German publisher for The Sauna Cookbook amongst this week’s deals

Many people associate the sauna with Finland, yet most will not know that it is also a place where cooking takes place. Finns have perfected the sauna ritual so that you can enjoy the sauna experience and also feed yourself, family and friends with delicious and easy recipes cooked on or in the sauna stove, as documented in The Sauna Cookbook (Tammi, 2014), which takes readers on a visual tour of a variety of saunas around Finland, accompanied by mouth-watering recipes that can also be cooked in a conventional kitchen with ease.

We are thrilled to announce btb Luchterhand have just acquired German rights to The Sauna Cookbook, for publication in 2017.  Rights have previously sold in Estonia (Pegasus).

Click here to request reading material

Praise for The Sauna Cookbook:
“I fell in love with this unpretentious cookbook that also includes interviews with steam aficionados and introduces us to their saunas.”  – Kauneus ja Terveys (‘Beauty and Health’) magazine, Finland“Fun activities for the summerhouse. Recommended!” – Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, Finland

Further deals closed this week:

Adult fiction
Her Enemy by Leena Lehtolainen – Pegasus (Estonia)
Escape from Sunset Grove and The End of Sunset Grove by Minna Lindgren – Albatros (Slovakia)
Escape from Sunset Grove by Minna Lindgren – Jensen & Dalgaard (Denmark)

Middle-grade and children’s fiction

Sisterland by Salla Simukka – Pegasus (Estonia)
The Giant Girl and Her Tiny Friend by Hannele Huovi & Kristiina Louhi – Jianxi (China)
Siri Finds a Seashell by Tiina Nopola – Turbine (Denmark)

About author


Hannele Huovi

Hannele Huovi (born 1949) is an acclaimed Finnish author who wrote her first children’s radio play while studying for her university degree. In addition to being known as a versatile creator of children’s and juvenile literature, she also writes poetry and prose for adults.

Huovi has received several awards and nominations for her work; among these is the Topelius Prize for the best Finnish youth novel in 2002 (for The Feather Chain), a Finlandia Junior nomination in 2011 (for The Giant Girl and her Tiny Friend), and a nomination for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

During her career Hannele Huovi has collaborated with a variety of illustrators and artists, namely with Kristiina Louhi (Jättityttö ja Pirhonen) and Jukka Lemmetty (Urpo ja Turpo). Hannele Huovi is also an accomplished translator into the Finnish language, having translated more than 50 children’s books.

About author


Kristiina Louhi

Kristiina Louhi is an artist and an awarded graphic designer, illustrator and author. She has illustrated dozens of children’s books over the years including illustrations for the texts by Hannele Huovi, Hannu Mäkelä, Leena Laulajainen, Katri Tapola and Riitta Jalonen.

Kristiina Louhi’s Aino series has been published since 1984 and Tomppa series since 1993. Books illustrated by Kristiina Louhi have been published in over ten languages all around the world.

About author


Leena Lehtolainen

Leena Lehtolainen is the top female crime author in Finland: her new titles always head straight to #1 on the Finnish bestseller lists.

Lehtolainen created her successful protagonist, detective Maria Kallio, in 1993. Having already featured in 16 novels and a complete TV series, a new Maria Kallio TV reboot series was launched in Fall 2021 on C More. Lehtolainen’s novels have been translated into 30 languages and have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide.

And just like the events in Bodyguard, a that takes the heroine Hilja Ilveskero all around Europe, Lehtolainen’s own work takes her to book festivals, exhibitions and other events across the globe.

Leena Lehtolainen has also published outside the crime genre; her book The Charm of Figure Skating was voted sports book of the year 2010 in Finland, and A Life in Six Scenes showed her return to literary fiction.

The Crossing of the Green Dragon is her first title for YA audiences.

In her free time, Lehtolainen enjoys all kinds of music and follows lynx trails in the forests – just like Maria Kallio.

About author


Minna Lindgren

Minna Lindgren (b. 1963) is a freelance journalist and columnist known for her whimsical writing style and fearless approach to topics as strange as opera and death. In addition to novels, she has authored nonfiction books on classical music. In 2009, Lindgren won the Bonnier Journalism Prize for her article entitled “Father’s Death” (“Isän kuolema”).

Lindgren is best known for the Sunset Grove trilogy, which has been sold to 18 territories, and the final part, The End of Sunset Grove, was nominated for the International Dublin Literature Award in 2019. She has also written four standalone novels and a non-fiction book about the history of opera.

Minna Lindgren’s books have been critical and commercial successes, in Finland and internationally.

About author


Salla Simukka

Salla Simukka is the author of the international success story The Snow White Trilogy: rights are sold in 53 territories and in Hollywood. She has written several novels for young readers and her accolades include the Topelius Prize 2013 and the Finland Prize 2013. Simukka has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award  every year 2021–2024. Where It All Begins, published in 2022, is her first novel for adults and in 2024 she started a collaboration with JP Ahonen on a middle grade novel.

