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

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

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

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

– Patryk Wachnik, Transatlantic Foundation, Poland

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

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

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

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

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

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

Original Publication:
WSOY/Johnny Kniga, 2024
352 Pages

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

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

About author


Jessikka Aro

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

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

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Bibliography


2024, Narrative Nonfiction

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

Jessikka Aro


2019, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction, History & Politics

Putin's Trolls

Jessikka Aro

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Danish rights for THE MANTICORE sold to Bogoo!

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We are thrilled to announce that Danish rights for our illustrated middle grade novel THE MANTICORE by award-winning and internationally bestselling Maria Turtschaninoff and illustrator Peter Bergting have been acquired by Bogoo! The deal was negotiated by Elina Ahlbäck at Ahlback Agency. Congratulations, Maria & Peter, and Bogoo!

Here are some kind words from Bogoo’s acquiring editor Julie Pedersen:

“We’re extremely excited about publishing Mantikoran in Denmark. The book portrays all the right elements of horror and dark fantasy (nicely balanced) that we were looking for in a supernatural thriller for children; from the exciting characters to the eerie atmosphere depicted through this well-woven tale written by Maria Turtschaninoff, which has been splendidly illuminated through the beautiful illustrations by Peter Bergting. We’re absolutely thrilled to add this title to our list.”

THE MANTICORE is a supernatural thriller told from the perspective of a young girl called Li who starts suspecting that her stepmother is in fact a Manticore, an ancient monster intending on devouring the protagonist and her baby brother. She realizes that no one can help her because no one would believe her.

So as the Manticore starts fattening up the children, the protagonist hunts for a way to defeat her. She soon realizes that the only way to kill a Manticore is with a mythical object: the horn of a unicorn. But where can she possibly find one?

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

Download the fully illustrated English reading materials here!

Orig. publication:
Mantikoran, Förlaget, Finland and Rabén & Sjögren, Sweden: September 2024.

Illustrations by Peter Bergting, approx 60 illustrations (b/w + 4-colour). 96 pp.

Reading Material:
Full English & full Swedish illustrated PDF

Rights sold:
SWEDEN: Raben &Sjögren/Förlaget (orig.), FINLAND: Tammi Finnish), Förlaget (Swedish), DENMARK: Bogoo

About author


Maria Turtschaninoff

Maria Turtschaninoff is known for crafting lyrical, historically inspired fantasy stories starring strong female protagonists. In addition to J.R.R. Tolkien, she counts Philip Pullman, Ursula K. Le Guin and C.S. Lewis among her favorite authors. She is a two-time winner of the Society of Swedish Literature Prize, winner of the Swedish YLE Literature Prize, winner of the Thank You for the Book Award, a nominee for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (2020-2024), and winner of the 2014 Finlandia Junior Prize. In 2024, Maria Turtschaninoff won the Eeva Joenpelto Literary Prize (10,000 euro award) for her literary masterpiece Inherited Land.

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

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About author


Peter Bergting

Peter Bergting is one of Sweden’s most renowned comic book artists and fantasy and children book illustrators. His career began in the late ’80s, providing art for games such as Mutant Chronicles, Dungeons & Dragons, Vampire, and Shadowrun. In 2006 he released his first comic book for Image Comics, followed by a run on Strange Girl with Rick Remender. After several graphic novels for IDW, working with Richard Morgan, Alex Irvine, and Joe R. Lansdale, Peter landed his first job for Dark Horse Comics, providing artwork for the Hellboy Roleplaying Game.

Since 2013, Peter has been working with Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden on various titles in the Mignolaverse, such as Baltimore, Joe Golem: Occult Detective, and Frankenstein – to date, more than 44 comic books and eight graphic novels. Peter is the author and/or artist of more than 50 books, including 20 graphic novels. In addition, Peter has provided hundreds of comics, children's, and fantasy books with covers and interior artwork for authors such as Clive Barker, Philip Pullman, J. R. R. Tolkien, Michelle Paver, and Frank Frazetta. For Swedish publisher Semic, Peter has written and illustrated a total of eleven fantasy novels and artbooks.

Peter has been nominated for the August award twice, for “Kråkorna”, and “Vi kommer snart hem igen”. In addition, he has won the Adamson statuette.

