be it in 2d, stop motion or CGI. Åsa has a passion for hand rendered drawings and explores many different textures and mediums in all areas of her work. She loves mixing humour with melancholy and thrills in bringing characters of every shape and form to life with compelling scripts and inventive visions. She nimbly blends music, authentic dialogue, film segments, hand drawn characters and dolls in innovative ways.

Åsa has directed multiple shorts, including her award-winning film Lost Property, as well as many heart-warming commercial films for clients including Blue Peter, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Project Every- one and Childline, and a VR documentary film for BBC. Most recently she directed the music video for Coldplay’s track Daddy that has won numerous awards.

The Finlandia-nominated Stella (2023) was the first picture book by Åsa Lucander, who, in addition to being a director and illustrator at Aardman Animations, has also animated music videos for artists such as Coldplay. She created the book together with Ted Forsström. In spring 2025 her and Ted's second collaboration, Stiven, was published.

About author


Ted Forsström

Ted Forsström is a Finnish-Swedish media personality, author, and comedian based in Ostrobothnia. He has worked as an actor, director, and screenwriter, and is widely known as one half of the popular duo Ted & Kaj. Together with Kaj Korkea-aho, he co-wrote the Finlandia Junior-nominated YA trilogy ZOO! and currently co-hosts Ted & Kaj, the most popular Swedish-language podcast in Finland.

Forsström also creates children’s content for Svenska Yle. In 2023, he published the Finlandia-nominated children’s book Stella together with illustrator Åsa Lucander. In spring 2025, the follow-up Stiven was published. His new book The Blue Flame (Den blåa flamman) will be published soon...

Italian rights sold to Tiina Raevaara’s A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE!

We are excited to announce that the Italian rights to Tiina Raevaara’s A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE have been acquired by Salani Editore.  The deal was closed by Martti Berner at at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency

These news follow the recent the World Spanish and the Dutch rights for this narrative non-fiction title. A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE is a narrative non-fiction title by the award-winning popular science author for fans of Yuval Noah Harari and Rutger Bregman. The book was awarded the 2024 Nonfiction Jury Award by the Association of Finnish Nonfiction Writers.

Would you like to find out more about this title? We have an English sample for you to read!

Rights are available in the UK, US, Nordics, Poland, Czechia, Asian territories…

Click here to request materials for A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE!

About A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE:

Science is developing at an even faster pace, and people are living longer and longer. With what methods has humanity over time fought against aging and death, and what methods will be used in the future?

Tiina Raevaara’s book weaves together the beginnings of scientific history, vampire stories, as well as the discoveries of stem cell treatment and gene editing. It dives into the cryotank and asks whether the vision of a lengthy life is still worth pursuing. If humanity accepted that they are part of all things organic – both living and dead – could we finally get rid of all the exhaustion, anxiety and need to rush?

 

Publication info:
Ikuisen elämän lyhyt historia, Otava/Like 2024, 318 p.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava/Like (orig.)
ITALY: Salani Editore
NETHERLANDS: Uitgeverij De Bezige Bij
WORLD SPANISH: Planeta Mexico

Reading Materials:
English sample & synopsis, Finnish edition

About author


Tiina Raevaara

Tiina Raevaara (b. 1979) is a writer, science journalist, and biologist who received a PhD for her work in genetics. She received the State Award for Public Information and the Pro Scientia Prize from the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. She has published ten novels, five non-fiction books, and a novella collection which was awarded the Runeberg Prize. Her suspense novel Double Helix (2020), the opening chapter of a new thriller series, received the Laurin Kirja audio book award, and the second installment in the series, Polar Vortex (2021), has been widely praised.

Raevaara’s books combine grand perspectives of natural science with compelling literary expression. She draws inspiration from Nordic nature, the major questions of science, and the complexities of humanity. In 2025, she received an honorary doctor title at the University of Turku.

Raevaara lives in Kerava, a small town in Southern Finland, and goes on daily walks in the forest with her two black dogs.

Bibliography


2026, Crime & Suspense

The Forest Within the City

Tiina Raevaara


2024, Narrative Nonfiction

A Short History of Eternal Life

Tiina Raevaara


2022, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

Me, My Dog, and Humanity: A History of Coexistence Between Species

Tiina Raevaara

Bastei Lübbe acquires the German rights to MILO 2 by Max Seeck!

We are happy to share, that the German rights to MILO #2: BETRAYED by New York Times & Spiegel Bestselling Author Max Seeck has been sold to Bastei Lübbe! The deal was negotiated by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Warmest Congratulations, Max Seeck and Bastei Lübbe!

Milo #2: Betrayed is a gripping thriller and part #2 of the bestselling Milo series. The book will be published in Finland this September, with Estonian rights previously sold to Pegasus.

The first book Milo #1: Checkmate sold over 45,000 copies in Finland, rights for the novel have been sold to 9 territories, and a TV series based on the novel is in pre-production with Solar Films, shooting slated to start in 2025/2026 for a 6-episode TV series with focus on international sales & distribution.

The French edition of Milo, titled Échec et Mat, was published by Mera Editions in January, and the German edition, titled Blindspiel, was published just few weeks ago. Latvijas Mediji, will publish the book soon in Latvia. With more publishers to follow in 2026.

Request materials for MILO here!

Milo #2: Betrayed

Max Seeck

How to survive in a world where nothing is as it seems?

They know your every step.

When a breathtakingly beautiful woman sits opposite art gallery owner Milo Perho on a terrace in Helsinki, Milo has no way of anticipating where their meeting leads. Soon, the Helsinki police are dealing with several murders and Milo is being chased by someone for whom Milo’s past is no mystery. A pursuit ensues where the hunter can be anyone and finding a place where to hide is impossible.

Milo #2: Betrayed is a hardened thriller about the world of espionage and part #2 of the Milo series.

Milo #1: Checkmate

Max Seeck

Bodies with chess pieces in their mouth – Milo needs to understand the game of chess in order to catch a killer.

The game has only just begun.

On a cold November evening, a body is discovered on the shore of Seurasaari. The victim’s skin is covered with a thick layer of white paint, and during the autopsy, a chess piece is found lodged in its throat.  The police are baffled. Why would the murderer go to such lengths to disguise the body? And why wasn’t there any attempt to hide it?  Milo Perho, an art gallery owner specializing in profiling killers, is called in to assist. What follows is a nerve-wracking game where every move costs a life, and no-one wants it to end in checkmate.

Milo is the gripping debut of the Milo series by internationally acclaimed author Max Seeck. Even before its release, the book’s translation rights were sold to numerous countries, and a TV series adaptation is already in the works.

Milo is a slightly different Seeck detective story and, as such, a quality piece of work. More than that, it’s an outright masterpiece in how to breathe new life into an oft-treated narrative and raise the tension with wit, not brutal violence.

MILO series publication info:

MILO #1: Checkmate
Merkitty, Tammi, September, 2024

Reading materials: English sample, English synopsis, German edition, French edition, Finnish edition

 

MILO #2: Betrayed
Petetty, Tammi, September, 2025

Reading materials: English synopsis, Finnish edition

Rights sold MILO series:

FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
ESTONIA: Pegasus (2 books)
FRANCE: Mera Editions
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe (2 books)
ITALY: Piemme
JAPAN: Kodansha Ltd.
LATVIA: Latvijas Mediji
NORWAY: Aschehoug
UKRAINE: Laboratoria
FILM & TV RIGHTS: Solar Films

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.

Jessica Niemi series is being adapted into a English-language TV series by Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures

“An exceptional combination of hardboiled Scandi-noir and eerie ghost story. [--] Seeck marries breathtaking suspense with an expertly drawn heroine. This is guaranteed to send shivers up even the most unshakable readers’ spines." – Publisher's Weekly, starred review (Ghost island)

"Each new step has been an artistic success. Max Seeck, last year's winner of the Glass Key Award for best Nordic detective story, has a golden touch for Finnish suspense fiction." - Kai Hirvasnoro, Kansan Uutiset newspaper

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

His Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! The new MILO series has already been sold to 9 territories, 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.

Photo credit: Mikko Rasila

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Milo #2: Betrayed

Max Seeck


2024, Crime & Suspense

Milo #1: Checkmate

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

Two new foreign deals for LITTLE MOUSE!

We are happy to announce that the Estonian rights for LITTLE MOUSE’S SCHOOL PICTURE DAY by Riikka Jäntti have been sold to Rahva Raamat, the Estonian publisher of the LITTLE MOUSE picture book -series. On top of this, the upcoming title LITTLE MOUSE GOES FLYING by Riikka Jäntti was sold to Filia, Poland pre-publication! The book will be published in Finland in Spring 2026. The deals were closed by Satu Sallantaus at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

We are super proud of our Little Mouse, who is a constant bestseller in both Poland and Estonia!

Little Mouse’s School Picture Day starts a new series introducing the beloved picture book character to young readers 5+ in a new chapter book series! The original Little Mouse series has already been sold to 21 territories and is a book series for the youngest readers of the family.

Click here to request reading materials for Little Mouse!

Little Mouse’s School Picture Day:

The little mouse boy Hiiru, known from the beloved picture books, is ready for grade school where he’ll take on new adventures in illustrated chapter book form! What kind of mischief can happen during a normal school day?

Hiru and his friends are dressed up to get their pictures, and the class photo, taken that afternoon. Will the outfits stay clean until the shoot even though the kids are playing soccer and eating lunch? And what will happen to Hiiru when his head gets stuck in a chair right before the shoot?

This easy-to-read chapter-book series with black-and-white illustrations is cheerful and bursting with gentle humor. Little mouse and his friends will discover that when a problem is big, help is always nearby!

Little Mouse series:

Adorable bestselling picture book series about a little mouse and its everyday adventures. The Little Mouse series is an international bestseller with rights sold in over 20 territories. The stories focus on the toddler Little Mouse, who lives with Mummy Mouse and has fun and exciting adventures, whether they go camping, playing in the park, or cleaning up the house in preparation for guests. The lovely illustrations and familiar scenarios make the series relatable for children.

Publication Info:
Hiiru. Karmea kuvauspäivä, Tammi 2024, 48 pages

Rights Sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.), ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat, POLAND: Filia

Reading Material:
Fully illustrated English PDF, Original Finnish edition

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 over 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


2026, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes Flying

Riikka Jäntti


2025, Chapter Books (3-6 Years)

Little Mouse's Hilarious Halloween

Riikka Jäntti


2025, Chapter Books (3-6 Years)

Welcome, Christmas! 24 Little Mouse Stories

Riikka Jäntti


2025, Chapter Books (3-6 Years)

Little Mouse and the Amazing Universe

Riikka Jäntti


2024, Chapter Books (3-6 Years)

Little Mouse's School Picture Day

Riikka Jäntti


2024, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes on a Cruise

Riikka Jäntti


2023, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Welcomes Spring

Riikka Jäntti


2023, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes to the Museum

Riikka Jäntti


2022, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Fables

Riikka Jäntti


2022, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse and the Birthday Present

Riikka Jäntti


2021, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes Camping

Riikka Jäntti


2020, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Summer

Riikka Jäntti


2019, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Winter

Riikka Jäntti


2018, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Holiday

Riikka Jäntti


2017, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Christmas

Riikka Jäntti


2016, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Helps Out

Riikka Jäntti


2015, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse

Riikka Jäntti

World Spanish rights sold to Tiina Raevaara’s A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE

Planeta Mexico has acquired the World Spanish rights to Tiina Raevaara’s A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE. The deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency in co-operation with our wonderful co-agent Anna Ascolies at IMC Agencia.

The Spanish edition will be published in 2026. Earlier this year, Dutch rights were acquired by De Bezige Bij, who will publish the book in January 2026. See their beautiful cover here.

A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE is a narrative non-fiction title by the award-winning popular science author for fans of Yuval Noah Harari and Rutger Bregman. The book was awarded the 2024 Nonfiction Jury Award by the Association of Finnish Nonfiction Writers.

Would you like to find out more about this title? We have an English sample for you to read!

Rights are available in the UK, US, Nordics, Poland, Czechia, Italy, Asian territories…

Click here to request materials for A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE!

About A SHORT HISTORY OF ETERNAL LIFE:

Science is developing at an even faster pace, and people are living longer and longer. With what methods has humanity over time fought against aging and death, and what methods will be used in the future?

Tiina Raevaara’s book weaves together the beginnings of scientific history, vampire stories, as well as the discoveries of stem cell treatment and gene editing. It dives into the cryotank and asks whether the vision of a lengthy life is still worth pursuing. If humanity accepted that they are part of all things organic – both living and dead – could we finally get rid of all the exhaustion, anxiety and need to rush?

 

Publication Info:
Ikuisen elämän lyhyt historia, Otava/Like 2024, 318 p.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava/Like (orig.)
NETHERLANDS: Uitgeverij De Bezige Bij
WORLD SPANISH: Planeta Mexico

Reading Material:
English sample & synopsis, Finnish edition

About author


Tiina Raevaara

Tiina Raevaara (b. 1979) is a writer, science journalist, and biologist who received a PhD for her work in genetics. She received the State Award for Public Information and the Pro Scientia Prize from the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. She has published ten novels, five non-fiction books, and a novella collection which was awarded the Runeberg Prize. Her suspense novel Double Helix (2020), the opening chapter of a new thriller series, received the Laurin Kirja audio book award, and the second installment in the series, Polar Vortex (2021), has been widely praised.

Raevaara’s books combine grand perspectives of natural science with compelling literary expression. She draws inspiration from Nordic nature, the major questions of science, and the complexities of humanity. In 2025, she received an honorary doctor title at the University of Turku.

Raevaara lives in Kerava, a small town in Southern Finland, and goes on daily walks in the forest with her two black dogs.

Bibliography


2026, Crime & Suspense

The Forest Within the City

Tiina Raevaara


2024, Narrative Nonfiction

A Short History of Eternal Life

Tiina Raevaara


2022, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

Me, My Dog, and Humanity: A History of Coexistence Between Species

Tiina Raevaara

Latvian rights sold for Finlandia Prize-winning YA novel DEEP IN THE WOODS by Päivi Lukkarila!

We are thrilled to let you know that the Latvian rights for Deep in the Woods, the Finlandia Prize-winning YA novel by Päivi Lukkarila, have been acquired by Latvijas Mediji! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Latvijas Mediji are one of the leading publishers in Latvia. They currently publish approximately 100 new titles a year, mainly focusing on commercial fiction, historical literature, children’s and YA books, both original and translated.

Here are Latvijas Mediji’s thoughts on Deep in the Woods:

The novel is simultaneously a story about nature, young people growing up, the ability to take responsibility, and also the ability to trust, all wrapped up in an intriguing and also frightening form.
– Brigita Babre, editor, Latvijas Mediji, Latvia

Päivi Lukkarila’s novel about four teenagers who embark on a smartphone-free weekend wilderness trek was an immediate success with the Finnish critics and readers, with many praising its use of language, its depictions of the challenges young adults face in their lives, and its ominous atmosphere. Deep in the Woods was awarded the 2024 Finlandia Prize for Children’s and YA Literature and it has sold close to 10,000 copies to date!

With this latest sale, rights for this gripping YA novel have been sold to 4 territories!

Rights are still available in the UK, the US, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, France…

Download materials for DEEP IN THE WOODS here!

Deep in the Woods

Päivi Lukkarila

Four very different teens sent on a smartphone-free wilderness expedition… Finlandia Prize-winning and bestselling mystery story for 12+!

Luka feels like he’s in high school only to satisfy his parents. Why bother with something you’re not interested in?

Sabina’s relationship with Nella has ended. Nella liked her when she was just “conveniently” queer, girly and long-haired. Now that Sabina has decided to be who she always wanted to be, Nella has left her. How do the other three participants in the hike feel about her?

Nasim, from Nokia, dreams of studying literature and becoming a writer, but is constantly confronted with prejudice.

Joel is convinced that one day he’ll be a world-famous stand-up comedian. Comedy’s tough, and it’s easy to overdo it when you’re trying to make people laugh. Joel tells a very different story about his background. What’s real, and what is he making up?

The expedition is only supposed to last three days, but a fateful event changes everything and the teens have to survive in the wild without their guide. They try to entertain each other with ghost stories, and as they tell them, their own frightening childhood experiences come back to haunt them. There seems to be something creepy about their surroundings. What was it in there that spooked all the tourists and will the four be left to wander the wilds until their final days?

DEEP IN THE WOODS
SKUTSI
Nokkahiiri, 2024, 200 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample and synopsis
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Nokkahiiri (orig.)
DENMARK: Bogoo
ESTONIA: Ühinenud Ajakirjad
LATVIA: Latvijas Mediji

About author


Päivi Lukkarila

Päivi Lukkarila, born in 1967, is a Tampere-based author known for her sensitive yet realistic portrayal of young people's lives and emotions in her novels. In addition to the Finlandia Prize, she was awarded the Klara Prize in 2024, which is granted for an outstanding easy-to-read book for children or YA in Finnish or Swedish. She has also won the Tampere City Literature Prize twice. Furthermore, her books have been nominated for both the Arvid Lydecken and Anni Polva literary awards. In addition to her work as an author, Lukkarila teaches Finnish language and literature.

