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 2023!

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 2024 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, Elsa, Sten-Erik, Linda, Anna

2023 Award highlights

There have been many reason to celebrate our authors this year! A big round of congratulations to all award winners and nominees!

Award winners: 

• 36 URNS: A HISTORY OF BEING WRONG by Sirpa Käkhönen: Finlandia Prize for fiction 2023
• THE HORNED GOD by Magdalena Hai: Finlandia Prize for children’s and YA literature 2023
• THE LAST GRUDGE by Max Seeck: Glass Key Award 2023
• SANG by Elina Pitkäkangas: Topelius Prize 2023, City of Tampere Literature Prize 2023, and Kuvastaja Award 2023
• INHERITED LAND by Maria Turtschaninoff: Thank You For The Book Award 2023 and Young Aleksis Award 2023
• LOGBOOK OF LOVE by Elina Hirvonen: WSOY Literary Foundation Recognition Award 2023
• Mari Ahokoivu: Puupäähattu Award 2023 by the Finnish Comics Society
• MABEL MERRYWEATHER AND THE MINIATURE PIRATES by Noora Kunnas and Teemu Juhani: Prix Chronos 2023

Award nominees: 

• NOTHING REALLY DISAPPEARS by Laura Gustafsson: Finlandia Prize for fiction 2023
• STELLA by Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander: Finlandia Prize for children’s and YA literature 2023
• ENCHANTMENT by Riikka Pulkkinen: Botnia Literature Prize 2023
• 36 URNS: A HISTORY OF BEING WRONG by Sirpa Kähkönen: Savonia Prize 2023 & Runeberg Prize 2024
• THE HORNED GOD by Magdalena Hai: Topelius Prize 2024
• STOP SECRET MYSTERIES: STINKER THE HORRIFIC SOCK MONSTER by Ilona Ahti and Miila Westin: Runeberg Junior Prize 2024
• BLACK MOON LIGHTHOUSE by Reetta Niemelä and Katri Kirkkopelto: Torch-Bearer Prize 2023
• THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS: REVENGE by Kaisu Tuokko: BookBeat Finland Newcomer of the Year Award 2023
• THE MOONDAY LETTERS by Emmi Itäranta: BSFA Award

Special picks: 

• THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT by Mia Kankimäki: chosen for CHANEL’S Summer Readings with Charlotte Casiraghi 2023
• THE GHOST ISLAND by Max Seeck was reviewed in the Kirkus reviews

   

2023 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:

• THE LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES series by Magdalena Hai and Teemu Juhani is now sold to 30 languages
• FOLLOW THE BUTTERFLY by Martta Kaukonen sold to 15 territories as well as TV and film and was a Spiegel Bestseller in Germany with over 23,000 copies sold
• THE INVESTIGATIONS OF ONE CAT by Katja Kettu sold to 9 languages and over 7,500 copies In Finland in 3 months
• STELLA by Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander sold to 7 languages
• Max Seeck’s books sold copies sold over 400,000 copies in Finland
• The books in Elina Backman’s Saana Havas crime series sold over 100,000 copies in Finland
• Arttu Unkari and Kai Vaalio’s DAD MAN middle grade series sold over 100,000 copies in Finland
• Sirpa Kähkönen’s 36 URNS. A HISTORY OF BEING WRONG sold over 35,000 copies in Finland
• The two books in Eeva Loukko’s Ronja Vaara crime series sold 30,000 copies in Finland
• Vera Vala’s Salla Kotka crime series sold over 10,000 copies in Finland
• The first instalment in the THE KRISTINESTAD MURDERS series by Kaisu Tuokko, REVENGE, sold over 10,000 copies in Finland
• Pauliina Susi’s Tuulia Raja crime series sold over 10,000 copies in Finland
• Hannu Sokala’s THE 50 MOST DANGEROUS FAMILIES IN THE WORLD sold close to 8,000 copies in Finland
• MILO by Max Seeck will be adapted into an international TV series by SOLAR FILMS Inc. Oy
• PUTIN’S TROLLS by Jessikka Aro will be adapted to a TV series by production company Onerva Pictures

Our agents’ personal books of the year 2023

Elina’s pick: THE STORY OF AINO AND ALVAR AALTO by Heikki Aalto-Alanen: “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

Elsa’s pick: ALONE – YES, PLEASE! by Marika Riikonen : “Essays about the joy of solitude? GIMME. If you saw me at Frankfurt, you already know I’m one of the biggest fans of this nonfiction title that voices so many of my thoughts – and judging by its commercial success in Finland, I’m not the only one who relates. ALONE – YES, PLEASE is a book discussing a topic we all know about but which still has too many stigmas and prejudices attached to it, and Riikonen’s matter-of-factly way of dissecting the topic, from society’s view to solitude to the private joy of me time, speaks to the introverts and extroverts alike.”

Sten-Erik’s pick: THE VOLE AND THE MOON by Mila Teräs and Nora Surojegin: “Only one word comes to mind when thinking about this outstanding picture book: poetry. Not only because this book features poems – haikus composed and recited by animals and trees – , but because this book is a celebration of the wonder of life, of the breathtaking, magnificent beauty of nature. Its story about taking a moment from our busy lives to wonder and be in awe of the majesty of existence is timely and universal, its colorful and charming illustrations are like paintings that draw the readers in. A picture book for the ages!”

Linda’s pick: PRIVATE PROPERTY by Pauliina Susi: “Both parts hilarious and entertaining, there is a charm in the unexpected private detective Tuulia Raja with a somewhat messy personal life to boot. The twisty murder mystery is complemented by delightfully quirky characters who all seem to have something to hide… A perfect cozy read with witty dialogue that makes you laugh out loud!”

Anna’s pick: STELLA by Ted Forsström & Åsa Lucander: “This brilliant bedtime picture book has it all: a funny story, gorgeous illustrations full of tiny details to spot, and repetitive text elements that both invite children to join in in telling the neurotic dog Stella to calm down and also create a comforting routine which is crucial for a successful bedtime. There is also a glorious spread featuring a squirrel party in the kitchen – do I even need to say more?!?”