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Hungarian deal for THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS FAMILIES IN THE WORLD

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Hungarian fans of THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD will be happy to hear that their publisher, Scolar Kiado have acquired Hungarian rights to Hannu Sokala‘s independent bestselling sequel: THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS FAMILIES IN THE WORLD!

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

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

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

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

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

Maailman 50 vaarallisinta sukua
Otava/Nemo, 2023

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

About author


Hannu Sokala

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

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

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

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

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

Read more

Bibliography


2023, General Nonfiction

The 50 Most Dangerous Families in the World

Hannu Sokala

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

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We are thrilled to announce that Mexican publisher VR Editoras has acquired World Spanish rights (excl. Spain) in a two-book deal for PRANKENSTEIN books 1 + 2 by Kaisa Paasto and Mari Ahokoivu! The deal was negotiated by our wonderful co-agent Anna Ascolies at IMC Agencia.

Download the full English PDF for Prankenstein 1 here!

PRANKENSTEIN 2 is slated for release in Spring 2025, but until then here’s a sneak peek showing us that, despite appearances, Elmeri’s prank-ventures aren’t quite over:

 

The very popular Prankenstein is back!
Well, not quite. Since the whole debacle last spring Elmeri has sworn off pranks.

No more pranks. At all. Zilch.
But then there’s a development. Someone is pranking principal Ruustinen and making it look like it was Elmeri. And it gets worse.

Elmeri was excited for the big trip to Stockholm with Mima (the girl next door who’s “ok”) and the other student council members. But now, as punishment, Principal Ruustinen has banned Elmeri from going!
Obviously the one doing the framing is Elmeri’s arch-enemy Leo – or is it?

The original Prankenstein has to come out of retirement. You can’t rest on your laurels when great deeds await.

 

For fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Kaisa Paasto’s hilarious writing and Mari Ahokoivu’s engaging art make this highly illustrated middle grade a delight to read!

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

PRANKENSTEIN
Tammi, March 2024, 112 pp.

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Tammi
POLAND: Greg
WORLD SPANISH (excl. Spain): VR EDITORAS Mexico

About author


Kaisa Paasto

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

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About author


Mari Ahokoivu

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

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

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German rights sold for STOP CHASING HAPPINESS!

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The secret to happiness is traveling to Germany! German language rights to STOP CHASING HAPPINESS by Frank Martela have been sold to Knesebeck, in a deal closed by Anna Kappauf at Ahlback Agency.

For anyone else who wants to jump on the bandwagon, the full English MS will be delivered in just three months (Sept. 2024)! In the meantime, for any who missed it, click here to see Frank Martela’s recent interview with NBC in English on the World Happiness Report.

We currently have English sample chapters and a proposal, among other materials.

As it’s been awhile since we talked about the author himself, here are some tidbits to inform you about Frank Martela’s background as one of the world’s leading happiness researchers:

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.

See why Finland has been named the #1 happiest country for the 7th year in a row and click here to download reading materials for STOP CHASING HAPPINESS!

 

 

Rights sold:

FINLAND: Gummerus

GERMANY: Knesebeck

WORLD ENGLISH: Allen & Unwin

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.

Read more Author's page

Bibliography


2025, Personal Growth & Lifestyle

Stop Chasing Happiness: Counterintuitive Life Advice From the World’s Happiest Country

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

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Polish rights for THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT sold to Swiat Ksiazki!

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We are very happy to announce that Swiat Ksiazki have acquired Polish language rights to THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT by Katja Kettu, in a deal closed by Anna Kappauf at the Ahlback Agency!

With magical realism reminiscent of Haruki Murakami’s novels and more mature Studio Ghibli films, Katja Kettu’s stunning novel spins through ages whilst surrendering to the wilderness
of nature and the deep yearning for those that inherit our legacy.

Rights are still available in France, the US & UK, Spain…

Aside from the full Finnish manuscript, we have an English sample and synopsis, along with PDFs in previously published language upon request.