Bibliography


2024, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Deep in the Woods

Päivi Lukkarila

Agency celebrates 16th anniversary: Taiwanese deal for THE MARVELOUS SUITCASE!

Today, on our Agency’s 16th anniversary, we are thrilled to announce that the Taiwanese rights for THE MARVELOUS SUITCASE by Sanna Sofia Vuori and Silja-Maria Wihersaari have been acquired by Gotop. This is the first foreign deal for the title. The deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency in collaboration with Clare Chi at Grayhawk Agency.

Gotop was founded in 1990 and has long specialized in exam prep books, as well as books on computer software and programming languages. In 2023, the company expanded into children’s publishing, initially focusing on Japanese and Korean titles for readers aged 7 to 15.

Here’s what the Taiwanese publisher’s editorial team had to say about the book:

“To travel is to live.” — Hans Christian Andersen.

Just as the great fairy tale master once said, every journey is a part of life. When a child opens The Magical Suitcase, they step into a story and discover the world—one page at a time, they embark on a beautiful journey of imagination and reading.”

The rights for the Marvelous Suitcase are still available in Germany, Estonia, Denmark, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland…

REQUEST MATERIALS FOR THE MARVELOUS SUITCASE HERE

THE MARVELOUS SUITCASE

BY SANNA SOFIA VUORI AND SILJA-MARIA WIHERSAARI

A suitcase full of wonders.

A charming and enchanting children’s tale.

“Daria Duck staggered down the hill, kicking up sand and wobbling her bowler hat. She was on her way to see her best friend, Froberta Frog.”

Daria spots a battered suitcase in Froberta’s gateway. What on earth could be in it?

One by one, the neighbours turn up at Froberta’s house to wonder about the strange suitcase. Each visitor invents a story about what might be inside that reflects their own personality. For example, Brynn Brimstone-Butterfly’s imagination is full of fairies and dew beads.  Shelley the Snailon the other hand, thinks the contents will be a rockstar’s guitar. Finally, the suitcase is opened and the contents delight everyone!

THE MARVELOUS SUITCASE
Merkillinen Matkalaukku
Tammi, 2025, 40 pp.

READING MATERIALS:
English PDF
Finnish edition
Unedited Swedish MS

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.), Förlaget (Finnish-Swedish)
SWEDEN: Förlaget
TAIWAN: Gotop

About author


Sanna Sofia Vuori

Helsinki-based Sanna Sofia Vuori is a versatile player in the world of children's culture. She has produced a children's literature programme online, the Estridi book club, made children's theatre and brought exhibitions to kindergarten and pre-school children. A Finlandia Junior nominee, Vuori has written several children's books in both Finnish and Swedish.

About author


Silja-Maria Wihersaari

Silja-Maria Wihersaari is a renowned children's book illustrator and pattern designer known for her exquisite illustrations, who has also been awarded for her illustrations.

The German rights to DAD MAN AND THE HORRIBLE HYPNOSIS sold to Mixtvision

We are thrilled to announce that the bestselling DAD MAN series will continue in Germany! Mixtvision has acquired the rights to book 3 in the bestselling Dad Man series, Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlbäck Literary Agency.

This deal follows the successful launch of the first two books in February, Book 3 will hit shelves in Spring 2025.

Here’s what Lena Frenzel, publishing director from Mixtvision had to say:

Super-Dad took us and our readers by storm. We can’t wait for his third adventure to be published in German!

Meanwhile in Denmark, Bogoo will publish Book 2 (Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother) later this year.

Already a modern Finnish children’s classic with over 200,000 copies sold, the Dad Man series is fast-paced, visually bold, and hilarious – perfect for readers 7+. Book 3 was also nominated for the Runeberg Prize 2023!

“Imaginative humour… thrillingly expressive illustrations… instantly joyful.”

– Tähtivaeltaja magazine

The rights are still available in Norway, Poland, the Netherlands, US/UK and Spain.

Request materials for the DAD MAN series here!

The Dad Man series:
Arttu Unkari, illustrated by Kai Vaalio

#1 Dad Man and the Exploding Poop
#2 Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother
#3 Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis
#4 Dad Man and the Impossible Time Warp
#5 Dad Man and the Doppelgänger Disaster
#6 Dad Man and the Mysterious Puppet Master

The quirkiest cop in town! The Dad Man Series offers fast-paced adventures and humour for all ages – especially lower middle grade.

  over 200,000 copies sold in Finland!
  German and Danish rights sold!
  For fans of David Walliams and Captain Underpants
  A perfect “Gateway series to literature” for reluctant readers
  Books in the series have been nominated for the Storytel awards 2020, 2021, and 2022 (Best children’s audiobook), Best Newcomer of the Year 2020, and the Runeberg Prize 2023!
  Bold and fresh 4-colour comic-book style artwork that add visual jokes to the narration

Dad Man is a dad, and a policeman – but he also has a superpower! Too bad his superpower is one shared by almost all dads – an unwavering belief in himself and his own abilities. Dad Man truly believes he knows everything and can do anything, but as it goes with most dads, the reality is quite different. And it follows that Dad Man’s nine-year-old daughter Oona needs to solve all of the issues herself.

Publication info the DAD MAN series: 

Rights Sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.), DENMARK: Bogoo (books 1-2), GERMANY: Mixtvision (books 1-3)

Reading Material:
German editions (Books #1 & #2)
Danish edition (Book #1)
English sample (Book #4)
English synopses
Series presentation
Finnish editions

About author


Arttu Unkari

Arttu Unkari is a teacher from Helsinki and a Master of Education (University of Helsinki, 2015) who majored in ethics and philosophy.  He combines his educational background and experience as a teacher in his books – his stories are anarchist and zany, but at the same time the humour often revolves around profound and intriguing concepts such as honesty, obedience, and morality in ways that speak to children in their own language. His books are enjoyed by adults as well because they contain layers that open up differently to readers of all ages. This is one of the reasons Dad Man is such a great series for the whole family.

As an author Unkari is a Runeberg prize nominee 2023 for the third instalment of the Dad Man series: Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis (Isämies ja hyytävä hypnoosi, Otava 2022). The Runeberg Prize is a literary prize awarded by the newspaper Uusimaa, the City of Porvoo, the Finnish Writers' Union, the Finnish Critics' Association and the Finland’s-Swedish Writer’s Association. The prize was established in 1986 and it is awarded annually in Porvoo on 5th February, the day when Finland celebrates their national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg.  All of his previous books (Dad Man and the Exploding poop, Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother, Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis and Dad Man and the Impossible Time Warp) have been nominated for best children’s audiobook in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Finnish Storytel awards. He’s also participated in making a Finnish language schoolbook (Loikka 3, Otava 2022).

Unkari is a sought after inspirational speaker in his home country. He’s visited schools all over Finland advocating for the importance of reading.

Photo credit Jonne Räsänen / Otava 2019

About author


Kai Vaalio

Kai Vaalio (b. 1986) is an illustrator, comic artist, and a bit of a cosmopolitan as well. He’s written and illustrated underground comic books for adults about his travels in South-East Asia and Latin America — the latter won Mondo magazine’s Travel book of the year award back in 2014. Recently he’s ventured into the world of illustrating children’s books mainly with Arttu Unkari’s Dad Man Series. Together they’ve made several books about this goofy detective and his clever little posse. The Dad Man Series has received Storytel Awards and Runeberg Junior 2023 award nominations. Vaalio’s been on and off in the graphic industry since 2005 when he graduated as a graphic designer from Lahti College of Arts and Crafts. In 2018 he got his bachelor’s degree from Lahti University of Applied Science.

Photo credit: Jonne Räsänen / Otava

Förlaget acquires Swedish rights to books 2 and 3 in Kaisu Tuokko’s bestselling KRISTINESTAD MURDERS series

We’re thrilled to announce that Förlaget has acquired the Swedish-language rights in both Sweden and Finland to ALONE and LIES, the second and third installments in Kaisu Tuokko’s bestselling crimance series, THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

This deal follows the successful release of the first book, Revenge (Hämnden i Kristinestad), which was published by Förlaget in March to great reviews and enthusiastic reader response.

“Tuokko’s series belongs alongside Nilla Kjellsdotter and Karin Erlandsson.”
– Vasabladet, Villhelmina Öhman

“Something in the storytelling style lifts this one above many others. [–] The story flows in harmony – more a steady stream of firecrackers than deafening fireworks.”
– Österbottens Tidning, Yvonne Granqvist

With over 50,000 copies sold in Finland, Tuokko’s emotionally rich and suspenseful series is one to look out for! Set in the atmospheric Finnish coastal town of Kristinestad, the novels combine gripping murder cases with a deep emotional arc. This blend of crime and romance has drawn readers to the series not only for its investigative suspense, but for the heart at its core.

With rights sold in Germany and Sweden, and the German edition of book 1, Gerächt sein sollst du, publishing this July, now is the perfect time to get on board. Draft English translations of books 1–3 are available.

Translation rights are currently available in the UK/US, the Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, and France.

We invite you to the atmospheric Kristinestad! Click here to request reading materials for THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS.

Publication Info:

Book #1: REVENGE
Kosto, 298p, June 2023

Book #2: ALONE
Yksin, 300 p., June 2024

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.), Förlaget (Finnish-Swedish), GERMANY: Aufbau Verlage, SWEDEN: Förlaget

Book #3:LIES
Valhe, pp. 302April 2025

Rights sold: FINLAND: Otava (orig.), Förlaget (Finnish-Swedish), SWEDEN: Förlaget

READING MATERIALS:
English draft translations books 1-3
Swedish edition
German edition
Finnish edition

About author


Kaisu Tuokko

Kaisu Tuokko is a bestselling Finnish crime author and publishing professional whose fresh, emotionally intelligent voice is reshaping what Nordic Noir can be. With a strong background in the book industry, she understands not only how to craft a compelling novel, but how to build a lasting literary brand.

Her stories don’t just ask “whodunnit,” but “why do we stay silent?” Crimes are never just plot points; they’re rooted in empathy, social fault lines, and the moral complexity of everyday life.

Set against the eerie beauty of small-town Finland, her Kristinestad Murders series explores what lies beneath idyllic surfaces: buried secrets, fractured families, and relationships haunted by longing, silence, and shame. At its core is the idea that we may never truly know the people closest to us — and that some secrets are more dangerous than others.

Tuokko lives in Helsinki, loves rainy autumn evenings, small-town mysteries, and Swedish language, and named her unforgettable lead characters after her grandparents.

Photo credit: Maria Metsäranta

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Moments of Darkness

Kaisu Tuokko


2025, Crime & Suspense

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #3: Lies

Kaisu Tuokko


2024, Crime & Suspense

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #2: Alone

Kaisu Tuokko


2023, Crime & Suspense

THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS #1: Revenge

Kaisu Tuokko

Finlandia Winner DEEP IN THE WOODS By Päivi Lukkarila sold to Denmark, Latvian offer on the table

We’re thrilled to announce that the Danish rights for Päivi Lukkarila‘s bestselling, and Finlandia Prize-winning YA novel, DEEP IN THE WOODS, were acquired by Bogoo. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Here’s what Julie Pedersen, editor, from Bogoo had to say:

We’re very pleased and excited to publish Skutsi by Päivi Lukkarila in Denmark. It’s quite a thrilling story that captures the horrific elements of a classic horror story in a modern time. I have no doubt that this book will be a page turner for the Danish readers.

Päivi Lukkarila’s novel about four teenagers who embark on a smartphone-free weekend wilderness trek was an immediate success with the Finnish critics and readers, with many praising its use of language, its depictions of the challenges young adults face in their lives, and its ominous atmosphere. Deep in the Woods was awarded the 2024 Finlandia Prize for Children’s an YA Literature and it has sold close to 10,000 copies to date!

The Danish deal marks its second rights sale, following last month’s acquisition by Ühinenud Ajakirjad in Estonia. And there’s more exciting news — an offer for the Latvian rights is currently on the table!

Rights are still available in Germany, Poland, Czechia, Italy, Spain, Japan…

Download materials for DEEP IN THE WOODS here!

Deep in the Woods

Päivi Lukkarila

Four very different teens sent on a smartphone-free wilderness expedition… Finlandia Prize Winning and bestselling mystery story for 12+!

Luka feels like he’s in high school only to satisfy his parents. Why bother with something you’re not interested in?

Sabina’s relationship with Nella has ended. Nella liked her when she was just “conveniently” queer, girly and long-haired. Now that Sabina has decided to be who she always wanted to be, Nella has left her. How do the other three participants in the hike feel about her?

Nasim, from Nokia, dreams of studying literature and becoming a writer, but is constantly confronted with prejudice.

Joel is convinced that one day he’ll be a world-famous stand-up comedian. Comedy’s tough, and it’s easy to overdo it when you’re trying to make people laugh. Joel tells a very different story about his background. What’s real, and what is he making up?

The expedition is only supposed to last three days, but a fateful event changes everything and the teens have to survive in the wild without their guide. They try to entertain each other with ghost stories, and as they tell them, their own frightening childhood experiences come back to haunt them. There seems to be something creepy about their surroundings. What was it in there that spooked all the tourists and will the four be left to wander the wilds until their final days?

DEEP IN THE WOODS
SKUTSI
Nokkahiiri, 2024, 200 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample and synopsis
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Nokkahiiri (orig.)
DENMARK: Bogoo
ESTONIA: Ühinenud Ajakirjad

About author


Päivi Lukkarila

Päivi Lukkarila, born in 1967, is a Tampere-based author known for her sensitive yet realistic portrayal of young people's lives and emotions in her novels. In addition to the Finlandia Prize, she was awarded the Klara Prize in 2024, which is granted for an outstanding easy-to-read book for children or YA in Finnish or Swedish. She has also won the Tampere City Literature Prize twice. Furthermore, her books have been nominated for both the Arvid Lydecken and Anni Polva literary awards. In addition to her work as an author, Lukkarila teaches Finnish language and literature.

Bibliography


2024, Young Adult (13 or 14+)

Deep in the Woods

Päivi Lukkarila

Japanese reprint of THE LIFE AND ART OF TOVE JANSSON!

We are happy to announce that Japanese publisher Kawade Shobo Shinsha will publish and reprint Tuula Karjalainen’s acclaimed global bestseller  TOVE JANSSON: WORK AND LOVE later this year. The deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Tove Jansson: Work and Love is the definitive biography of one of the most unique and beloved children’s authors of the 20th century, the creator of the Moomins. Tove Jansson (1914-2001) led a long, colourful and productive life, impacting significantly the political, social and cultural history of 20th-century Finland.

Click here to download the English PDF of TOVE JANSSON: WORK AND LOVE.

Publication Info:
Tove Jansson tee työtä ja rakasta, Tammi 2013, 300 pp.

Rights Sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
CHINA: CITIC
DENMARK: Turbine forlaget
ESTONIA: Varrak Publishers
GERMANY: Urachhaus GmbH
JAPAN: Kawade Shobo Shinsha Ltd, Publishers
RUSSIA: AST Publishers /Mainstream
SOUTH KOREA: Munhak Dogne Publishing Group
UKRAINE: Prometey
UNITED KINGDOM: Penguin Press

Reading Materials:
English edition

About author


Tuula Karjalainen

Dr. Tuula Karjalainen is a Finnish art historian and non-fiction writer who has previously worked as a director of the Helsinki Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Helsinki. As the author of Tove Jansson’s biography, Tuula Karjalainen has become an expert not only on Jansson’s works but also on her several decades of personal correspondence and journals.

Bibliography


2013, General Nonfiction, Memories & Biographies

Tove Jansson: Work and Love

Tuula Karjalainen

THE STORY OF AINO AND ALVAR AALTO will be published in China!

We are very excited to share, that the internationally bestselling THE STORY OF AINO AND ALVAR AALTO written by Aalto’s grandson, Heikki Aalto-Alanen, has been sold to China! The deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Lens Media will publish the Chinese edition in December 2025, with publisher Algae Xue Wang editing and translators Zhang Lei and Li Yi bringing the iconic design duo’s story to Chinese readers.

This beautiful title, based on unpublished correspondence of Aino and Alvar Aalto, has now been sold to 8 territories – with Solar Films developing a feature film, a love story about the union between Aino and Alvar, two passionate artists, but very different people.

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

International Praise:

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

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

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

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

The rights are still available in e.g. Germany, Sweden, World Spanish, Denmark, etc.

Request the materials for THE STORY OF AINO AND ALVAR AALTO here!

THE STORY OF AINO AND ALVAR AALTO publication info:
Rakastan sinussa ihmistä
Otava, August 2021, pp. 460, Approx. 50-80 photographs & drawings

Rights sold: 
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
CHINA: Lens Media
ESTONIA: Postimees
HUNGARY: Európa Könyvkiadó
FRANCE: Phaidon Press
ITALY: Salani
JAPAN: Soshisha
WORLD ENGLISH: Phaidon Press
FILM & TV RIGHTS: Solar Films Inc.

Reading materials: English edition, Italian edition and French edition

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

Bloomsbury acquires World English rights to PUTIN’S WORLD WAR!