Previously Simukka has written book reviews for the newspapers, translated all kinds of texts into Finnish, worked as an editor at a literary magazine and as a screenwriter for a popular TV show for young audiences.  She has also been working on the programme of Turku Book Fair in 2017–2020.

Illustrator Kristiina Louhi wins the Kieku lifetime achievement award!

LouhinewsletterApr292015Prolific illustrator Kristiina Louhi has won the prestigious Kieku Prize. Given by the Association of Finnish Ilustrators for an outstanding illustration career, the award is worth 5,000 euros. We wish Kristiina our warmest congratulations!

Among Louhi’s works are the popular Tommy series (Tammi), the long-spanning Annie series (Tammi), the Aidan and Sophie series created with author Riitta Jalonen (Tammi) and the Finlandia Junior Prize-winning The Girl and the Jackdaw Tree (Tammi 2004), also a collaboration with Riitta Jalonen.

Louhi’s many other accolades include the 2014 Pro Finlandia Medal, given by the President of Finland to distinguished Finnish artists.

“Illustrator and author Kristiina Louhi’s humane world of images has been an inseparable part of Finnish childhoods for several generations. Her warm and gentle illustrations are incomparable in their poignancy. A child can strongly relate to her drawings, while a grown-up reader can discover different, sometimes heart-rending elements.”
– Kieku Prize jury

RIGHTS SOLD
The Tommy series:
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
CHINA, Anhui Children’s Publishing House
KOREA, Sewon Books
LEBANON, Dar Kreidieh
NETHERLANDS, Mercis Publishing

The Aidan and Sophie series:
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
CHINA, SDX Joint Publishing Company
ESTONIA (Võru), Võru Instituut

The Girl and the Jackdaw Tree:
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
ESTONIA, TEA
FRANCE, Oskar Editions
JAPAN, Nekono-kotoba-sha
LITHUANIA, Nieko Rimto

The Giant Girl and her Tiny Friend:
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
EGYPT, Boustany’s Publishing House
ESTONIA (Võru), Võru Instituut
RUSSIAN, TEXT

The Annie series:
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
CHINA, Beijing Double Spiral Culture and Exchange Company

Northern Lights on Snow
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
FRANCE, Oskar Editions
JAPAN, Nekono-kotoba-sha

Puppet Theatre!
Original publisher:
FINLAND, The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare
GREECE, S. Patakis S.A
JAPAN, Nekono-kotoba-sha
RUSSIA, Melik-Pashaev

Louhi’s works have also been published in: English (UK), German, Hungarian, Polish, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese

For reading materials contact: info@ahlbackagency.com

About author


Kristiina Louhi

Kristiina Louhi is an artist and an awarded graphic designer, illustrator and author. She has illustrated dozens of children’s books over the years including illustrations for the texts by Hannele Huovi, Hannu Mäkelä, Leena Laulajainen, Katri Tapola and Riitta Jalonen.

Kristiina Louhi’s Aino series has been published since 1984 and Tomppa series since 1993. Books illustrated by Kristiina Louhi have been published in over ten languages all around the world.

Bibliography


2018, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy and Kerttu the Bookworm

Kristiina Louhi


2017, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy and Dr. Ear

Kristiina Louhi


2015, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy and the Baby

Kristiina Louhi


2013, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy's Story Book

Kristiina Louhi


2012, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy's New House

Kristiina Louhi


2010, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy and Apricot's Milk

Kristiina Louhi


2009, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy in Wonderland

Kristiina Louhi


2003, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy and the Cat's Paws

Kristiina Louhi


2002, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy is a Big Boy

Kristiina Louhi


2000, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Where is Tommy?

Kristiina Louhi


1999, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy's Christmas

Kristiina Louhi


1998, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Full Speed Ahead, Tommy

Kristiina Louhi


1997, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy Goes Fishing

Kristiina Louhi


1996, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy's Better Day

Kristiina Louhi


1995, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Tommy's Night at Granny's

Kristiina Louhi


1994, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Hello Tommy!

Kristiina Louhi


1994, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

What Tommy Wants

Kristiina Louhi


1993, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Our Tommy

Kristiina Louhi


1984, Picture Books (0-3 Years)

Annie

Kristiina Louhi

Satu Kontinen’s Mo-ko-ma-ki series and Kristiina Louhi’s Annie series sold in China!

Aino_Mokomaki_KiinaWe are happy to announce that two Finnish picture book series, Satu Kontinen’s quirky Mo-ko-ma-ki books (Myllylahti) and Kristiina Louhi’s classic Annie (Aino) titles (Tammi), will soon be available for Chinese readers. Bei Jing Northark Culture Media acquired all three Mo-ko-ma-ki titles, while Beijing Double Spiral Culture and Exchange Company acquired ten Annie books!