Click here to download materials for THE INVESTIGATIONS OF A CERTAIN CAT

 

 

Rights sold: FINLAND: Otava (orig.), CZECHIA: Argo, DENMARK: Lindhardt og Ringhof, ESTONIA: Koolibri, GERMANY: Weissbooks, HUNGARY: Gondolat, ITALY: Mondadori, NORWAY: Pax Forlag, POLAND: Swiat Ksiazki, ROMANIA: Humanitas, SWEDEN: Albert Bonniers

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

Read more

Bibliography


2023, Literary Fiction

The Investigations of a Certain Cat

Katja Kettu

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MEMORY OF WATER by Emmi Itäranta sold to Thailand!

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One of our top sellers, MEMORY OF WATER by Emmi Itäranta, has sold to Thailand! Thai language rights were acquired by Library House in a deal closed by Julia Bogen at Ahlback Agency.

MEMORY OF WATER is a story of growing up, of the power of friendship, and, above all, of undying hope in a wrecked world. With the honor of having prose compared to that of Ursula K. Le Guin, this novel has won multiple awards and premiered as an international feature film.

Praise from a starred review in the US’s Library Journal: “The writing is gorgeous and delicate in this dystopian award-winning debut, which is unique in both its setting and the small scale that Finnish author Itäranta employs. A larger world, with huge problems, is hinted at but not shown. Because the reader stays with the beautifully realized character of Noria and the village she inhabits, the tension is high even though the pacing remains measured.”

Rights have sold to over 25 territories, but there are still gaps in Greece, Israel, Slovakia…

Download the English materials for MEMORY OF WATER here!

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Teos (orig.), ALBANIA: Dituria, ARABIC: Dar al Muna, BRAZIL: Editora Record Ltda, BULGARIA: Perseus Publishing House, CHINA: Sichuan People’s Publishing House Co., Ltd., CROATIA: VBZ, CZECH REPUBLIC: Albatros Media a.s./ Plus Publishers, ESTONIA: Koolibri Publishers, FILM RIGHTS: Bufo Oy, FRANCE: Presses de la Cite, GEORGIA: Palitra L Publishing, GERMANY: Reihe Hanser, HUNGARY: Metropolis Media Group Kft., ITALY: Sperling & Kupfer, JAPAN: Nishimura Co., Ltd., LATVIA: Jana Rozes Apgads, LITHUANIA: Nieko Rimto/ Publishing House Nothing Serious, NETHERLANDS: Uitgeverij Atlas Contact, NORTH MACEDONIA: Sakam Knigi, NORWAY: Gresvik Forlag AS, RUSSIA: TEXT, SERBIA: Heliks, SOUTH KOREA: The Book In My Life, SPAIN: Ediciones B, SWEDEN: Modernista, THAILAND: Library House, TURKEY: DOĞAN KİTAP, WORLD ENGLISH: HarperVoyager

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. Her latest novel The Moonday Letters (Kuunpäivän kirjeet) was published in September 2020.

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

Memory of Water 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.

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Bibliography


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

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Italian deal for Elina Backman BEFORE THE POLAR NIGHT FALLS!

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We are excited to announce that Italian publisher Newton Compton Editori have bought the rights to Elina Backman’s “reindeer noir crime” BEFORE THE POLAR NIGHT FALLS (book 3 in the Saana Havas crime series). The Italian deal was closed by Julia Bogen at Ahlback Agency.

Elina Backman’s books have been nominated twice for the Best Translated Crime Novel by the Swedish Crime Writers’ Academy, and for the Best Crime Novel of the Year 2022 by the Finnish Crime Writers’ Society. To top it off, an international TV series based on the novels is in development by Aurora Studios!

Unsurprisingly, her work has garnered rave reviews, comparing her to Stieg Larsson, Jo Nesbø, and Agatha Christie, among other brilliant authors.

Elina Backman continues to be an international favorite, but we still have gaps in Greece, Spain, Israel, Iceland…

We invite you to start this atmospheric and deeply layered series from Book 1: All the King’s Men by downloading materials here!

Before the Polar Night Falls

Elina Backman

The past and the present intertwine in this arresting novel with unforgettable characters – Book 3 in internationally bestselling and award-winning crime series by Elina Backman, sold to 17 territories!