We are thrilled to announce, that Bloomsbury USA has acquired World English rights to Jessikka Aro’s critically acclaimed and timely bestseller PUTIN’S WORLD WAR: Russia’s Covert Operations to Destroy the West, slated for publication in Spring 2026. The deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Michael KernsSenior Publisher for Politics & International Relations at Bloomsbury USA, shared his enthusiasm:

“I loved this project immediately as a compelling narrative that humanizes the real-world consequences of Russia’s global propaganda war against the West. Putin’s World War is a piece of fascinating storytelling by an award-winning journalist — Jessikka Aro unpacks the details behind Russia’s hybrid-war propaganda machine and sheds light on how Putin uses disinformation as a potent weapon against Western values, the international community, and democratic governance. Her relentless investigative journalism provides readers with an invaluable perspective on a war of words, a war of ideas that might otherwise be overlooked amidst countless security threats across the world. We are excited to bring Jessikka’s important work to English readers everywhere.”

PUTIN’S WORLD WAR is a highly topical book featuring horrifying true stories about the secret operations of Putin’s intelligence services. Jessikka Aro is the winner of the International Women’s Media Foundation’s Courage of Journalism Award and her previous book, Putin’s Trolls, was sold to 16 territories and will be turned into a TV series!

Putin’s World War

Jessikka Aro

Russia is threatening the West with World War III, even though it has been waging it for years. As its weapons, the Kremlin uses agents of chaos, a covert operation, fake priests spreading hate speech, hackers recruited from prison, and the gullibility of people.

Jessikka Aro’s new non-fiction book about the Kremlin’s world war presents the secret operations of Putin’s intelligence services in detail.

The book takes the reader on a breath-taking journey from the lobby of the Helsinki Courts of Appeal to the controversial Bronze Soldier statue in Tallinn, from the media center run by the Russian military intelligence from Berlin to the Russian troll factory that operated in Ghana in West Africa.

Publication Info:
Putinin maailmansota, Johnny Kniga 2024, 352 pp

Rights Sold:
FINLAND: WSOY/Johnny Kniga (orig.)
GERMANY: Goldmann Verlag
HUNGARY: Corvina Books
ITALY: Neri Pozza
LITHUANIA: Briedis
POLAND: Transatlantic Foundation
SWEDEN: Sensor Förlag
WORLD ENGLISH: Bloomsbury USA

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

About author


Jessikka Aro

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

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

Bibliography


2025, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, History & Politics

Putin's USA: How Russia Divides and Rules the American People

Jessikka Aro


2019, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, History & Politics

Putin's Trolls

Jessikka Aro

SUMMER AT VILLA HILDA continues to conquer the world: Hungarian rights sold!

We are excited to let you know that the Hungarian rights for Summer at Villa Hilda, the upcoming feel-good novel by Michaela von Kügelgen, have been acquired by Athenaeum! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Pitched as Mamma Mia vibes at Swedish archipelago, Summer at Villa Hilda follows Louise, a former celebrity chef and Thomas, a journalist, as they both move to the island of Halsterö in the Stockholm archipelago and start working in the Villa Hilda guesthouse. Both have had their fair share of misfortunes on the mainland, so a summer on an idyllic island feels like a chance to start over. Although the villa isn’t going to treat them as easily as they’d expect, the island and its inhabitants eventually help them to find their way back to life.

This latest sale to Hungary marks the 6th pre-publication deal for Summer at Villa Hilda! Previous sales include four-way auction for the Dutch rights, three-book deals by the Danish, German, and Norwegian publishers, and a deal to Estonia. Summer at Villa Hilda will be published simultaneously in Finland and Sweden on June 10th and will kickstart the Villa Hilda trilogy with book #2 slated to be published in February 2026 and book #3 in September 2026.

Athenaeum praised Summer at Villa Hilda for being a hope-instilling and optimistic title for all times:

This is a sort of ’sunshine’ novel, even though it involves difficult topics like dementia or #metoo. The story gives the reader hope that their life can turn for the better, just as the lives of the characters in the novel. A heartwarming and healing novel, that one can enjoy reading at any time.
– Viktória Dian, managing director, Athenaeum, Hungary

Rights are still available in the UK, the US, France, Italy, Poland, Italy, France, Czechia, Japan, Greece…

Download materials for SUMMER AT VILLA HILDA here!

Summer at Villa Hilda

Michaela von Kügelgen

Many people dream of a second chance in life, but how many dare to take it?

Far out in the Stockholm archipelago lies the island of Halsterö. Journalist Thomas and former celebrity chef Louise travel there to work at the Villa Hilda guesthouse. They are both broken after many setbacks and are hoping for a fresh start. But setting up a summer paradise is not as easy as one might think, not even on the idyllic Halsterö island.

One day Louise stumbles across a collection of old love letters. Who wrote them, and what stories does Villa Hilda hide in its dusty attic? And how will Thomas manage to take care of his dementia-stricken mother while setting up an archipelago guesthouse?

Summer at Villa Hilda is about how difficult it is to be human among other people, but also about how, with the help of others, one can find one’s way back to life.

This novel is the first part of the Villa Hilda series and will be published in June 2025. The following titles will concentrate on the people living on the picturesque Halsterö island and will tentatively be published in February 2026 and September 2026.

SUMMER AT VILLA HILDA
SOMMAR PÅ VILLA HILDA
Schildts & Söderströms, 2025, 285 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample
English synopsis
Swedish edition
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Schildts & Söderströms (orig. Finland-Swedish, Finnish)
DENMARK: Lindhardt og Ringhof Forlag
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu
GERMANY: Aufbau Verlage
HUNGARY: Athenaeum
NETHERLANDS: Singel Uitgevers
NORWAY: Aschehoug
SWEDEN: Schildts & Söderströms

About author


Michaela von Kügelgen

Michaela "Kugge" von Kügelgen (1986) has four published titles under her belt. Her most recent novel, Sommar på Villa Hilda, will be published in eight territories and has been optioned for the screen.

Since 2020, Kugge offers highly regarded online writing courses, which have attracted participants from both Sweden and Finland. Her newsletters on writing and entrepreneurship have 1,600 subscribers. In the newsletters she shares her journey, offering encouragement to others while candidly discussing her own challenges and triumphs. Together with author Anne Hietanen, Kugge is working on a crime novel series with book #1, The Last Word slated to be published in 2026.

In addition to her writing career, Kugge plays handball, has recently developed a passion for second-hand fashion, and slow travels to Berlin whenever she can — after having lived there for two years.

Photo credit: Frida Lönnroos

Bibliography


2026, Crime & Suspense

The Last Point

Michaela von Kügelgen


2026, Commercial/Upmarket

Home to the Island

Michaela von Kügelgen


2025, Commercial/Upmarket, Romance

Summer at Villa Hilda

Michaela von Kügelgen

DAUGHTER OF TWO BLOODS sold to Norway!

We are excited to announce that the Norwegian rights for Daughter of Two Bloods, an award-winning and bestselling romantasy novel written by S. K. Rostedt, were pr-empted by TNT, a new imprint of Bonnier Norsk Forlag! The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Considered as the first Finnish romantasy novel, Daughter of Two Bloods has sold closer to 10,000 copies to date, it won the 2024 Best Book of the Year Award by Suomalainen Kirjakauppa, the biggest bookstore chain in Finland, and it was chosen by the readers as one of the Top 100 Finnish books of the 21st century!

The Nordic setting, weaving Finnish mythology, including elements from Kalevala brings a fresh voice to the romantasy genre, and gives the series a wide international appeal. The second book is set to be published in October

Previously Daughter of Two Bloods has been sold to France, to Robert Laffont, at auction.

Rights are available in, e.g., Germany, Denmark, Poland, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands…

Click here to request reading materials for DAUGHTER OF TWO BLOODS!

About DAUGHTER OF TWO BLOODS

A debut enemies-to-lovers romantasy novel oozing with fae, demons, and hot romance for fans of  Sarah J. Maas, Victoria Aveyard, and Jennifer L. Armentrout…

Remena is a land where humans and fae coexist, seemingly on equal terms. Moorna is a 21-year-old half-blood whose life as an escort to the capital’s aristocracy is harrowing. She wants to pay off her escort debt as quickly as possible and return home with her friend Malkra to live a life free from discrimination. When Moorna accidentally stumbles upon the annoyingly handsome fae, Caidas, she is torn from all that is familiar and safe, and quickly learns that nothing is as it seems.

DAUGHTER OF TWO BLOODS
KAHDEN VEREN TYTÄR
Otava, 2024, 509 pp.

Reading materials: English sample and synopsis, Finnish edition

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
FRANCE: Robert Laffont
NORWAY: TNT / Bonnier Norsk Forlag

About author


S. K. Rostedt

S. K. Rostedt aka Saara Rostedt (1993) is an author and marketing professional who grew up in Finland's book capital Sastamala. Now based in Helsinki, she is an avid romantasy reader who loves to spend time in nature and at her summer cabin. She has popular BookTok and Bookstagram social channels, where she talks about her writing and reading experiences. S. K. Rostedt, who gave up reading as a teenager, rediscovered the world of books in her twenties with the help of romantasy. Saara is known in social media as @skrostedt.

Photo credit: Jonne Räsänen/Otava

Bibliography


2025, Romance, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Song of the Black Fire

S. K. Rostedt


2024, Romance, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Daughter of Two Bloods

S. K. Rostedt

Longanesi acquires Italian rights to Martta Kaukonen’s MEET ME IN THE DARKNESS!

We’re starting the week with fantastic news about Martta Kaukonen’s internationally bestselling Follow the Butterfly trilogy.

Following the announcement that German publisher Heyne acquired the rights to the upcoming third book FREE, we are thrilled to share that Longanesi has now acquired the Italian rights to book two, Meet Me in the Darkness!

Longanesi published the first book in the trilogy, Follow the Butterfly, this January with a great success! The book has sold over 20,000 copies and stayed several weeks on the bestseller list.

Follow the Butterfly has been sold to 16 territories!

Rights are available in, e.g., France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Spain, Romania…

Click here to request reading materials for FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY trilogy!

Book #1: Follow the Butterfly

Martta Kaukonen

Can she cure a killer? An addictive psychological thriller in the spirit of Gillian Flynn!

Ira, 20, a serial killer who was abducted as a child, starts therapy with celebrity therapist Clarissa. Only one of them knows that they share a mutual secret from the past. Will the other one realize it before she gets murdered?

Clarissa is a middle-aged psychotherapist, the best in her field. She is familiar to everyone from her TV appearances and from glossy magazines. For her, every patient is a princess. And someone only she can save. Or can she? Clarissa already has one suicide to answer for; a teenage boy’s death never seizes to haunt her.

When Ira becomes Clarissa’s patient, a cat-and-mouse game begins in which rules are followed by no one. The kind of game that never ends well.

Book #2: Meet me in the Darkness

Martta Kaukonen

Nothing is as it seems.

Four years have passed since the events of Follow the Butterfly. Ira and Arto have teamed up, and both work as crime journalists for the Helsinki Today. Everything’s going nicely, until Ira starts suspecting there’s a serial killer on the loose in Helsinki.

The murders are investigated by Senior Crime Inspector Kerttu Leppänen, who leads the murder unit and eagerly waits for retirement. Unsolved cases haunt Kerttu, who is unable to forgive herself.

The past catches up with all of them – if they were ever free from its clutches in the first place…

 

Book #3: Free

Martta Kaukonen

Is it worth digging up the truth?

It’s 1995. Detective Chief Inspector Kerttu Leppänen and her spouse, Inspector Esko Koivuvyö, are tasked with investigating the murder of a middle-aged woman. However, the crime scene presents a mystery that complicates the investigation: beside the body, there is a bloody knife on a pillow, even though it cannot be the murder weapon.

Thirty years later, Ira is determined to uncover the truth about her parents’ marriage. Why did her mother Marja fear her father Arto? And why does Arto refuse to answer Ira’s questions? Across different decades, Kerttu and Ira each come to the same realization: if you uncover the truth, you must be prepared to face its consequences.

Meet me in the Darkness
HENGISSÄ
WSOY, 2023, 272 pp.

Reading materials:
German edition, unedited English manuscript

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
CROATIA: Znanje
CZECHIA: Albatros Media
DENMARK: Forlaget Falco
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu
FILM & TV: Legendary Tobis TV
GERMANY: Heyne (3 books)
GREECE: Psichogios (2 books)
HUNGARY: Partvonal Kiadó (2 books)
ICELAND: Storytel (3 books)
ITALY: Longanesi (2 books)
LATVIA: Jumava
LITHUANIA: Obuolys
POLAND: Czarna Owca (2 books)
UNITED KINGDOM: Pushkin Press (2 books)
UNITED STATES: Pushkin Press (2 books)
WORLD ARABIC: Al Arabi Publishing
WORLD ENGLISH (Audio): Audible

About author


Martta Kaukonen

Martta Kaukonen (1976) lives in Helsinki. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a film critic, whose reviews have been published in both Finland’s biggest newspaper Helsingin Sanomat and a popular women’s weekly magazine Me Naiset. Martta has a master’s degree in arts. She has interviewed the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Justin Bieber. Martta met her husband at a second hand bookshop and fell in love. Alongside writing, Martta loves psychological thrillers, film noir, flea markets, abandoned houses and travelling.

Photo credit: Otto Virtanen

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Free

Martta Kaukonen


2023, Crime & Suspense

Meet Me in the Darkness

Martta Kaukonen


2022, Crime & Suspense

In Your Shadow

Martta Kaukonen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Follow the Butterfly

Martta Kaukonen

Norwegian rights to SUMMER AT VILLA HILDA pre-empted by Aschehoug!

We’re thrilled to share that Norwegian rights to Michaela von Kügelgen’s Villa Hilda trilogy have been pre-empted by Aschehoug! The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlbäck Literary Agency.

This acquisition marks the fifth pre-publication deal. It follows a four-way auction for Dutch rights, which concluded with Singel Publishers securing publication rights for both the Netherlands and Belgium. Rights previously sold at auction in Estonia to Hea Lugu, and three book pre-empts in both Denmark and Germany by Lindhardt & Ringhof and Aufbau Verlage.

Here’s what the acquiring team had to say:

“An utterly wonderful novel, just the kind of escapistic read you want to dive into on a warm sunny day – reading in the hammock without a care in the world. I loved spending time at Villa Hilda: the atmosphere, the surroundings – the people and the secrets the house is hiding. This book has everything you want in a feelgood: Great characters, a romantic plot, great scenery and just the right amount of mysteries and complications along the way. And of course: a satisfying ending. Both Louise and Thomas are described as characters one can relate to, and I can easily see both of them and their romantic story being played out in a movie or TV-series as well. “
– Anne Margrethe Hummelsgård Aandahl, Acquiring Editor, Aschehoug

Days after finishing the last page of this irresistible novel (which I wish had lasted me longer), I can still smell the cinnamon and flowers and feel the spray of seawater on my skin. And I feel more than a little sad that I cannot plan an actual visit to Villa Hilda this summer. Still, I would be immensely proud to take part in bringing this magical place to many, many Norwegian readers. As for myself, I am eagerly awaiting the next volume. Will Louise and Thomas work as a creative team, or is there trouble on the horizon? And is there love in store for handsome Martin? And a book within a book, I mean, what’s not to love?”
Annette Orre, Editor-in-Chief, Aschehoug

The first book, Summer at Villa Hilda, publishes in Sweden and Finland on June 10th. This heartwarming, feel-good trilogy set on the idyllic Swedish island of Halsterö – where second chances, fresh starts, and cinnamon buns await.

Rights are still available in the UK, the US, Poland, Italy, France, Latvia, Ukraine, Greece…

Request materials for VILLA HILDA trilogy here!

Summer at Villa Hilda

Michaela von Kügelgen

Many people dream of a second chance in life, but how many dare to take it?

Far out in the Stockholm archipelago lies the island of Halsterö. Journalist Thomas and former celebrity chef Louise travel there to work at the Villa Hilda guesthouse. They are both broken after many setbacks and are hoping for a fresh start. But setting up a summer paradise is not as easy as one might think, not even on the idyllic Halsterö island.

One day Louise stumbles across a collection of old love letters. Who wrote them, and what stories does Villa Hilda hide in its dusty attic? And how will Thomas manage to take care of his dementia-stricken mother while setting up an archipelago guesthouse?

Summer at Villa Hilda is about how difficult it is to be human among other people, but also about how, with the help of others, one can find one’s way back to life.

SUMMER AT VILLA HILDA
SOMMAR PÅ VILLA HILDA
Schildts & Söderströms, June 2025,

VILLA HILDA #2
Schildts & Söderströms, February 2026

VILLA HILDA #3
Schildts & Söderströms, September 2026

READING MATERIALS
English sample
English synopsis
Swedish edition
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Schildts & Söderströms (orig. Finland-Swedish, Finnish)
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu
DENMARK: Lindhardt og Ringhof Forlag
GERMANY: Aufbau Verlage
NETHERLANDS: Singel Uitgevers
NORWAY: Aschehoug
SWEDEN: Schildts & Söderströms

About author


Michaela von Kügelgen

Michaela "Kugge" von Kügelgen (1986) has four published titles under her belt. Her most recent novel, Sommar på Villa Hilda, will be published in eight territories and has been optioned for the screen.

Since 2020, Kugge offers highly regarded online writing courses, which have attracted participants from both Sweden and Finland. Her newsletters on writing and entrepreneurship have 1,600 subscribers. In the newsletters she shares her journey, offering encouragement to others while candidly discussing her own challenges and triumphs. Together with author Anne Hietanen, Kugge is working on a crime novel series with book #1, The Last Word slated to be published in 2026.

In addition to her writing career, Kugge plays handball, has recently developed a passion for second-hand fashion, and slow travels to Berlin whenever she can — after having lived there for two years.

Photo credit: Frida Lönnroos

Bibliography


2026, Crime & Suspense

The Last Point

Michaela von Kügelgen


2026, Commercial/Upmarket

Home to the Island

Michaela von Kügelgen


2025, Commercial/Upmarket, Romance

Summer at Villa Hilda

Michaela von Kügelgen

Chinese rights renewed for MONSTER NANNY TRILOGY by Tuutikki Tolonen and Pasi Pitkänen!

We’re happy to let you know that Beijing Children and Juvenile Publishing House has renewed the Chinese rights for the MONSTER NANNY trilogy, the award-winning and internationally bestselling middle-grade title written by Tuutikki Tolonen and illustrated by Pasi Pitkänen! The deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency in collaboration with Clare Chi at Grayhawk Agency.

In MONSTER NANNY, the three children of the Hellman family – Halley, Koby, and Mimi – are left at home to be taken care of by a nanny, but their nanny turns out to be, well, a monster named Grah who doesn’t talk and is mesmerized by the family’s TV. As other children in their neighborhood have been left in the care of similar monsters, the Hellman children try to find out more about the monsters and why they have appeared in human homes in the first place.

MONSTER NANNY trilogy has been an international success story: the rights to the trilogy have been sold to 37 countries and a feature film based on the series is in development by Scott Free Productions!

Download materials for MONSTER NANNY here!

Monster Nanny

Tuutikki Tolonen, illustrated by Pasi Pitkänen

Mary Poppins meets Where the Wild Things Are in this prize-winning series.

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

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

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

MONSTER NANNY
MÖRKÖVAHTI
Tammi, 2015, 303 pp.

MONSTER ROUTE
MÖRKÖREITTI
Tammi, 2016, 300 pp.

MONSTER MESSAGE
MÖRKÖVIESTI
Tammi, 2020, 300 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English edition (Book #1)
English sample and synopsis (Books #2 and #3)
German editions (Books #2 and #3)
French editions (Books #2 and #3)
Finnish editions (all books)

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
AUSTRALIA: Allen & Unwin
ALBANIA: Westprint
BOSNIA: Šahinpašić
BRAZIL: DarkSide Books
BULGARIA: Robertino
CHINA: Beijing Children’s Publishing House
CROATIA: Znanje
CZECHIA: Portál
DENMARK: Turbine
ESTONIA: Tiritamm
FRANCE: Editions Robert Laffont
GERMANY: Carl Hanser Verlag
GREECE: Patakis
HUNGARY: Tessloff Babilon
ITALY: Salani/Mauri Spagnol
JAPAN: Sekaibunka
KOREA: Seosawon
LATVIA: Zvaigzne
LITHUANIA: Nieko Rimto
NETHERLANDS: (print) Luitingh-Sijthoff
NETHERLANDS: (audio) Saga Egmont
NEW ZEALAND: Allen & Unwin
NORWAY: Gyldendal Norsk
OCEANIA: Allen & Unwin
POLAND: Vesper
PORTUGAL: Asa Editiones/Leya
ROMANIA: Univers
RUSSIA: Rosman
SERBIA: Laguna
SLOVAKIA: Arkus
SLOVENIA: Mladinska knjiga
SPAIN (Spanish): La Galera
SPAIN (Catalan): La Galera
SWEDEN: Rabén & Sjögren
TURKEY: SEV Redhouse Kidz
UKRAINE: School Publishing House
VIETNAM: Nha Nam
WORLD ENGLISH: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
FILM RIGHTS: Scott Free Productions

About author


Pasi Pitkänen

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

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

About author


Tuutikki Tolonen

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

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

Tuutikki is nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2026.

Photo credit: Otto Virtanen

Cerkabella acquires the Hungarian rights to Siri Kolu’s Twin World Series #1: Saving Atlantis!

We are very excited to tell you, that the Hungarian rights for Siri Kolu‘s middle-grade novel TWIN WORLD SERIES: SAVING ATLANTIS were acquired by Cerkabella in a deal closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Congratulations to Siri Kolu and Cerkabella!

The latest title by award-winning children’s and YA author Siri Kolu, Saving Atlantis introduces the readers to 12-year-old Elektra who starts to dream about a ringed city that is destroyed in a tsunami. As she and her friend Maxxam start looking into this mystery, they realize that Elektra is dreaming of Atlantis. At the same time, Elektra Elpida of Atlantis starts dreaming of a future filled with glass towers and flying planes. She also sees in the future hints of how to escape the impending destruction.

Published in Finland in April, Saving Atlantis is perfect reading for the fans of Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising Sequence and Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books.

This is the first foreign rights sale for Twin World Series: Saving Atlantis! Rights are available in all other territories!

Download materials for SAVING ATLANTIS here!

Twin World Series #1: Saving Atlantis

Siri Kolu

A myth-busting, suspense-filled series for a late middle grade and early YA audience.

Can Atlantis be saved before disaster strikes?

12-year-old El(ektra) starts sleepwalking and has recurring nightmares of masses of water under which there is no escape. After doing research with her friends Maxxam and Cal, El discovers that the underwater city in her nightmares is ancient Atlantis.

In the city of Atlantis, young Elektra has strange dreams at night about tall glass towers and flying planes. With inventor genius Dobro, Elektra begins to test whether the visions could be real. Based on the dreams, they build a submarine called a wave diver.

Can the Elektras help each other? Can they be rescued from under the waves…and what would it cost?

TWIN WORLD SERIES: SAVING ATLANTIS
ALLE AALLON
Tammi, 2025, 331 pp.

Reading materials:
English sample and synopsis, Finnish edition

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.), HUNGARY: Cerkabella

About author


Siri Kolu

Siri Kolu (born July 18, 1972) is a writer, performance dramaturg, director, and theater teacher. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Theatre Arts and Bachelor of Arts degree as Drama Instructor (BA). Prior to her theater studies, she pursued literature and theater studies at the University of Helsinki.

With her funny and original adventure Me and the Robberssons Kolu won the children’s novel and film script competition in the fall of 2009. The book was published in April 2010, and won the Finlandia Prize in Children’s & YA literature. The film adaptation hit theaters in the fall of 2014. Me and the Robberssons has been translated into over 20 languages.

Me and the Robbersons has also won the Silver Slate Pencil Award in the Netherlands and has been listed twice for the The English Pen Award. She has also been honored with the Laivakello Prize by the Finnish Institute for Children’s Literature, Topelius Prize and Kaarina Helakisa Literary Prize.

Photo credit: Sabina Bqain

Bibliography


2026, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Saving Troy

Siri Kolu


2025, Romance, Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Shadow Bride

Siri Kolu


2025, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Twin World Series: Saving Atlantis

Siri Kolu

Norwegian audiobook deal for PUTIN’S TROLLS by Jessikka Aro!

We are thrilled to announce that audiobook rights of the Norwegian edition of Jessikka Aro’s PUTIN’S TROLLS have been sold to publisher Cappelen Damm! The deal was closed by Martti Berner.

Cappelen Damm will publish the audiobook this summer!

Jessikka Aro is currently writing her third book titled PUTIN’S USA – How Russia divides and rules the United States to be published in October 2025. 

PUTIN’S TROLLS has been sold to a total of 16 territories and the Film & TV rights have also been sold! The rights are still available in Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Egypt, Greece, etc.

Request reading materials for PUTIN’S TROLLS here

PUTIN’S TROLLS
by Jessikka Aro
Johnny Kniga, November 2019, 453 pp.

A journalistic nonfiction book that reads like a real-life spy thriller and reveals the methods of the Kremlin’s modern information warfare

Putin’s Trolls is a first-hand memoir/reportage account by award-winning Finnish journalist Jessikka Aro who was bullied out of her country by Putin’s internet trolls, revealing the true face of an invisible threat that is only growing in power. Russia wages war against civilians online. Every critical voice is an enemy.

Putin’s Trolls presents the criminal smearing campaign, launched and approved by the Kremlin against private individuals around Western countries. It is a chilling account of Russia’s modern tools of information warfare, shedding light on the individuals and organizations behind the Kremlin’s coordinated, military-style social media psy-ops.

 

PUTIN’S USA – How Russia divides and rules the United States
by Jessikka Aro
Johnny Kniga, October 2025, approx. 400 pp.

Putin’s USA is a page-turner you wish wasn’t true. 

A highly topical nonfiction book on Russia’s cyberwarfare against the United States and democracy, unfolding like a thriller.

Putin’s Russia is waging an increasingly aggressive cold war against the West. The weapons used in cyberspace and the information domains seem straight out of science fiction movies.

In journalist and author Jessikka Aro’s third book investigating Russia’s covert operations, the focus is on patriotic hackers, honey traps infiltrating the Republican Party, connections between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign team and Putin’s spies, and electronic weaponry.

The book provides a close-up look at how systematically the Kremlin has been preparing its society for a major war against the United States and the entire democratic West. In Russia, even universities have been turned into tools for shaping young people into agents of Putinism.

It is worse than the Cold War!

 

Putinin trollit
Tositarinoita Venäjän infosodan rintamilta
Johnny Kniga, November 2019, 453 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Johnny Kniga/WSOY (orig.)
ALBANIA: Muza
BULGARIA: Ciela Norma
CZECH REPUBLIC: Denik N
ESTONIA: Menu Meedia/Stratkom
GEORGIA: Media Development Foundation
GERMANY (Print and e-book): Goldmann Verlag
GERMANY (Audiobook): Sound Neverrest
HUNGARY: Corvina
LATVIA: Pētergailis
LITHUANIA: Briedis
NORWAY: Mangschou Forlag
POLAND: Sine Qua Non
ROMANIA: Lebada Neagra
SWEDEN: Sensor Förlag
WORLD ENGLISH: Ig Publishing
WORLD ENGLISH (Audio): Blackstone Audio
TV & FILM: Onerva Pictures

Reading materials: English edition

About author


Jessikka Aro

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

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

Bibliography


2025, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, History & Politics

Putin's USA: How Russia Divides and Rules the American People

Jessikka Aro


2019, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, History & Politics

Putin's Trolls

Jessikka Aro

Dutch four-way auction closes for Michaela von Kügelgen’s VILLA HILDA trilogy!

We are over the moon to let you know that the four-way auction for Dutch rights to Michaela von Kügelgen’s Villa Hilda trilogy has now ended!

After strong interest and wonderful enthusiasm from all participating publishers, we’re excited to announce that we’ve found the perfect home for the series in the Netherlands and Belgium — congratulations to Singel Uitgevers. The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Publisher Elik Lettinga shared her thoughts:

This trilogy immediately appealed to me and my colleagues. The pitch alone had a relaxing effect, which was confirmed by the lively warmth of the narration. The combination of a big old house, food and interesting characters, all thrown together on an island, is quite delightful.

This follows the previous deals in Estonia, Denmark and Germany. The Estonian rights of the first book were sold to Hea Lugu at auction, while both the Danish and German rights were pre-empted in three-book-deals by Lindhardt & Ringhof and Aufbau Verlage. All of the deals are closed pre-publication!

Villa Hilda trilogy is charming and heartwarming series set on the Swedish island of Halsterö, where second chances, new begginning and cinnamon buns await.

The first book will be published by Schildts & Söderströms this June, and followed by book #2 in February 2026 and book #3 in September 2026. In addition to this feel-good series, Michaela, together with author Anne Hietanen, is working on a crime novel series that is set to debut in 2026 with book #1, The Last Word.

Download materials for VILLA HILDA trilogy here!

Reading materials available:

  • Full Swedish manuscript (Book 1)

  • English sample & synopsis (Book 1)

  • English synopsis (Book 2)

And don’t forget: FILI (Finnish Literature Exchange) supports translations also from Finnish-Swedishcovering 50–70% of translation costs. The current grant round is open until May 1st!

Summer at Villa Hilda

Michaela von Kügelgen

Many people dream of a second chance in life, but how many dare to take it?

Far out in the Stockholm archipelago lies the island of Halsterö. Journalist Thomas and former celebrity chef Louise travel there to work at the Villa Hilda guesthouse. They are both broken after many setbacks and are hoping for a fresh start. But setting up a summer paradise is not as easy as one might think, not even on the idyllic Halsterö island.

One day Louise stumbles across a collection of old love letters. Who wrote them, and what stories does Villa Hilda hide in its dusty attic? And how will Thomas manage to take care of his dementia-stricken mother while setting up an archipelago guesthouse?

Summer at Villa Hilda is about how difficult it is to be human among other people, but also about how, with the help of others, one can find one’s way back to life.

SUMMER AT VILLA HILDA
SOMMAR PÅ VILLA HILDA
Schildts & Söderströms, June 2025,

VILLA HILDA #2
Schildts & Söderströms, February 2026

VILLA HILDA #3
Schildts & Söderströms, September 2026

READING MATERIALS
English sample
English synopsis
Swedish edition
Finnish PDF

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Schildts & Söderströms (orig. Finland-Swedish, Finnish)
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu
DENMARK: Lindhardt og Ringhof Forlag
GERMANY: Aufbau Verlage
NETHERLANDS: Singel Uitgevers
SWEDEN: Schildts & Söderströms

About author


Michaela von Kügelgen

Michaela "Kugge" von Kügelgen (1986) has four published titles under her belt. Her most recent novel, Sommar på Villa Hilda, will be published in eight territories and has been optioned for the screen.

Since 2020, Kugge offers highly regarded online writing courses, which have attracted participants from both Sweden and Finland. Her newsletters on writing and entrepreneurship have 1,600 subscribers. In the newsletters she shares her journey, offering encouragement to others while candidly discussing her own challenges and triumphs. Together with author Anne Hietanen, Kugge is working on a crime novel series with book #1, The Last Word slated to be published in 2026.

In addition to her writing career, Kugge plays handball, has recently developed a passion for second-hand fashion, and slow travels to Berlin whenever she can — after having lived there for two years.

Photo credit: Frida Lönnroos

Bibliography


2026, Crime & Suspense

The Last Point

Michaela von Kügelgen


2026, Commercial/Upmarket

Home to the Island

Michaela von Kügelgen


2025, Commercial/Upmarket, Romance

Summer at Villa Hilda

Michaela von Kügelgen

3rd book in FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY trilogy by Spiegel Bestselling author Martta Kaukonen sold to Germany!

We are very excited to announce that Spiegel bestselling author Martta Kaukonen’s 3rd Follow the Butterfly thriller, Free, has been acquired by her German publisher Heyne in a pre-publication dealThe deal was closed by Martti Berner.

Congratulations to Martta Kaukonen, and Heyne! The anticipated third book in FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY trilogy will be published in Finland in May 2025.

Published as Therapiert in Germany, the first book has sold close to 30,000 copies and it hit the Spiegel bestseller list. The sequel, Traumatisiert, was just published in March.

Film and TV rights have been acquired by Legendary Tobis. Martta Kaukonen’s work has received glowing starred reviews everywhere it has been published. Last year Follow the Butterfly was nominated for Germany’s Viktor Crime Award  and for the prestigious Danish Glass Key Award.

 

Praise from UK authors of FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY:

“The premise is highly original and flawlessly executed, with an unexpected, ingenious twist at the end. The play between the patient and serial killer, Ida and her celebrity therapist, Clarissa, is deftly crafted, luring the reader in and entangling them in their web of deception. It is an utterly compelling, gripping read with an explosive conclusion.
Danielle Ramsay, author novel the Perfect Husband

“Dark, clever and hugely suspenseful, Follow the Butterfly is a breathtakingly fast-paced, original debut with vivid, intriguing characters and a masterfully constructed, compelling plotline that sinks its teeth into you from the first and doesn’t let go. Kaukonen’s writing is flawless, poignant and addictive, while the ending blew me away.”
-A. A. Chaudhuri, bestselling author of Under Her Roof

“Surprising, fresh and almost indecently fun, with two brilliantly original female leads and a sinuous plot that keeps you guessing until the very last page.”
-Tammy Cohen, author of The Wedding Party

“Breathlessly plotted, deviously constructed, and brought to vivid, twisted life by an antiheroine for the ages, FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY is an utterly beguiling debut. This isn’t just a thriller you sink your teeth into—it’s a thriller that sinks its teeth right back into you.”
-Elizabeth Little, author of Pretty as a Picture

 

Want to be part of this phenomenon? Rights are still available in Sweden, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Japan, Ukraine and more!

Click here to request reading materials for FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY trilogy!

 


Book #1: FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY

by Martta Kaukonen

An addictive psychological thriller in the spirit of Gillian Flynn

Ira, 20, a serial killer who was abducted as a child, starts therapy with celebrity therapist Clarissa. Only one of them knows that they share a mutual secret from the past. Will the other one realize it before she gets murdered?