A woman working for a law firm approaches Saana Havas to help with the mystery of her sister’s death. Her sister was found dead in a swamp near the Angeli village in Northern Lapland in 1998, and the murderer has never been caught. The police have given up on the case, no witnesses were ever found in the area of Lapland that covers hundreds of kilometers.

Saana promises to help her and receives all the material the client has collected. Part of this is a manuscript the woman wrote when investigating the case herself years ago. Saana travels to the North and investigates as the winter and polar night keeps creeping closer.

Though part of the Saana Havas series, it’s not necessary to have read the previous installments in the series.

Still Waters Run Deep

Elina Backman

Is evil lurking beneath the calm waters? Still Waters Run Deep is an awaited sequel to the bestselling All the Kings Men!

Three young men are making a documentary film about a mystical hermit, living in the Isle of Sheep in Helsinki. First, one of them disappears, then another one. When one of them is found dead in the nearby nature reserve, the police becmes involved.

Saana Havas, recovering from burnout, hears that her colleague’s younger brother has gone missing and decides to set up a true crime podcast to help with the search. Meanwhile, police commissioner Jan Leino and his team are investigating the disappearance and possible murder of the documentary makers.

When young men disappear and die, it’s ofter regarded just an accident. But could it be that someone is actually hunting for them?

All the King’s Men

Elina Backman

Beginning of a new detective series – already an international hit! A fresh new voice in Scandinavian crime in the vein of Jø Nesbo, Camilla Läckberg, and Tana French!

Saana Havas is a strong female character who is a journalist in Finland solving crime cases, setting up true crime podcasts and more. Saana has been fired from her job as a click-bait journalist, so she decides to spend a summer with her aunt in a small town named Hartola. It sounds like a perfect opportunity to take it easy and recover. But when Saana begins to dig into a case of a teenage girl who died 30 years earlier, the peace of the small town is shaken.

Meanwhile in Helsinki a fire-marked body is found at Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, and crime investigator Jan Leino and his team have a new case in their hands. However, the investigation isn’t going anywhere, and Jan fears that the murder at King’s Gate is just the beginning…

Saana and Jan continue working on their own cases until their paths cross – for more than one reason.

 

Rights sold for BEFORE THE POLAR NIGHT FALLS:

FINLAND: Otava (orig.); DENMARK: Gyldendal; GERMANY: Piper Verlag; ITALY: Newton Compton; SLOVAKIA: Arkus; SWEDEN: Bokfabriken; FILM & TV RIGHTS: Aurora Studios

STILL WATERS RUN DEEP:

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

ALL THE KING’S MEN:

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

About author


Elina Backman

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

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

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

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Bibliography


2024, Crime & Suspense

How to Face Death

Elina Backman


2022, Crime & Suspense

Before the Polar Night Falls

Elina Backman


2022, Crime & Suspense

Unsolved - The Case of Elli Immo

Elina Backman


2021, Crime & Suspense

Still Waters Run Deep

Elina Backman


2020, Crime & Suspense

All the King's Men

Elina Backman

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MINI SCIENCE series sold to China!

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We are thrilled to announce that Chinese rights for our MINI SCIENCE series have been sold to 神秘岛 Mysterium, the children’s imprint of Guangxi Normal University Press in China! The deal was closed by Julia Bogen at Ahlback Agency in collaboration with Clare Chi at The Grayhawk Agency.

The MINI SCIENCE series is by author-illustrator duo Laura Ertimo and Sanna Pelliccioni who have each won multiple awards for their spectacular work.

Start the adventure with your little ones in MINI SCIENCE 1: WHERE ARE YOU?, in which we follow Plop, a little creature who guides us through space to the Earth and from there to the human DNA and finally to the world of atoms.

Who says you have to be “left-brained” or “right-brained”? MINI SCIENCE unabashedly combines creativity and imagination while bravely diving deep into the world of science.

For curious minds, we have the full English PDFs for books 1-3!

Download materials for the MINI SCIENCE series here.

 

ABOUT THE SERIES…

Mini Science series tackles big science questions with lovely illustrations and encourages kids to wonder and ask questions. It feeds curiosity and is designed to start conversations about different topics that children might not think about on their own.