Clarissa is a middle-aged psychotherapist, the best in her field. She is familiar to everyone from her TV appearances and from glossy magazines. For her, every patient is a princess. And someone only she can save. Or can she? Clarissa already has one suicide to answer for; a teenage boy’s death never seizes to haunt her.

When Ira becomes Clarissa’s patient, a cat-and-mouse game begins in which rules are followed by no one. The kind of game that never ends well.

Book #2: MEET ME IN THE DARKNESS
by Martta Kaukonen

Nothing is as it seems.

Four years have passed since the events of Follow the Butterfly. Ira and Arto have teamed up, and both work as crime journalists for the Helsinki Today. Everything’s going nicely, until Ira starts suspecting there’s a serial killer on the loose in Helsinki.

The murders are investigated by Senior Crime Inspector Kerttu Leppänen, who leads the murder unit and eagerly waits for retirement. Unsolved cases haunt Kerttu, who is unable to forgive herself.

The past catches up with all of them – if they were ever free from its clutches in the first place…

Book #3: FREE
by Martta Kaukonen

Is it worth digging up the truth?

It’s 1995. Detective Chief Inspector Kerttu Leppänen and her spouse, Inspector Esko Koivuvyö, are tasked with investigating the murder of a middle-aged woman. However, the crime scene presents a mystery that complicates the investigation: beside the body, there is a bloody knife on a pillow, even though it cannot be the murder weapon.

Thirty years later, Ira is determined to uncover the truth about her parents’ marriage. Why did her mother Marja fear her father Arto? And why does Arto refuse to answer Ira’s questions? Across different decades, Kerttu and Ira each come to the same realization: if you uncover the truth, you must be prepared to face its consequences.

Book #1: Follow the Butterfly
TERAPIASSA
WSOY, 2021, 471 pp.

Reading materials: English edition, German Edition

Book #2: Meet me in the Darkness
HENGISSÄ
WSOY, 2023, 272 pp.

Reading materials: German edition, unedited English manuscript

Book #3: Free
POISSA
WSOY, 2025, 300 pp.

Reading materials: English synopsis, Finnish edition

Rights sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
CROATIA: Znanje
CZECHIA: Albatros Media
DENMARK: Forlaget Falco
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu
FILM & TV: Legendary Tobis TV
GERMANY: Heyne (3 books)
GREECE: Psichogios (2 books)
HUNGARY: Partvonal Kiadó (2 books)
ICELAND: Storytel (3 books)
ITALY: Longanesi (2 books)
LATVIA: Jumava
LITHUANIA: Obuolys
POLAND: Czarna Owca (2 books)
UNITED KINGDOM: Pushkin Press (2 books)
UNITED STATES: Pushkin Press (2 books)
WORLD ARABIC: Al Arabi Publishing
WORLD ENGLISH (Audio): Audible

 

About author


Martta Kaukonen

Martta Kaukonen (1976) lives in Helsinki. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a film critic, whose reviews have been published in both Finland’s biggest newspaper Helsingin Sanomat and a popular women’s weekly magazine Me Naiset. Martta has a master’s degree in arts. She has interviewed the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Justin Bieber. Martta met her husband at a second hand bookshop and fell in love. Alongside writing, Martta loves psychological thrillers, film noir, flea markets, abandoned houses and travelling.

Photo credit: Otto Virtanen

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Free

Martta Kaukonen


2023, Crime & Suspense

Meet Me in the Darkness

Martta Kaukonen


2022, Crime & Suspense

In Your Shadow

Martta Kaukonen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Follow the Butterfly

Martta Kaukonen

700,000 copies sold for ITTY BITTY PRINCESS books by Hannele Lampela!

We are so happy to tell you all that the Itty Bitty Princess books by Hannele Lampela, illustrated by Ninka Reittu have sold nearly 700,000 copies in Finland! Lampela also has two new Itty Bitty Princess books coming out in 2025. The Itty Bitty Princess film was released in 2024 and second one is now in development!

Itty Bitty Princess is a mischievous, bold, and kind-hearted little girl with a mind of her own. Whether it’s finding out where babies come from or fixing “mistakes” and injustices in fairy tales, Itty Bitty never shies away from a challenge!

Itty Bitty Princess books available:

Itty Bitty Princess picture books (3+):
Itty Bitty Princess and the Truth About Babies (2022)
Itty Bitty Princess’s Teeny Bit Terrific Fairy Tales (2022)

Itty Bitty Princess chapter books (40 pp-80 pp, 5+):
Itty Bitty Princess (2016)
Itty Bitty Princess’s Winter (2017)
Itty Bitty Princess’s Slightly Better Bedtime Stories (2018)
Itty Bitty Princess and The Horrible Injustice (2019)
Itty Bitty Princess’s Summer (2020)
Itty Bitty Princess’s Slightly Better Singalongs (2020)
Itty Bitty Princess Takes Over the World (2021)
Itty Bitty Princess and The Amazing Amusement Park (2023)
How many more sleeps until Christmas, Itty Bitty Princess? (2024)

 

Itty Bitty Princess and the Truth About Babies

Where do annoying little siblings come from? Itty Bitty Princess figures out the truth about babies in her own bold manner.

Of course, Itty Bitty Princess knows that babies grow in mothers’ tummies. But how did they end up there? And how do they get out? And most importantly: why on earth would parents want a baby that poops a lot and wakes them up in the middle of the night?

This charming picture book by Hannele Lampela, illustrated by Ninka Reittu, provides answers to children’s puzzling questions about babies, but also touches on the emotions that big sisters and brothers go through when they hear a baby is on the way.

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS HERE

 

Itty Bitty Princess’s Teeny Bit Terrific Fairy Tales

Have you ever thought of how a witch feels when her magnificent gingerbread house is eaten? Or the fairy who doesn’t get invited to a birthday party? Indeed, probably not so good.

Itty Bitty Princess has noticed that the ones who are already kind are the ones who always win the battles. Like her little brother. That’s why she has decided to tell a few stories from the side of the scoundrels, like the dragon that gets constantly poked by swords. After all, Itty Bitty Princess knows what it’s like to be kind and naughty at the same time.

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS HERE

 

Itty Bitty Princess and The Amazing Amusement Park

Itty Bitty Princess has a sleepover at her friend’s place. How exciting! What should she pack? And what should the princesses play? The sleepover itself feels exciting, but it gets even more fun when imagination takes flight and they end up visiting an amusement park at nighttime! Are there ghosts lurking about? And if there are, could they be kind?

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS HERE

 

How many more sleeps until Christmas, Itty Bitty Princess?

Itty Bitty Princess is impatiently waiting for Christmas. And believe it or not, every single night a little elf peeks in the window and looks to see what Itty Bitty Princess has been up to!

The days counting down to Christmas can fit magic, cakes, and gingerbread – and many, many questions. Among other things, about elves, kindness and why some get much bigger gifts than others or why some get to be angels in the Christmas play and others have to be donkeys.

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS HERE

ITTY BITTY PRINCESS AND THE TRUTH ABOUT BABIES
PRINSESSA PIKKIRIIKKI JA (KAAMEA) TOTUUS VAUVOISTA
Otava, 2022, 32 pp.

READING MATERIALS:
Full English PDF

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
DENMARK: Turbine Forlaget
ESTONIA: Kirjastus Elust Enesest
ITALY: Fabbri Editori
WORLD SPANISH: Planeta Mexico

 

ITTY BITTY PRINCESS’ TEENY BIT TERRIFIC FAIRY TALES
PRINSESSA PIKKIRIIKIN HIUKKASEN HURJAT SADUT
Otava, 2022, 80 pp.

READING MATERIALS:
Full English text

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

 

ITTY BITTY PRINCESS AND THE AMAZING AMUSEMENT PARK
PRINSESSA PIKKIRIIKKI JA HURMAAVA HUVIPUISTO
Otava, 2023, 40 pp.

READING MATERIALS:
English synopsis, Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
ESTONIA: Kirjastus Elust Enesest

 

HOW MANY MORE SLEEPS UNTIL CHRISTMAS, ITTY BITTY PRINCESS?
MONTAKO YÖTÄ VIELÄ, PRINSESSA PIKKIRIIKKI?
Otava 2024, 80 pp.

READING MATERIALS:
English synopsis, Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)

About author


Hannele Lampela

Hannele Lampela's lovable works have been praised above all for their rich humor and ability to truly show the world from a child's perspective. She has the ability to enchant her readers, and that is why both children and adults love her stories. Lampela's works have been dramatized for example by the Finnish National Theater, Kuopio City Theater and YLE's radio plays. She has been awarded the prestigious Kaarina Helakisa Prize for her work and she has been nominated for Runeberg Junior award in 2019 and for Storytel Award, and Arvid Lydecken Award five times, most recently in 2025.

In addition to her fictional works, Lampela has written and created  a world of stories for the next national ABC book of Finnish schools. First graders across the country will learn to read through Hannele’s texts. Lampela lives in a small wooden house in the middle of apple trees with her family, and spends her days not only writing, but also pampering herself and others on a regular basis.

About author


Ninka Reittu

Ninka Reittu is an illustrator and children's book writer.

Reittu lives in an old clergy house in Liperi, Finland, with her son and carpenter husband. Their family also includes two cats, several dogs, and a flock of sheep.

In addition to her own picture books Messi ja Mysteeri and Sinä olet superrakas, she has illustrated the titles of Hannele Lampela (The Itty-Bitty Princess) and Kreetta Onkelin.

13,000 copies sold for CRIMSON WEB by Aamos Honka!

We are excited to report that Aamos Honka‘s espionage thriller Crimson Web has sold more than 13,000 copies in Finland!

Originally published in Finland in January, Crimson Web has been one of the bestselling fiction titles in Finland and has received outstanding reviews from the critics and the readers:

Did the best domestic thriller of 2025 arrive on the very first day of the year? Or at least the best debut novel? It’s possible, because Aamos Honka’s Crimson Web is quite a punch for fans of thrillers based on international politics. – A new star has just appeared in Finland’s thriller sky.”
– Kai Hirvasnoro, Kansan Uutiset newspaper

One rarely encounters as great a debut thriller as [—] Aamos Honka’s literary debut Crimson Web, published in January. [—] In his novel, Honka has succeeded in creating a thrilling and even authentic atmosphere that keeps [the readers] in its grip until the end.”
– Jari Olavi Hiltunen, Satakunnan Kansa newspaper

The book delivers absolutely brilliant intensity. The thriller draws you in and keeps you tightly in its grip. At times, the pace is downright breathtakingly exciting. Aamos Honka seems to really know the ingredients of a good thriller. The reader doesn’t have to be an expert of the field to get a grasp of the novel’s world, and the narration is pleasantly easy to read. [—] in the reader’s mind there is a constant thought that all of this could probably happen in real life as well.
– Luetut.net book blog

”With his debut, Aamos Honka made my blood run cold. – When things get going, they do so with such speed and astonishment that even the most cynical reader is left breathless. – The series starts off quite powerfully, so expectations are high for what follows.
– Kirsin kirjanurkka blog

Additionally, Aamos Honka’s publisher Gummerus has revealed the cover for the sequel to Crimson Web – Article 5 (Viides artikla in original Finnish)!

Slated to be published in Finland in November, Article 5 sees the Finnish intelligence officer Janne Peura discover that Russia is executing a cold, calculated strategy to destabilize NATO’s unity. As geopolitical tensions escalate and the stakes of the operation rise, Peura must find a way to expose Russia’s true plan before it leads to open conflict – but every move could be a deception masking an even greater scheme.

Download materials for CRIMSON WEB here!

Crimson Web

Aamos Honka

A frighteningly topical debut thriller from an insider in the intelligence world, revealing the hidden heart of secrets ops and hybrid warfare.

Planes collide in London. Electricity and information networks are attacked in Finland. Janne Peura from military intelligence and Laura Vesterinen from the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service track down signs of foreign power operations. When Janne and Laura’s lines cross, they take on major roles in a high stakes international game.

Once you read the book, the news headlines will never look the same to you.

Article 5, book #2 in the Janne Peura series, is slated to be published in Finland in November 2025.

CRIMSON WEB
PUNAINEN VERKKO
Gummerus, 2025, 489 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample (chapters 1-6)
German sample (chapters 7-12)
English synopsis
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Gummerus (orig.)

About author


Aamos Honka

Aamos Honka has been a part of the Finnish intelligence community for over a decade and continues to work for the Finnish government. Drawing from his professional expertise, Aamos crafts gripping and realistic thrillers that delve deep into the high-stakes world of international espionage. He lives with his family in the picturesque Finnish archipelago, where he finds inspiration for his writing. In his free time, Aamos enjoys hunting and ice swimming.

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Article 5

Aamos Honka


2025, Crime & Suspense

Crimson Web

Aamos Honka

FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY by Martta Kaukonen a bestseller in Italy!

We are excited to let you know that Butterfly, the Italian edition of Martta Kaukonen‘s international bestseller Follow the Butterfly, has sold more than 20,000 copies in Italy!

On top of this excellent sales success, Martta Kaukonen was interviewed by fellow crime and thriller author Nadine Matheson on her The Conversation with Nadine Matheson podcast! They discussed topics such as Martta’s original inspiration for the main character of her novel Follow the Butterfly and how we are often stopped from pursuing our dreams by obstacles that we have set ourselves.

You can listen to the podcast her: Martta Kaukonen: The Voice in –The Conversation with Nadine Matheson – Apple Podcasts

Follow the Butterfly has been sold to 16 territories!
Rights are available in, e.g., France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, Spain, Romania…

Download materials for FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY here!

Follow the Butterfly

Martta Kaukonen

Can she cure a killer? An addictive psychological thriller in the spirit of Gillian Flynn!

Ira, 20, a serial killer who was abducted as a child, starts therapy with celebrity therapist Clarissa. Only one of them knows that they share a mutual secret from the past. Will the other one realize it before she gets murdered?

Clarissa is a middle-aged psychotherapist, the best in her field. She is familiar to everyone from her TV appearances and from glossy magazines. For her, every patient is a princess. And someone only she can save. Or can she? Clarissa already has one suicide to answer for; a teenage boy’s death never seizes to haunt her.

When Ira becomes Clarissa’s patient, a cat-and-mouse game begins in which rules are followed by no one. The kind of game that never ends well.

FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY
TERAPIASSA
WSOY, 2021, 471 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English edition
German edition
Italian edition
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
CROATIA: Znanje
CZECHIA: Kniha Zlin/Albatros
DENMARK: Falco
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu
GERMANY: Heyne
GREECE: Psichogios
HUNGARY: Partvonal
ITALY: Longanesi
ICELAND: Storytel
LATVIA: Jumava
LITHUANIA: Obuolys
POLAND: Czarna Owca
UNITED KINGDOM: Pushkin Press
UNITED STATES: Pushkin Press
WORLD ARABIC: Al Arabi Publishing
WORLD ENGLISH (Audio): Audible

About author


Martta Kaukonen

Martta Kaukonen (1976) lives in Helsinki. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a film critic, whose reviews have been published in both Finland’s biggest newspaper Helsingin Sanomat and a popular women’s weekly magazine Me Naiset. Martta has a master’s degree in arts. She has interviewed the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Justin Bieber. Martta met her husband at a second hand bookshop and fell in love. Alongside writing, Martta loves psychological thrillers, film noir, flea markets, abandoned houses and travelling.

Photo credit: Otto Virtanen

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Free

Martta Kaukonen


2023, Crime & Suspense

Meet Me in the Darkness

Martta Kaukonen


2022, Crime & Suspense

In Your Shadow

Martta Kaukonen


2021, Crime & Suspense

Follow the Butterfly

Martta Kaukonen

Bestseller titles from the Ahlback Agency!

Titles represented by the Ahlback Agency have been on the official bestseller lists of Finland in March 2025!

What Finland Reads is a monthly statistic compiled by the Booksellers’ Association of Finland, which brings together the best-selling literature in Finland. The list includes literature in print form as well as audio and e-books.

 

Dad Man and the Mysterious Puppet Master by Arttu Unkari and Kai Vaalio is included in both All Genres and Children’s and Young Adult lists.

In Finnish literature list you can find Crimson Web by Aamos Honka, which has been one of the most purchased books in Finland since it’s release in January!

Stop Chasing Happiness: A Pessimist’s Guide to a Good Life by Frank Martela can be found on the most purchased Non-Fiction books list.

Traces by Anna Harju is one of the most purchased print books. Traces has been on the best selling lists since it’s release in January!

Princess Rascal and the Dark Fairy by Elina Hirvonen and Mervi Lindman is one of the most purchased Children’s and Young Adult books in e-book form.

 

Dad Man and the Mysterious Puppet Master

BY ARTTU UNKARI AND KAI VAALIO

The quirkiest cop in town! The Dad Man Series offers fast-paced adventures and humour for all ages – especially lower middle grade.

✓ Bestselling series: over 200,000 copies sold in Finland!

✓ Rights sold to Germany (2 books) and Denmark (2 books)!

✓ Perfect for reluctant readers and for fans of David Walliams and Captain Underpants

✓ All books in the series have been nominated for the Storytel awards Best children’s audiobook prize!

✓ Books in the series have also been recognized with Best Newcomer of the Year 2020, and the Runeberg Prize 2023!

✓ Bold and fresh 4-colour comic-book style artwork that add visual jokes to the narration

✓ Work as standalones and can be read in any order!

The wackiest cop in town is messing up again! A fast-paced adventure full of humor for elementary school readers.

A supervillain calling himself the Mysterious Puppet Master robs the Museum of Ancient Diseases and threatens to unleash deadly germs if the city’s smartest detective doesn’t complete the tasks he’s assigned.

Who else but Dadman rises heroically to the challenge, dragging Oona and the gang back into action. They must solve the Puppet Master’s riddles before it’s too late — and before Dadman ruins everything. Because those tasks? They’re not quite as heroic as Dadman thought..

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS HERE

 

Crimson Web

BY AAMOS HONKA

A frighteningly topical debut thriller from an insider in the intelligence world, revealing the hidden heart of secrets ops and hybrid warfare.

Planes collide in London. Electricity and information networks are attacked in Finland. Janne Peura from military intelligence and Laura Vesterinen from the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service track down signs of foreign power operations. When Janne and Laura’s lines cross, they take on major roles in a high stakes international game.

Once you read the book, the news headlines will never look the same to you.

The sequel to Crimson Web, book #2 in the Janne Peura series, is slated to be published in Finland in November 2025.

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS HERE

 

Stop Chasing Happiness: A Pessimist’s Guide to a Good Life

BY FRANK MARTELA

A guide to finding happiness by Finland’s leading happiness expert UK publication on March 20, 2025!

✓  World English rights sold to Allen & Unwin, German rights to Knesebeck, and Finnish rights at auction to Gummerus!

✓ Full English manuscript available!

✓  Frank Martela, PhD, is Finland’s #1 internationally bestselling non-fiction author – his previous title, A Wonderful Life, has been sold to 30 countries!

✓  A unique blend of personal stories and quirky anecdotes combined with deep understanding of the latest psychological research on well-being

✓  Finland has been ranked the happiest country 7 times in a row and Frank Martela has explained the secret to Finnish happiness for Fox NewsNew York TimesScientific American and New Scientist.

What if the secret to happiness isn’t finding it—but letting it go?

In a world obsessed with success and self-improvement, the chase for happiness often leaves us feeling lost. The real path to contentment lies in unlearning the habits holding you back: stop obsessing over what others think, stop being so sensitive about your feelings, stop measuring your value by what you have.

In Stop Chasing Happiness, academic and philosopher Frank Martela – hailing from Finland, the world’s happiest country – reveals why our fixation on happiness and achievement is making us miserable. With wisdom rooted in science, philosophy, and personal experience, Martela shows you the path to a life of energized contentment.

Through this transformative book, you’ll discover:

* the courage to free yourself from the pressures of what you should do

* the serenity to accept whatever life throws at you

* the sparkle to energetically pursue whatever you identify as your real values.

Stop the anxious chase. You have already arrived. Start living your own life through accepting the past, enjoying the present, and working towards a better future – it all starts here.

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS HERE

Traces

BY ANNA HARJU

“Perfect suspense!” – Max Seeck, New York Times bestselling author

The opening of a gripping crime series set in trendy Tampere. Taro Auramo Series #1

There are secrets whose revelation will have fatal consequences. There is no escaping them, no matter how hard you try. Must one always pay for their mistakes?

A well-liked pharmacist is found murdered at his workplace. Suspicion falls on pharmacist Joanna Vihervuori, the last person to see her boss alive. Joanna insists she is innocent, but the case begins to twist around her in a strange way.

For Tampere Police Detective Inspector Taro Auramo, this murder investigation is the place to prove himself. The white dust on the dead pharmacist’s cheek raises doubts about whether his business is completely clean, and soon nothing will be as it seems.

Psychologically astute and utterly addictive, Traces is the first in the Taro Auramo crime series set in Tampere. Book #2 is slated to be published in 2026 and book #3 in 2027.

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS HERE

Princess Rascal and the Dark Fairy

BY ELINA HIRVONEN AND MERVI LINDMAN

A picture book about being scared of the dark

✓ Shows day-to-day challenges of families with children with a lot of warmth and humor

✓ Rights in series sold into 5 languages

Would a crown of courage or a string of pearls with happy things help in the dark?

Beloved Princess Rascal is a little girl with big feelings and magical powers. The popular picture book series continues!

Princess Rascal stays awake all night, because there’s a monster under her bed. No one believes that, but Princess Rascal knows it’s true. She feels that no one else has such big worries and that no one else is even afraid of anything! Somehow this problem has to be solved: could there be something in Princess Rascal’s toy box that could help?

The Princess Rämäpää series by Elina Hirvonen and Mervi Lindman takes the reader on magical adventures that can be found right in the middle of everyday life, as long as you have enough imagination.

DOWNLOAD READING MATERIALS HERE

DAD MAN AND THE MYSTERIOUS PUPPET MASTER
ISÄMIES JA SALAPERÄINEN NUKKEMESTARI
Otava, 2025, 176 pp.

READING MATERIALS:
Finnish pdfs books 1-6
German edition books 1-2
Danish edition book 1
English sample book 4

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
DENMARK: Bogoo (2 books)
GERMANY: Mixtvision (2 books)

 

CRIMSON WEB
PUNAINEN VERKKO
Gummerus, 2025, 489 pp.

READING MATERIALS:
English sample
English synopsis
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Gummerus (orig.)

 

STOP CHASING HAPPINESS: A PESSIMIST’S GUIDE TO A GOOD LIFE
ÄLÄ ETSI ONNEA: EPÄTYYPILLISIÄ ELÄMÄNOHJEITA NYKYIHMISELLE
Allen & Unwin, 2025, 200 pp.

READING MATERIALS:
Full English edition
English chapters

RIGHTS SOLD:
UK: Allen & Unwin (orig.)
FINLAND: Gummerus
GERMANY: Knesebeck
WORLD ENGLISH: Allen & Unwin

 

TRACES
JÄLJET
Tammi, 2025, 382 pp.

READING MATERIALS:
English sample & synopsis
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)

 

PRINCESS RASCAL AND THE DARK FAIRY
PRINSESSA RÄMÄPÄÄ JA MÖRKÖTAIKA
Tammi, 2024, 44 pp.

READING MATERIALS:
English sample & synopsis
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)

About author


Aamos Honka

Aamos Honka has been a part of the Finnish intelligence community for over a decade and continues to work for the Finnish government. Drawing from his professional expertise, Aamos crafts gripping and realistic thrillers that delve deep into the high-stakes world of international espionage. He lives with his family in the picturesque Finnish archipelago, where he finds inspiration for his writing. In his free time, Aamos enjoys hunting and ice swimming.

About author


Anna Harju

Anna Harju (b. 1983) enjoys atmospheric detective stories with a compelling, complex plot. By profession, she is a translator and communication multitasker. She enjoys the solitude of early mornings, sprinting in silent forests and questioning the ordinary. Unlike her character, Taro Auramo, she is terrified of heights but shares his impulsive nature and feeling of not always fitting in.

Traces is her debut novel and takes place in Tampere, the sauna capital of the world and the largest inland city of the Nordics, where Harju is from.

Photo credit: Jan Lönnberg

About author


Arttu Unkari

Arttu Unkari is a teacher from Helsinki and a Master of Education (University of Helsinki, 2015) who majored in ethics and philosophy.  He combines his educational background and experience as a teacher in his books – his stories are anarchist and zany, but at the same time the humour often revolves around profound and intriguing concepts such as honesty, obedience, and morality in ways that speak to children in their own language. His books are enjoyed by adults as well because they contain layers that open up differently to readers of all ages. This is one of the reasons Dad Man is such a great series for the whole family.

As an author Unkari is a Runeberg prize nominee 2023 for the third instalment of the Dad Man series: Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis (Isämies ja hyytävä hypnoosi, Otava 2022). The Runeberg Prize is a literary prize awarded by the newspaper Uusimaa, the City of Porvoo, the Finnish Writers' Union, the Finnish Critics' Association and the Finland’s-Swedish Writer’s Association. The prize was established in 1986 and it is awarded annually in Porvoo on 5th February, the day when Finland celebrates their national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg.  All of his previous books (Dad Man and the Exploding poop, Dad Man and the Evil Little Brother, Dad Man and the Horrible Hypnosis and Dad Man and the Impossible Time Warp) have been nominated for best children’s audiobook in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Finnish Storytel awards. He’s also participated in making a Finnish language schoolbook (Loikka 3, Otava 2022).

Unkari is a sought after inspirational speaker in his home country. He’s visited schools all over Finland advocating for the importance of reading.

Photo credit Jonne Räsänen / Otava 2019

About author


Elina Hirvonen

Elina Hirvonen is an award-winning author of adults' and children's prose and documentary filmmaker whose works have been translated into many languages. Hirvonen’s debut novel, When I Forgot, made the front page of The New York Times Book Review, and received rave reviews from the Independent, Guardian, Financial Times and Globe and Mail.

Hirvonen has won the Kalevi Jäntti Prize, the Young Aleksis Prize, has been nominated for the prestigious Finlandia Prize. She has received the prestigious 2023 Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö Literary Foundation Award, recognizing the artistic independence and high standard of her writing.

Her new novel, The Logbook of Love, was published in Finland in August 2023. The Logbook of Love is the first part of a trilogy of novels that create their world through conversations.

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


Kai Vaalio

Kai Vaalio (b. 1986) is an illustrator, comic artist, and a bit of a cosmopolitan as well. He’s written and illustrated underground comic books for adults about his travels in South-East Asia and Latin America — the latter won Mondo magazine’s Travel book of the year award back in 2014. Recently he’s ventured into the world of illustrating children’s books mainly with Arttu Unkari’s Dad Man Series. Together they’ve made several books about this goofy detective and his clever little posse. The Dad Man Series has received Storytel Awards and Runeberg Junior 2023 award nominations. Vaalio’s been on and off in the graphic industry since 2005 when he graduated as a graphic designer from Lahti College of Arts and Crafts. In 2018 he got his bachelor’s degree from Lahti University of Applied Science.

Photo credit: Jonne Räsänen / Otava

AUFBAU pre-empts German rights and LINDHARDT OG RINGHOF Danish rights in 3-book-deals to VILLA HILDA series!

Exciting news!

We’ve sold the Danish and German rights for Michaela von Kügelgen’s Summer at Villa Hilda, the upcoming feel-good novel, and its two sequels, in pre-emptive three-book deals. . The Danish rights were acquired by Lindhardt og Ringhof, while in Germany the three books will be published by Aufbau Verlage .The deals were closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

These deals follow last weeks auction for the Estonian rights, which were acquired by Hea Lugu.

“I could literally feel the sun, smell the delicious food, and now I’m longing to try the perfect cinnamon buns that Louise bakes for her guests. The writing is so warm and beautiful that it feels as if you’ve been there yourself – a book like a perfect summer vacation.”
– Heide Kloth, Publisher, Aufbau Verlage, Germany

Pitched as Mamma Mia and Badehotellet vibes at the Swedish archipelagoSummer at Villa Hilda follows Louise, a former celebrity chef and Thomas, a journalist, as they both move to the island of Halsterö in the Stockholm archipelago and start working in the Villa Hilda guesthouse. Both have had their fair share of misfortunes on the mainland, so a summer on an idyllic island feels like a chance to start over. Although the villa isn’t going to treat them as easily as they’d expect, the island and its inhabitants eventually help them to find their way back to life.

“Summer at Villa Hilda is exactly the type of feel-good novel, we’ve been looking for. A great summer read with a cozy atmosphere and with a great gallery of characters, who come together at the island Halsterö for the summer. An uplifting story about second chances and finding the courage to make big changes in your life. An absolutely enjoyable read! But be careful: You might end up wanting to leave everything behind, open a guesthouse on a Swedish archipelago island, learn to bake ‘kanelbullar’, and quite possibly, fall in love.”

– Astrid Ellehammer Kristensen, editor, Lindhardt og Ringhof, Denmark

Summer at Villa Hilda is the first title in Michaela von Kügelgen’s series of feel-good novels set on the fictional Swedish island of Halsterö. Scheduled to be published by Schildts & Söderströms in June, and followed by book #2 in February 2026 and book #3 in September 2026. In addition to this feel-good series, Michaela, together with author Anne Hietanen, is working on a crime novel series that is set to debut in 2026 with book #1, The Last Word.

Download materials for SUMMER AT VILLA HILDA here!

Summer at Villa Hilda

Michaela von Kügelgen

Many people dream of a second chance in life, but how many dare to take it?

Far out in the Stockholm archipelago lies the island of Halsterö. Journalist Thomas and former celebrity chef Louise travel there to work at the Villa Hilda guesthouse. They are both broken after many setbacks and are hoping for a fresh start. But setting up a summer paradise is not as easy as one might think, not even on the idyllic Halsterö island.

One day Louise stumbles across a collection of old love letters. Who wrote them, and what stories does Villa Hilda hide in its dusty attic? And how will Thomas manage to take care of his dementia-stricken mother while setting up an archipelago guesthouse?

Summer at Villa Hilda is about how difficult it is to be human among other people, but also about how, with the help of others, one can find one’s way back to life.

This novel is the first part of the Villa Hilda series and will be published in June 2025. The following titles will concentrate on the people living on the picturesque Halsterö island and will tentatively be published in February 2026 and September 2026.

chaela, together with author Anne Hietanen, is working on a crime novel series that is set to debut in 2026 with book #1, The Last Word.

SUMMER AT VILLA HILDA
SOMMAR PÅ VILLA HILDA
Schildts & Söderströms, June 2025

READING MATERIALS
English sample
English synopsis
Swedish manuscript

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Schildts & Söderströms (orig. Finland-Swedish, Finnish)
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu
DENMARK: Lindhardt og Ringhof Forlag
GERMANY: Aufbau Verlage
SWEDEN: Schildts & Söderströms

About author


Michaela von Kügelgen

Michaela "Kugge" von Kügelgen (1986) has four published titles under her belt. Her most recent novel, Sommar på Villa Hilda, will be published in eight territories and has been optioned for the screen.

Since 2020, Kugge offers highly regarded online writing courses, which have attracted participants from both Sweden and Finland. Her newsletters on writing and entrepreneurship have 1,600 subscribers. In the newsletters she shares her journey, offering encouragement to others while candidly discussing her own challenges and triumphs. Together with author Anne Hietanen, Kugge is working on a crime novel series with book #1, The Last Word slated to be published in 2026.

In addition to her writing career, Kugge plays handball, has recently developed a passion for second-hand fashion, and slow travels to Berlin whenever she can — after having lived there for two years.

Photo credit: Frida Lönnroos

Bibliography


2026, Crime & Suspense

The Last Point

Michaela von Kügelgen


2026, Commercial/Upmarket

Home to the Island

Michaela von Kügelgen


2025, Commercial/Upmarket, Romance

Summer at Villa Hilda

Michaela von Kügelgen

SUMMER AT VILLA HILDA by Michaela von Kügelgen sold to Estonia!

We are thrilled to let you know that the Estonian rights for Summer at Villa Hilda, the upcoming feel-good novel by Michaela von Kügelgen, have been acquired by Hea Lugu! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Pitched as Mamma Mia vibes at Swedish archipelago, Summer at Villa Hilda follows Louise, a former celebrity chef and Thomas, a journalist, as they both move to the island of Halsterö in the Stockholm archipelago and start working in the Villa Hilda guesthouse. Both have had their fair share of misfortunes on the mainland, so a summer on an idyllic island feels like a chance to start over. Although the villa isn’t going to treat them as easily as they’d expect, the island and its inhabitants eventually help them to find their way back to life.

Readers need good entertainment that incorporates lively interpersonal relationships, emotions, enjoyable atmosphere. This type of genre has been dubbed feel good literature. Hea Lugu publishing house has a series named “Suvitusromaan[‘Summer Vacation Novel’] just for this type of great commercial literature. We believe that Michaela von Kügelgen’s novel Summer at Villa Hilda is an excellent fit to the series.
– Meeli Müüripeal, editor/publisher, Hea Lugu, Estonia

Summer at Villa Hilda is the first title in Michaela von Kügelgen’s series of feel-good novels set on the fictional Swedish island of Halsterö. Scheduled to be published in June by Schildts & Söderströms, this is the first foreign sale for Summer at Villa Hilda! In addition to this feel-good series, Michaela, together with author Anne Hietanen, is working on a crime novel series that is set to debut in 2026 with book #1, The Last Word.

Download materials for SUMMER AT VILLA HILDA here!

Summer at Villa Hilda

Michaela von Kügelgen

Many people dream of a second chance in life, but how many dare to take it?

Far out in the Stockholm archipelago lies the island of Halsterö. Journalist Thomas and former celebrity chef Louise travel there to work at the Villa Hilda guesthouse. They are both broken after many setbacks and are hoping for a fresh start. But setting up a summer paradise is not as easy as one might think, not even on the idyllic Halsterö island.