Book 1: WHERE ARE YOU?
In Where Are You?, we follow Plop, a little creature who guides us through space to Earth and from there into human DNA and, finally, to the world of atoms. Zooming in all the way from the enormities of space to the minisculness of atoms, we learn a great deal in between.

Book 2: INVISIBLE WORLD
In this second title of the Mini Science series, the adorable character Plop will discover things one cannot see – electricity, a garden in the fog, darkness, microorganisms and other well-hidden things. When Plop gets sick, he learns about bacteria and viruses and how to avoid them. Vaccinations can seem scary, but they keep us healthy. Sometimes it’s better to stay home, even if it makes you bored, so that soon you can go off to discover the Dark Side of the Moon.

Book 3: THE TRAVELLING PLANTS
In The Travelling Plants our adventurer Plop ponders a tricky question: if rooted to the ground, how can one travel? Plants are the foundation of the Earth’s living network. But they are not here just for animals and humans – plants have their own mysterious life, which, in the end, is not so different from ours. They grow, reproduce and send off their offspring, and indeed, even travel around the world. The Travelling Plants shows how all of us are interconnected and need each other throughout life.

 

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Minerva (orig.); ARABIC: Sefsafa Publishing; CHINA: Guangxi Normal University Press/Mysterium; ESTONIA: Avita; GREECE: Klidarithmos; TURKEY: Yapi Kredi

About author


Laura Ertimo

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

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

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About author


Sanna Pelliccioni

Sanna Pelliccioni is a Finnish illustrator, graphic designer and children’s author living in Helsinki with her Finnish-Italian family. An awarded illustrator, Pelliccioni has been e.g. honoured with being the only Finn named on the IBBY honour list 2022. Pelliccioni utilizes many different techniques in her illustrations, some of her favourites are collage and mixed techniques. She studied Arts and Illustration in Bologna and Macerata, Italy, and Graphic Design at the Pekka Halonen Institute in Finland.

She loves illustrating picture books and poems and making graphic design for book covers and her own books. She also writes for children and young people and concerning the themes of books she’s especially interested in equality, indigenous people, myths and taboos, forest and nature. Pelliccioni is mostly known for her Onni-poika picture book series which started in 2007 and contains 15 books so far.

​Pelliccioni collaborates with authors writing for children and young people and works with many Finnish editors. Some of her books have been translated to Chinese, Korean, Arabic, English and Swedish, Turkish and Estonian.

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Slovak language deal for STELLA!

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Our most boisterous canine character is traveling to Slovakia! We’re pleased to announce that Slovak language rights for STELLA have been acquired by Arkus in a deal closed by Anna Kappauf at Ahlback Agency.

STELLA is an exciting collaboration for our littlest readers between comedian Ted Forsström and Aardman Animations director Åsa Lucander, and was nominated for the Finlandia Prize in 2023. Playful rhymes and interactive storytelling combine to create a cozy picture book kids can read night after night, over and over again.

Praise from Maria Lassén-Seger at Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper (5 star review):

“Children’s books about bedtime are a classic theme, but Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander create something new by presenting STELLA from the dog’s perspective. […] Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander create a nice variation of the durable theme by letting the chaos-at-bedtime-story be about something different than the expected parent-child fight. In STELLA (2023), it is in fact the dog Stella who creates troubles at bedtime.”

We have the full PDF for STELLA in both English and Swedish available.

Click here to download reading materials!

Rights Sold:

FINLAND, SWEDEN: Förlaget (orig. Finland-Swedish); FINLAND: Etana Editions (Finnish); DENMARK: Gads Forlag; ESTONIA: Tammerraamat; GERMANY: Mixtvision; HUNGARY: Cerkabella; NORTH MACEDONIA: Ars Lamina; POLAND: Widnokrag; SLOVAKIA: Arkus

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.

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About author


Ted Forsström

Ted Forsström is a Finnish-Swedish media personality living in Ostrobothnia. He has worked as a comedian, actor, radio host and author, often as part of the duo Ted & Kaj. Today he works with children's programs on Svenska Yle and talks once a week in Finland’s biggest Swedish podcast, Ted & Kaj, together with Kaj Korkea-aho.

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10th Little Mouse title sold to Poland!

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We are thrilled to announce a new deal for the 10th Little Mouse book LITTLE MOUSE GOES ON A CRUISE by Riikka Jäntti, which has sold to Filia in Poland. The deal was closed by Anna Kappauf at Ahlback Agency.

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.

In this latest adventure, Little Mouse is excited for his first trip abroad! Little Mouse packs his backpack, sets off to the port with Mummy Mouse and aunt Lizzie, and walks through a big pipe to get on board.

Rights still available in Greece, Japan, the USA, etc.

Download English materials here!

 

PIKKU HIIRI -sarja
Tammi, 2015-, 48 pp.

Age group: 2+ years

Reading material:
Full English PDFs books #1-#9
Finnish PDF #10

Rights Sold:

FINLAND: Tammi (orig.)
AZERBAIJAN: Alatoran
AUSTRALIA: Scribble/Scribe
BULGARIA: Uniscorp
CHINA: Beijing Yuntu Tech
DENMARK: ABC Forlag
ESTONIA: Rahva Raamat
FRANCE: Cambourakis
GERMANY: Cross Cult
ITALY: Sinnos
NEPAL: Kathalaya
NEW ZEALAND: Scribble/Scribe
POLAND: Filia
PORTUGAL: Harper Collins Iberica
ROMANIA: Editura Paralela 45
RUSSIA: Strecoza
SLOVAKIA: Fortuna
SPAIN (Spanish): Harper Collins Iberica
SPAIN (Catalan): Harper Collins Iberica
SWEDEN: Epix Bokförlag AB
UK: Scribble/Scribe

About author


Riikka Jäntti

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

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

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Bibliography


2024, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes on a Cruise

Riikka Jäntti


2023, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Welcomes Spring

Riikka Jäntti


2023, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes to the Museum

Riikka Jäntti


2022, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Fables

Riikka Jäntti


2022, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse and the Birthday Present

Riikka Jäntti


2021, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Goes Camping

Riikka Jäntti


2020, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Summer

Riikka Jäntti


2019, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Winter

Riikka Jäntti


2018, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Holiday

Riikka Jäntti


2017, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse's Christmas

Riikka Jäntti


2016, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse Helps Out

Riikka Jäntti


2015, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Little Mouse

Riikka Jäntti

Related news

World English Rights sold to STOP CHASING HAPPINESS by Frank Martela

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We are very happy to announce that the World English language rights to Frank Martela’s STOP CHASING HAPPINESS has been sold to Allen & Unwin! This deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at Elina Ahlback Agency.

Finally, the secrets of Finnish happiness will be shared with the English-speaking world. Frank delivers the full English manuscript in September 2024, and Allen & Unwin plans to publish in March 2025. Congratulations, Frank! 

Praise: Allen & Unwin, Non-Fiction Editor Erika Koljonen said:
”As a Finn living in the UK, one of the questions I’m most often asked is “why are Finnish people so happy?” – and now I have an answer to give in the form of Frank’s wonderful book! I’m beyond excited to be bringing Frank’s wit and insight on happiness and life satisfaction to an English-speaking audience, and for Frank to have found the perfect home at Allen & Unwin.”

Professor Frank Martela, one of the leading researchers of happiness and meaning in life, has been sharing his insights into the Finnish way of living in numerous articles, lastly in CNBC.

What a perfect time to acquire rights! Finland being the world’s happiest country 7th time in a row!

We now have three English sample chapters of the book! Rights are still available for France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, etc! 

Download the English materials for STOP CHASING HAPPINESS here!

Stop Chasing Happiness: Counterintuitive Life Advice from the World’s Happiest Country
Approx. 40,000 words

Rights sold:
FINLAND: Gummerus (Spring 2025)
WORLD ENGLISH LANGUAGE: Allen & Unwin (March 2025)

Reading materials:
English sample chapters & book proposal available
Full English ms. in September 2024

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.

Read more Author's page

Bibliography


2025, Personal Growth & Lifestyle

Stop Chasing Happiness: Counterintuitive Life Advice From the World’s Happiest Country

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

Related news

3-book deal for the RIVER DELTA series by Arttu Tuominen!