One day Louise stumbles across a collection of old love letters. Who wrote them, and what stories does Villa Hilda hide in its dusty attic? And how will Thomas manage to take care of his dementia-stricken mother while setting up an archipelago guesthouse?

Summer at Villa Hilda is about how difficult it is to be human among other people, but also about how, with the help of others, one can find one’s way back to life.

This novel is the first part of the Villa Hilda series and will be published in June 2025. The following titles will concentrate on the people living on the picturesque Halsterö island and will tentatively be published in February 2026 and September 2026.

SUMMER AT VILLA HILDA
SOMMAR PÅ VILLA HILDA
Schildts & Söderströms, 2025

READING MATERIALS
English sample
English synopsis
Swedish manuscript

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Schildts & Söderströms (orig. Finland-Swedish, Finnish)
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu
SWEDEN: Schildts & Söderströms

About author


Michaela von Kügelgen

Michaela "Kugge" von Kügelgen (1986) has four published titles under her belt. Her most recent novel, Sommar på Villa Hilda, will be published in eight territories and has been optioned for the screen.

Since 2020, Kugge offers highly regarded online writing courses, which have attracted participants from both Sweden and Finland. Her newsletters on writing and entrepreneurship have 1,600 subscribers. In the newsletters she shares her journey, offering encouragement to others while candidly discussing her own challenges and triumphs. Together with author Anne Hietanen, Kugge is working on a crime novel series with book #1, The Last Word slated to be published in 2026.

In addition to her writing career, Kugge plays handball, has recently developed a passion for second-hand fashion, and slow travels to Berlin whenever she can — after having lived there for two years.

Photo credit: Frida Lönnroos

Bibliography


2026, Crime & Suspense

The Last Point

Michaela von Kügelgen


2026, Commercial/Upmarket

Home to the Island

Michaela von Kügelgen


2025, Commercial/Upmarket, Romance

Summer at Villa Hilda

Michaela von Kügelgen

By the Seashore by Sanna Nyqvist sold to Ukraine!

We are happy to let you know that the Ukrainian rights for Sanna Nyqvist‘s Finlandia Prize-nominated non-fiction title By the Seashore: How Writers Discovered the Sea have been acquired by Laboratoria! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency. Rights were recently sold to mareverlag in Germany and Rahva Raamat in Estonia.

By the Seashore is a captivating and immersive account of how five literary authors – Jane Austen, August Strindberg, Marcel Proust, Virginia Woolf, and Tove Jansson – found the sea and the seashore and how these experiences affected them and their writing. In addition to detailing the authors’ own relationship to the sea and the seashore, Sanna Nyqvist also shows how these landscapes have changed since and how they form a shared cultural heritage that we should cherish and preserve.

By the Seashore was one of the most acclaimed Finnish non-fiction titles of 2024. It was nominated for the prestigious Finlandia Prize in Non-Fiction, it received the Lauri Jäntti Prize Honorary Award of 2024, and it was selected as one of the 10 best non-fiction titles of 2024 by Suomen Kuvalehti magazine.

With this latest sale, the rights for By the Seashore have now been sold to 4 territories!
Rights are available in many territories, e.g., United States, France, United Kingdom, Poland, Sweden, Netherlands…

Download materials for BY THE SEASHORE here!

By the Seashore: How Writers Discovered the Sea

Sanna Nyqvist

Follow Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, Tove Jansson and other classic writers to the beach and experience the landscape through the eyes of a writer.

By the Seashore is a fascinating journey through salt-scented cultural history and to the authors’ favourite beaches. Jane Austen adventured along the south coast of England, Marcel Proust returned year after year to the shimmering light of Normandy, and Tove Jansson created her own paradise on an island in the Gulf of Finland. The magic of the beaches is part of our shared experience and our relationship with nature. But how long will we be able to experience our beloved beaches as they are now? This was already being pondered by August Strindberg in the late 19th century, when industry and tourism were shaping the Stockholm archipelago.

By the Seashore is a gripping and surprising account of why beaches have become landscapes of emotion, safe havens as well as islands of adventure.

BY THE SEASHORE: HOW WRITERS DISCOVERED THE SEA
RANNALLA. MITEN KIRJAILIJAT LÖYSIVÄT MEREN
Tammi, 2024, 283 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample
English summary
Author’s vision
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat
GERMANY: mareverlag
UKRAINE: Laboratoria

About author


Sanna Nyqvist

Sanna Nyqvist is a literary scholar, author and columnist. She holds a Ph.D in Comparative Literature from the University of Helsinki and has published academic articles and books on imitation and authorship as well as on the lure of the sea. Passionate about the power of literature to transform our lives, she teaches literary analysis to engineering students at the Aalto University and writes columns in the literary magazine Parnasso that open new, often surprising perspectives to classical and contemporary literature.

She has written three nonfiction books on literature for a wider audience, all of which have elicited praise from reviewers and readers. Her latest book, By the Seashore, was nominated for the Finlandia Prize in the nonfiction category and received 2024 Lauri Jäntti Prize Honorary Award.

Sanna Nyqvist lives in Helsinki and, as soon as the sea ice releases its hold in the spring, heads for her beloved island in the archipelago of the Gulf of Finland.

Bibliography


2024, Narrative Nonfiction, Memories & Biographies

By the Seashore: How Writers Discovered the Sea

Sanna Nyqvist

Bestselling MAX SEECK 1 Million Copies Sold Globally!

We are over the moon to share the news that our International and New York Times & Spiegel Bestselling Author MAX SEECK and his novels are published in 41 countries, selling 1 million copies around the world!

Max Seeck ‘s books have been included in Vogue’s list of the best Nordic noir books of all time! Max Seeck is the Winner of the prestigious Glass Key Award. Recently, we announced that Kodansha in Japan will start publishing Max Seeck.

Hollywood calling – international TV news!

An international TV adaptation of THE WITCH HUNTER (a New York Times bestseller!) is in development with Stampede Ventures! Big news coming soon!

For the new series by Max Seeck, MILO, Solar Films is adapting Milo as an international TV series for global distribution, with production slated to commence in 2026!

Finland’s no. 1 Bestseller MILO, a psychological suspense novel with surprising twists and interesting facts about the game of chess, has sold over 45,000 copies, and starts a new series with a sequel publishing in September 2025.

In France, Méra Editions has just published “Echec et Mat” and in Germany, Bastei Lübbe will publish “Blindspiel” in June 2025, with Piemme/Mondadori in Italy, Aschehoug in Norway, Kodansha in Japan, Latvijas Medijii in Latvia, and Pegasus in Estonia to follow in 2026.

Request reading materials for JESSICA NIEMI series here!

Request reading materials for MILO series here!

About MILO:

MILO is a criminal profiler and art gallery owner struggling with sexual frustration who needs to understand the game of chess better in order to catch a killer.

The game has only just begun.

On a cold November evening, a body is discovered on the shore of Seurasaari. The victim’s skin is covered with a thick layer of white paint, and during the autopsy, a chess piece is found lodged in its throat.  The police are baffled. Why would the murderer go to such lengths to disguise the body? And why wasn’t there any attempt to hide it?  Milo Perho, an art gallery owner specializing in profiling killers, is called in to assist. What follows is a nerve-wracking game where every move costs a life, and no one wants it to end in checkmate.

About MILO 2:

They know your every step.

When a strikingly beautiful woman sits across from art gallerist Milo Perho at a restaurant terrace in Helsinki, he has no idea where the meeting will lead. Soon, the Helsinki police are dealing with multiple murders, and someone is after Milo, someone who knows his past all too well. A deadly chase begins, where the predator could be anyone, and there’s nowhere to hide.

MILO 2 is a razor-sharp thriller set in the world of espionage. It continues the Milo series, following the story begun in book #1.

Rights sold for MILO series:

FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
ESTONIA: Pegasus (2 books)
FRANCE: Mera Editions
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
ITALY: Piemme / Mondadori Group
JAPAN: Kodansha
LATVIA: Latvijas Mediji
NORWAY: Aschehoug
FILM & TV: Solar Films

Reading Materials:

50 p. English sample + synopsis, Finnish edition, German edition, French Edition, Synopsis of Book #2

Rights sold for Jessica Niemi series:

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

Reading Materials:
English editions, German editions, Finnish editions

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.

Jessica Niemi series is being adapted into a English-language TV series by Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures

“An exceptional combination of hardboiled Scandi-noir and eerie ghost story. [--] Seeck marries breathtaking suspense with an expertly drawn heroine. This is guaranteed to send shivers up even the most unshakable readers’ spines." – Publisher's Weekly, starred review (Ghost island)

"Each new step has been an artistic success. Max Seeck, last year's winner of the Glass Key Award for best Nordic detective story, has a golden touch for Finnish suspense fiction." - Kai Hirvasnoro, Kansan Uutiset newspaper

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

His Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! The new MILO series has already been sold to 9 territories, 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.

Photo credit: Mikko Rasila

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Milo #2: Betrayed

Max Seeck


2024, Crime & Suspense

Milo #1: Checkmate

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

By the Seashore by Sanna Nyqvist sold to Estonia!

We are thrilled to let you know that the Estonian rights for Sanna Nyqvist‘s non-fiction book By the Seashore: How Writers Discovered the Sea, have been acquired by Rahva Raamat! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Originally published in Finland in April 2024, By the Seashore quickly became one of the most outstanding Finnish non-fiction titles of 2024. It was nominated for the prestigious Finlandia Prize in Non-Fiction, it received the Lauri Jäntti Prize Honorary Award of 2024, and it was selected as one of the 10 best non-fiction titles of 2024 by Suomen Kuvalehti magazine.

Download materials for BY THE SEASHORE here!

By the Seashore: How Writers Discovered the Sea

Sanna Nyqvist

Follow Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, Tove Jansson and other classic writers to the beach and experience the landscape through the eyes of a writer.

By the Seashore is a fascinating journey through salt-scented cultural history and to the authors’ favourite beaches. Jane Austen adventured along the south coast of England, Marcel Proust returned year after year to the shimmering light of Normandy, and Tove Jansson created her own paradise on an island in the Gulf of Finland. The magic of the beaches is part of our shared experience and our relationship with nature. But how long will we be able to experience our beloved beaches as they are now? This was already being pondered by August Strindberg in the late 19th century, when industry and tourism were shaping the Stockholm archipelago.

By the Seashore is a gripping and surprising account of why beaches have become landscapes of emotion, safe havens as well as islands of adventure.

BY THE SEASHORE: HOW WRITERS DISCOVERED THE SEA
RANNALLA. MITEN KIRJAILIJAT LÖYSIVÄT MEREN
Tammi, 2024, 283 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample
English summary
Author’s vision
Finnish edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat
GERMANY: mareverlag

About author


Sanna Nyqvist

Sanna Nyqvist is a literary scholar, author and columnist. She holds a Ph.D in Comparative Literature from the University of Helsinki and has published academic articles and books on imitation and authorship as well as on the lure of the sea. Passionate about the power of literature to transform our lives, she teaches literary analysis to engineering students at the Aalto University and writes columns in the literary magazine Parnasso that open new, often surprising perspectives to classical and contemporary literature.

She has written three nonfiction books on literature for a wider audience, all of which have elicited praise from reviewers and readers. Her latest book, By the Seashore, was nominated for the Finlandia Prize in the nonfiction category and received 2024 Lauri Jäntti Prize Honorary Award.

Sanna Nyqvist lives in Helsinki and, as soon as the sea ice releases its hold in the spring, heads for her beloved island in the archipelago of the Gulf of Finland.

Bibliography


2024, Narrative Nonfiction, Memories & Biographies

By the Seashore: How Writers Discovered the Sea

Sanna Nyqvist

Danish and Swedish rights sold for Laura Lähteenmäki’s COUNT SILENTLY TO TEN!

We are thrilled to announce two new deals for Laura Lähteenmäki‘s stunning middle-grade novel Count Silently to Ten!

Firstly, the Swedish rights for the title were pre-empted by Lilla Piratförlaget in a deal closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Lilla Piratförlaget is a children’s and YA publisher founded in 2011. They aim to publish books that entertain and provoke, evoke emotions, and leave a lasting impression.

Secondly, the Danish rights for the title were acquired by Straarup & Co in an auction! The deal was closed by Martti Berner at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

This middle-grade novel has captured the hearts of publishers, with rights already sold in six countries: Italy, Germany (pre-empt), Estonia, Poland, Sweden (pre-empt), and Denmark. Its heartfelt story has resonated deeply with readers.

Described by the 2024 Nordic Council Literature Prize jury:

“Count Silently to Ten” is a fluently written, linguistically beautiful children’s novel that describes a summer on the border between childhood and adolescence. Although the book depicts childhood in our time, the portrayal of play captures the timeless charm and power of childhood games.”

And Wiebke Andersen, editor at the German publisher, Carlsen Verlag:

“Anyone who is (or once was) ten years old will identify 100% with this girl caught between childhood and growing up struggling to find her place. A beautifully told, finely observed children’s book about the power of friendship.”

And Olivia at Lilla Piratförlaget, Sweden

“A wonderful story about friendship and belonging, and about play as both a source of power and a refuge when you’re not quite ready to grow up yet.”

Click here to request reading materials for COUNT SILENTLY TO TEN!

Publication Info:
Laske salaa kymmeneen, WSOY 2024, 206 pp

Rights Sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.),
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu
GERMANY: Carlsen
ITALY: Terre di Mezzo Editore
POLAND: Muchomor
SWEDEN: Lilla Piratförlaget

Reading Material:
English sample & synopsis
Full Swedish translation
Finnish edition

About author


Laura Lähteenmäki

Laura Lähteenmäki is a Finnish writer of children’s and youth literature. Since her debut youth novel in 1998, she has written around twenty works. Lähteenmäki writes about young people’s lives and their search for a place of their own. She was awarded the Arvid Lydecken prize for a first-class children’s novel for her book Marenkikeiju in 2007 and her work has also been nominated for the Topelius and Finlandia Junior prizes. Her latest novel Count Silently to Ten was nominated for the 2024 Nordic Council Literature Prize! Laura Lähteenmäki lives in Jyväskylä and, in addition to her work as a writer, she is executive editor in a publishing house.

Bibliography


2023, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Count Silently To Ten

Laura Lähteenmäki

Blood of Angels by Johanna Sinisalo sold to Hungary!

We are happy to let you know that the Hungarian rights for Johanna Sinisalo‘s novel Blood of Angels have been acquired by Tuan Publishing! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Originally published in Finland in 2011, Blood of Angels is a arrestingly timely exploration of what will happen when bees, one of the chief pollinators of many of the crops and plants that we use for food suddenly disappear. The story centers on Orvo, an undertaker and a passionate beekeeper, who finds out that his bees have disappeared. At the same time, he also finds out that his son Eero has secretly been an animal rights activist, setting up a conflict between generations and different ways of life.

Blood of Angels has been sold to 8 territories!
Rights are available in, e.g., Germany, Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, Japan…

Download materials for BLOOD OF ANGELS here!

Blood of Angels

Johanna Sinisalo

“The queen is dead. The bees are gone. Thus, the world is about to end. But if you follow the bees, there are doors in the air. And a desperate man is ready to go through one.”

Albert Einstein is claimed to have said that if bees disappear from the earth, mankind has four years left to live. When mass bee-vanishings of unprecedented scope and devastation hit the United States, Orvo, a beekeeper, knows all too well where it will lead. And one day, when Orvo goes to check on his hives, he is forced to witness something he wishes he had never lived to see. The queen is dead. The epidemic has spread to Europe. The world is coming to an end.

The light of Orvo’s life is his son, Eero, whose secret animal activist existence Orvo discovers far too late. Eero’s activities as a defender of animal rights and an ardent opponent of Orvo’s inherited way of life propel the family into irreversible, gutwrenching conflict. Orvo takes a desperate step onto a path where only he and the bees know the way… This novel is a magical plunge into the myth of death and immortality, a tale of human blindness in the face of overwhelming choices and inevitabilities.

BLOOD OF ANGELS
ENKELTEN VERTA
Teos, 2011, 275 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Teos (orig.)
BULGARIA: Perseus Publishing House
CROATIA: Naklada Ljevak
DENMARK: Jensen & Dalgaard
FRANCE: Actes Sud
HUNGARY: Tuan Publishing Company
POLAND: Foksal Publishing Group
UNITED KINGDOM: Peter Owen Limited

About author


Johanna Sinisalo

Johanna Sinisalo (b. 1958) is a Finlandia Prize-winning superstar of Finnish speculative fiction. In addition to her ten novels, she has also written short fiction and film and television screenplays. Her works have been translated into twenty languages.

Sinisalo has won several literary prizes also abroad, such as the 2004 James Tiptree, Jr. Award and the 2017 Prometheus Award, and was nominated for the Nebula Award in 2008, the Prix Escapades in 2012, and the Grand Prix de L’Imaginaire in 2017. In 2022, Johanna Sinisalo was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal for services to Finnish literature.