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We are thrilled to announce a new three-book deal for Arttu Tuominen’s RIVER DELTA series!
His Dutch publisher De Fontein has acquired books 4-6 (The Shamed, The Liberator, The Staged), thus completing the series! The deal was concluded by Anna Kappauf at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

The RIVER DELTA series by Arttu Tuominen has seen commercial success and garnered praise from readers and critics alike, both at home and abroad. Set in the city of Pori by the Gulf of Bothnia, a Finnish police unit has to solve crimes that force them to consider their own acts and values. The series has sold to 7 territories, and each book can be read as a standalone.

The series has risen to Spiegel Bestselling list in Germany and book #2, JEOPARDY, won the 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, Norway…

Download the English materials for the RIVER DELTA series here!

RIVER DELTA SERIES

WSOY 2019-2024

Reading material:
English samples and synopses
Series presentation
French editions books 1-2
Finnish editions (6 books)

Rights sold to River Delta Series:

FINLAND: WSOY (orig.)
DENMARK: Modtryk (6 books)
FRANCE: La Martinière (4 books)
GERMANY: Bastei Lübbe (5 books)
ITALY: Piemme (2 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 lives in Pori and works as  an environmental inspector. During the evenings, he writes dark and tough crime novels. Tuominen is skilled at giving a strong voice to both sides of the law, a humane and a recognisable voice.

Read more

Bibliography


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

Related news

Many new Children’s and YA deals ahead of Bologna Book Fair!

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We are excited to share five new children’s and YA deals with you!

To start, we are happy to report two new deals for the Finlandia-winning YA title THE HORNED GOD by Magdalena Hai! Metropolis Media acquired the Hungarian rights and Bohdan acquired the Ukrainian rights. Both deals were closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Agency.

Metropolis Metropolis Media is a Hungarian publishing house that mainly publishes science fiction, fantasy, horror, and thrillers. Their authors include Arthur C. Clarke, Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Robert A. Heinlein, Cory Doctorow, Jodi Taylor, Jack McDevitt, Jose Antonio Cotrina, Johanna Sinisalo, and Robert Silverberg.

Publishing house Bohdan publishes adult and children’s fiction as well as educational titles. Their authors include Lewis Carroll, Stanislaw Lem, Maurice Leblanc, Henry Fielding, T.S. Eliot, etc.

THE HORNED GOD is now sold into 8 languages! Rights are still available for France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Poland, …

Download the English materials for THE HORNED GOD here!

Furthermore, the Polish rights for the Finlandia-nominated picture book STELLA by Ted Forsström & Åsa Lucander have been sold to Widnokrag Publishing House in a deal closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Agency.

Established in 2011, Widnokrag is a Polish children’s and YA publisher and their international authors include Andrew Norriss, Katherine Marsh, Anton Bergman, Emma Adbåge, Mette Vedsø, Evelyne Brisou-Pellen, Maiwenn Alix, Magdalena Hai, Teemu Juhani, Timo Parvela, Bjørn Sortland, Pasi Pitkänen, etc.

STELLA is now sold into 8 languages! The rights are still available for Czechia, France, Italy, Spain, the UK,…

Download the English materials for STELLA here!

And in more picture book news, the Latvian rights to THE FOX AND SILENCE by Reetta Niemelä and Eri Shimatsuka have been sold to Latvijas Mediji. The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Agency.

Latvijas Mediji publishing house is part of a larger media group consisting of  book publishing, newspapers, magazines, and bookstores. Their authors include Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Max Seeck, Gerald Durrell, B.B. Easton, Giacomo Mazzariol, etc.

The rights for THE FOX AND SILENCE are still available for Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, the UK,…

Download the English materials for THE FOX AND THE SILENCE here!

And last but not least, Penguin Random House Portugal have acquired the Portuguese rights in the THE LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES #4: The Crystal Skull by Magdalena Hai & Teemu Juhani. The deal was closed by Elsa Lindström at Elina Ahlback Agency.

Penguin Random House Portugal are the home of many bestselling internationals authors like Jeff Kinney, Holly Black, Jennifer Niven. etc.

The 4th instalment in the bestselling LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES series that is sold into 30 languages will be published in Finland this June.

Rights are still available for China, Iceland, the UK & US, …

Download the English materials for THE LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES here!