Photo credit: Katri Kallio

Bibliography


2025, Literary Fiction, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Swan Song

Johanna Sinisalo


2021, Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Storm Flute

Johanna Sinisalo


2020, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Strangers Inside

Johanna Sinisalo


2018, Fantasy & Science Fiction

IRON SKY: RENATE'S STORY

Johanna Sinisalo


2013, Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Core of The Sun

Johanna Sinisalo


2011, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Blood of Angels

Johanna Sinisalo


2010, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

The Möbius Twist

Johanna Sinisalo


2008, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Birdbrain

Johanna Sinisalo


2000, Fantasy & Science Fiction

Troll

Johanna Sinisalo

Another deal to Count Silently to Ten by Laura Lähteenmäki!

We are thrilled to share that Count Silently to Ten by Laura Lähteenmäki, the poignant middle-grade novel and Nordic Literary Prize nominee, has been acquired for publication in even more countries!

Following the recent announcement of rights being sold to Germany and Estonia, as well as the earlier acquisition to Italy, we are excited to reveal that Polish publisher Muchomor has now acquired the rights to publish this beautiful middle-grade novel in Poland. The deal was closed by Martti Berner.

The rights are still available in France, Sweden, Hungary, Greece…

Click here to request reading materials for COUNT SILENTLY TO TEN.

Publication Info:
Laske salaa kymmeneen, WSOY 2024, 206 pp

Rights Sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.),
ESTONIA: Hea Lugu
GERMANY: Carlsen
ITALY: Terre di Mezzo Editore
POLAND: Muchomor

Reading Material:
English sample & synopsis
Full Swedish translation
Finnish edition

About author


Laura Lähteenmäki

Laura Lähteenmäki is a Finnish writer of children’s and youth literature. Since her debut youth novel in 1998, she has written around twenty works. Lähteenmäki writes about young people’s lives and their search for a place of their own. She was awarded the Arvid Lydecken prize for a first-class children’s novel for her book Marenkikeiju in 2007 and her work has also been nominated for the Topelius and Finlandia Junior prizes. Her latest novel Count Silently to Ten was nominated for the 2024 Nordic Council Literature Prize! Laura Lähteenmäki lives in Jyväskylä and, in addition to her work as a writer, she is executive editor in a publishing house.

Bibliography


2023, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Count Silently To Ten

Laura Lähteenmäki

LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES 4: Crystal Skull by Magdalena Hai and Teemu Juhani sold to the Netherlands!

We are excited to announce that the Dutch rights for LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES 4: CRYSTAL SKULL by Magdalena Hai and Teemu Juhani have been sold to De Vier Windstreken! The deal was closed by Martti Berner.

THE LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES series features spooky mystery paired with laugh-out-loud humour for young readers from 5 years and up and is also perfect for reluctant readers. The series has been sold to 30 territories worldwide, and the 4th book was just published in Finland on January 13.

The LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES is written by bestselling author Magdalena Hai, who won the Finlandia Prize of 2023 for her YA novel THE HORNED GOD. Her texts are perfectly accompanied by Teemu Juhani’s humorous illustrations full of funny details, which make the series an irresistible package!

Will yours be next? We have full English texts for books 1-4 for you to read! Rights to the bestselling series are still available in UK, US, Arabic, Iceland…

Request the full reading materials for the series or individual titles here!

 

Remember that the FILI translation grants are open now!

The grants cover up to 70% of translation costs, and for children’s picture books there are also printing grants.

Grants, on average, cover 50–70% of translation costs. Additional funding is also available for printing costs for comics, graphic novels, and children’s picture books. Read more here: APPLY FOR FILI GRANTS

In 2025publishers from French-speaking and German-speaking Europe are guaranteed a 70% grant for eligible translations. Learn more here: GRANT FOR FRENCH- AND GERMAN-SPEAKING EUROPE.

We are also currently scheduling for both London and Bologna Book Fairs – get in touch with us at  info@ahlbackagency.com.

We’d love to see you!


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

Nina 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.

#4  THE CRYSTAL SKULL
The Little Shop of Nightmares crew finds out that a pirate sailing competition is coming to town! Competing to be the fastest pirate ship are the Ghosts, the Zombies, the Sirens and the Better Pirates – all of whom want the Crystal Skull that has been given to Mr. Kook for safekeeping at the Little Shop of Nightmares. When the Crystal Skull suddenly goes missing from the shop, little Nina and her friends start their investigation – and the suspects are a-plenty!

Rights sold: LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES SERIES
FINLAND: WSOY(orig.)
ALBANIA: Muza
AZERBAIJAN: Alatoran
BULGARIA: Emas
CATALAN: La Galera
CZECH REPUBLIC: Euromedia
DENMARK: Vild Maskine
ESTONIA: Postimees Kirjastus
FRANCE: Éditions Milan
GERMANY: HarperCollins Schneiderbuch
GREECE: Dioptra
HUNGARY: Cerkabella Konyvkiado
ITALY: Cart’ Armata Edizioni
JAPAN: Holp Publishing
KOREA: Gilbutschool
LATVIA: Latvijas Mediji
LITHUANIA: Briedis
NETHERLANDS: De Vier Windstreken
NORWAY: Fontini
POLAND: Znak
PORTUGAL: PRH Portugal
ROMANIA: Univers Publishing House
RUSSIA: Kompass Guide
SERBIA: Odiseja
SLOVAKIA: Ikar
SWEDEN: Hegas
TAIWAN: Morning Star
TURKEY: Epsilon
UKRAINE: The Old Lion Publishing House
WORLD SPANISH: La Galera

Reading materials:
English PDFs for books #1-#4

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.

Count Silently to Ten sold to Germany and Estonia

We are very excited to announce, not one, but two new deals for our poignant middle grade novel and Nordic Literary Prize nominee Count Silently to Ten by Laura Lähteenmäki!

The German rights were acquired by Carlsen in a pre-empt deal closed by Martti Berner, and the Estonian rights were acquired by Hea Lugu in a deal closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe.

Wiebke Andersen, editor at Carlsen shared her thoughts:

Anyone who is (or once was) ten years old will identify 100% with this girl caught between childhood and growing up struggling to find her place. A beautifully told, finely observed children’s book about the power of friendship.

About COUNT SILENTLY TO TEN:

Myy, Viivi, Heta, Aada, and Camilla are a close-knit group of five girls who call themselves Pätkikset. But as the fourth grade draws to a close, Myy finds that something has changed. She feels that she’s no longer part of the gang. She notices that lively conversations fall silent when she approaches her friends. When the girls hug each other in a tight circle, there’s no room for Myy.

COUNT SILENTLY TO TEN is a story about friendship between girls and the changes that come about as you grow up, but which are difficult to accept. Myy is left out and feels that there may be something wrong with her, since she still wants to play and isn’t interested in make-up and growing up. As things become difficult with the girls, a new boy appears in the area provides a wonderful opportunity for Myy to throw herself into the world of play. Myy and Lassi run to a nearby forest and immerse themselves in a joint game where time and space disappear.

Click here to request reading materials for COUNT SILENTLY TO TEN.

Publication Info:
Laske salaa kymmeneen, WSOY 2024, 206 pp

Rights Sold:
FINLAND: WSOY (orig.), ESTONIA: Hea Lugu, GERMANY: Carlsen, ITALY: Terre di Mezzo Editore

Reading Material:
English sample & synopsis, Full Swedish translation, Finnish edition

About author


Laura Lähteenmäki

Laura Lähteenmäki is a Finnish writer of children’s and youth literature. Since her debut youth novel in 1998, she has written around twenty works. Lähteenmäki writes about young people’s lives and their search for a place of their own. She was awarded the Arvid Lydecken prize for a first-class children’s novel for her book Marenkikeiju in 2007 and her work has also been nominated for the Topelius and Finlandia Junior prizes. Her latest novel Count Silently to Ten was nominated for the 2024 Nordic Council Literature Prize! Laura Lähteenmäki lives in Jyväskylä and, in addition to her work as a writer, she is executive editor in a publishing house.

Bibliography


2023, Middle Grade (8-12 Years)

Count Silently To Ten

Laura Lähteenmäki

Hungarian rights sold for RASPBERRY BOAT REFUGEE by Miika Nousiainen!

We are also glad to report that the Hungarian rights to RASPBERRY BOAT REFUGEE, the debut novel by Miika Nousiainen, have been acquired by Polar! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe.

Originally published in 2007, Nousiainen’s humorous description of one Finn’s yearning to become a Swede at any cost has become one of the classics of Finnish humor novels. A film based on the novel and co-produced by Finnish and Swedish companies was released in 2014.

After RASPBERRY BOAT REFUGEE, Nousiainen has published five more novels and become a popular panellist in Finnish comedy panel shows. His latest novel PUSH, PACE, POSITION, PRAY, detailing his journey to becoming a runner, was published last October and has already been sold to Czechia.

We are also happy to remind you that the latest FILI translation grant application round is ongoing and will last until February 1st!
You can find more information here: Translation and printing grants for publishers outside Finland – FILI

Now is the perfect time to acquire the rights for this or any of the other amazing titles on our list!

Download materials for RASPBERRY BOAT REFUGEE here!

Raspberry Boat Refugee

Miika Nousiainen

An extremely funny debut novel that tenderly depicts the western neighbours of Finland – so close, yet so far. 

Mikko Virtanen has a problem. He does not want to be a Finnish man, the grumpy epitome of anxiety and low self-esteem. He has decided to become Swedish instead, by any means necessary.

The road to Swedishness is a long one, and the price to pay high. But what wouldn’t you do for a chance to live as a member of the most democratic society of the world, in the ‘folkhemmet’ of ABBA, mamma’s meat balls and social democracy?

Mikko Virtanen becomes Mikael Andersson – the empathic, loving and dialogical father of two from Gothenburg, but when his lifetime wish is fulfilled, everything goes haywire.

RASPBERRY BOAT REFUGEE
VADELMAVENEPAKOLAINEN
Otava, 2007, 276 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English sample and synopsis
German edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
GERMANY: Nagel & Kimche
HUNGARY: Polar Egyesület
SWEDEN: Brombergs

About author


Miika Nousiainen

Miika Nousiainen (b. 1973 in Säynätsalo) has worked as a news and current affairs journalist for MTV3's news department. In addition, he has written for several popular TV-shows.

Nousiainen’s debut novel, Raspberry Boat Refugee (2007), tells the story of Mikko Virtanen, a man who desperately wants to become Swedish at any cost. In this tragicomic work, Nousiainen makes sharp observations about our western neighbor and illustrates that we’re all self-proclaimed experts on Sweden.

Roots (2016) follows the search for a missing father, taking readers across continents from Lieksa, Finland, to Australia. The book was also well-received internationally.

In Facelift (2020), Nousiainen gently explores themes of family and the longing for connection.

In addition, he has written The Danger of the Long Distance Runner (2009) and Forrest Giant (2011).

Nousiainen's novels have been adapted countless times and translated into languages such as Swedish, German, Dutch, Italian, and Estonian.

Miika Nousiainen have been awarded with: Laila Hirvisaari Foundation Grant (2008), Kalevi Jäntti Prize (2009) and Honorable Mention in the Sports Museum Foundation’s Sports Book of the Year Competition (2010)

Photo credit: Jonne Räsänen / Otava 2020

Bibliography


2024, Commercial/Upmarket, Humor

Push, Pace, Position, Pray

Miika Nousiainen


2020, Commercial/Upmarket, Humor

Facelift

Miika Nousiainen


2016, Humor

Roots

Miika Nousiainen


2007, Humor

Raspberry Boat Refugee

Miika Nousiainen

Bulgarian rights sold for GHOST ISLAND by Max Seeck!

We are happy to announce that EMAS has acquired the Bulgarian rights to GHOST ISLAND, book #4 in the Jessica Niemi series by Max Seeck! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe.

Jessica Niemi series by the New York Times bestselling author Max Seeck is a true international phenomenon – the rights for the series have been sold to 41 territories and a TV series based on the titles is in development. Additionally, book #3 in the series, THE LAST GRUDGE, won the prestigious Glass Key Award in 2023.

In addition to the Jessica Niemi series, Max’s new crime series, focusing on the investigations of criminal profiler and art gallerist Milo Perho, has also gained traction, with rights sold to 7 territories and a TV series based on the first novel in pre-production.

We are also happy to remind you that the latest FILI translation grant application round is ongoing and will last until February 1st!
You can find more information here: Translation and printing grants for publishers outside Finland – FILI

Now is the perfect time to acquire the rights for this or any of the other amazing titles on our list!

Download materials for GHOST ISLAND here!

Ghost Island

Max Seeck

The fourth title in the NYT-bestselling Jessica Niemi series!

A month after solving the Zetterborg case, Jessica Niemi is ordered on paid leave after an altercation, and she decides to travel to a small island in the Åland archipelago to escape the attention and find some peace. Meanwhile, a group of old people arrive on the same island, and Jessica learns that they are the remaining members of the Doves, the people who had to flee from Finland to Sweden during World War II and ended up living in an orphanage on the very same island.

One evening, Jessica hears a local legend about a girl who also inhabited the orphanage once, but who was mentally ill. Every night at two o’clock, the girl put on her blue coat and went to stand on the pier, waiting for something that never showed up. One night she disappeared and was never found. That same night, one of the remaining Doves dies.

Jessica soon finds out that two other people have previously faced the same fate on the same island, and all three people seem to have something to do with the girl in the blue coat. A chain of events starts to escalate, and we don’t know whether we’re facing a killer or – just like the legend says – a ghost, the girl in the blue coat.

Jessica Niemi is once again facing a scary mystery where the stakes are considerable. Whilst battling her own demons, uncertain what is real and what is not, she needs to find out the truth.

GHOST ISLAND
LOUKKO
Tammi, 2022, 358 pp.

READING MATERIALS
English edition

RIGHTS SOLD:
FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
BULGARIA: EMAS
DENMARK: Gutkind
ESTONIA: Kirjastus Pegasus
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe
HUNGARY: Animus
LATVIA: Latvijas Mediji
NETHERLANDS: A.W. Bruna
NORWAY: Aschehoug
SWEDEN: Albert Bonniers Förlag
UK: Welbeck
USA & CANADA: Berkley / Penguin Random House
WORLD ARABIC: Arab Scientific Publishers

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.

Jessica Niemi series is being adapted into a English-language TV series by Greg Silverman’s Stampede Ventures

“An exceptional combination of hardboiled Scandi-noir and eerie ghost story. [--] Seeck marries breathtaking suspense with an expertly drawn heroine. This is guaranteed to send shivers up even the most unshakable readers’ spines." – Publisher's Weekly, starred review (Ghost island)

"Each new step has been an artistic success. Max Seeck, last year's winner of the Glass Key Award for best Nordic detective story, has a golden touch for Finnish suspense fiction." - Kai Hirvasnoro, Kansan Uutiset newspaper

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

His Jessica Niemi series landed him on the New York Times Bestseller list! The new MILO series has already been sold to 9 territories, 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.

Photo credit: Mikko Rasila

Bibliography


2025, Crime & Suspense

Milo #2: Betrayed

Max Seeck


2024, Crime & Suspense

Milo #1: Checkmate

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

Ahlback Agency Year of Books & Happy Holidays!

We would like to take a moment to look back at another wonderful year of books and celebrate our authors and their many successes in 2024!

We have welcomed new authors and screenwriters, and new colleagues alike (Julia, Martti & Satu), and cheered on our authors as they won awards and hit the bestsellers list. We are thankful to all our publishing friends who have acquired rights and helped to spread Finnish literature far and wide.

We wish you all happy holidays and a good start into the new year – we are excited to talk more about books with you in 2025 and can’t wait to share our spring list with you soon! Enjoy your well deserved break and time with friends and loved ones!

All the best from us at Elina Ahlbäck Literary Agency,

Elina, Julia, Martti & Satu

2024 Sales highlights

We were thrilled to see that our authors had a successful year in sales both at home and internationally! Here is a selection of sales that we would like to highlight:

  • FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY by Martta Kaukonen has now sold to 17 territories, and got her first three-book-deal from Iceland and the prestigious UK literary magazine Literary Review selected the book as one of the top crime novels of the year
  • MILO by Max Seeck, was a domestic bestseller with over 40,000 copies sold and for the first time Max’s book was acquired by a Japanese publisher, Kodensha.
  • The four books in Elina Backman’s SAANA HAVAS crime series sold over 140,000 copies in Finland
  • The three books in Eeva Loukko’s RONJA VAARA crime series sold 50,000 copies in Finland, while the fourth is being published in January 2025

   

   

  • First Finnish romantasy novel, THE DAUGHTER OF TWO BLOODS, was a domestic bestseller with 6,000 copies sold
  • Arttu Tuominen’s RIVER DELTA series came to an end, with a bang. The final book sold over 20,000 copies, bringing the series’ total sales to an impressive 200,000 copies
  • Arttu Unkari and Kai Vaalio’s DAD MAN middle grade series sold over 140,000 copies in Finland

  

2024 Award highlights

There have been many reason to celebrate our authors this year! A big round of congratulations to all award winners and nominees!

FINLANDIA PRIZE NOMINEES:

This year we had a record breaking amount of our talented authors nominated for the prestigious Finlandia Prize in all categories:

   

   

Our Award Winners:

 

Mia Kankamaki The Women I think About At Night US 

Our Award Nominees:

   

                                   

Other highlights