Kristiina Louhi, whose Annie series debuted in 1984, is one of Finland’s most acclaimed illustrators. Among her numerous honours and accolades are the Finlandia Junior Prize for The Girl and the Jackdaw Tree (Tammi 2004) and 2014’s Pro Finlandia Medal, given by the President of Finland to distinguished Finnish artists. Her work has been published in several languages. The Annie series narrates the life of a spunky little girl who grows up alongside the reader.

Satu Kontinen’s Mo-ko-ma-ki series, aimed at readers aged two and older, stars ten little animals who tend to find themselves in mild trouble. Readers are invited, for example, to reunite baby animals with their mothers or spot the culprit who stole a bird’s tail feather. Packed with fun visual clues and details, the series celebrates discovery and imagination. World English rights to Mo-ko-ma-ki were also recently sold to POW!, an imprint of Brooklyn-based powerHouse Books.

Satu Kontinen is known for her distinctive visual style, and she has most recently designed a watch for Swatch!

RIGHTS SOLD: THE MO-KO-MA-KI SERIES
Original publisher: FINLAND, Myllylahti
CHINA, Bei Jing Northark Culture Media
FRANCE, Sarbacanne (Book I)
TAIWAN, Grimm Press
WORLD ENGLISH, POW!/powerHouse Books

Reading material: The Mo-ko-ma-ki series
Full English text of Books 2-3
Full Finnish text of Books 1-3

RIGHTS SOLD: THE ANNIE SERIES
Original publisher: FINLAND, Tammi
CHINA, Beijing Double Spiral Culture and Exchange Company

Annie books have also been published in: English (UK), German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese

Reading material: Kristiina Louhi
Full English text of Annie, Mummy’s Helper
Full English text of The Girl and the Jackdaw Tree

For materials and rights information contact:

Elina Ahlbäck, Literary Agent and CEO: elina.ahlback(at)ahlbackagency.com
Laura Palotie, Agent: laura.palotie(at)ahlbackagency.com
Lotta Dufva, Junior Agent: lotta.dufva(at)ahlbackagency.com

 

About author


Kristiina Louhi

Kristiina Louhi is an artist and an awarded graphic designer, illustrator and author. She has illustrated dozens of children’s books over the years including illustrations for the texts by Hannele Huovi, Hannu Mäkelä, Leena Laulajainen, Katri Tapola and Riitta Jalonen.

Kristiina Louhi’s Aino series has been published since 1984 and Tomppa series since 1993. Books illustrated by Kristiina Louhi have been published in over ten languages all around the world.

About author


Satu Kontinen

Satu Kontinen is a graphic designer and illustrator obsessed with flowers. She is known for her detailed ink works as well as creating quirky creatures and imaginary worlds that spark the imagination of kids and adults alike. She has been awarded for designing and illustrating one of the most beautiful books/book covers in Finland (_Vuoden kaunein kirja_ by the Finnish Book Art Committee) in 2008, 2015, 2016 and in 2018. In 2004 she was nominated for the Finlandia Junior Prize and in 2017 she was one of the top 10 finalists in the prestigious Rudolf Koivu illustration awards. In 2020 she was given a Merit Award in the Three x Three International Illustration Awards.

In her free time Satu enjoys designing floral fabrics and writing children's and YA fiction in secrecy. Maybe some day she will show them to a publisher.

Bestselling Finnish children’s books sold to Korea, Lithuania, Russia and Romania

Kristiina Louhi’s Tommy books will be translated into Korean. The Korean publisher Sewon Books acquired the rights to this classic picture book series in a recent deal, making Korean already the sixth language into which Tommy books have been translated.

The Lithuanian children’s book publisher Nieko Rimto has bought the rights to the first two books in Tiina Nopola’s Siri series: Siri and Her New Friends and Siri and the Upstairs Neighbour. The deal also includes Time’s Up, Ricky Rapper, the first book in the bestselling Ricky Rapper series by Tiina and Sinikka Nopola.

Other recent children’s book deals include Hannele Huovi’s Finlandia Prize-nominated The Giant Girl and Her Tiny Friend to Text Publishers in Russia and Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award nominee Tove Appelgren’s Vesta-Linnea and the Velvet -Nosed Puppy to Univers Publishing House in Romania.

Sample translations and reading copies available, please contact the agency!

About author


Hannele Huovi

Hannele Huovi (born 1949) is an acclaimed Finnish author who wrote her first children’s radio play while studying for her university degree. In addition to being known as a versatile creator of children’s and juvenile literature, she also writes poetry and prose for adults.

Huovi has received several awards and nominations for her work; among these is the Topelius Prize for the best Finnish youth novel in 2002 (for The Feather Chain), a Finlandia Junior nomination in 2011 (for The Giant Girl and her Tiny Friend), and a nomination for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

During her career Hannele Huovi has collaborated with a variety of illustrators and artists, namely with Kristiina Louhi (Jättityttö ja Pirhonen) and Jukka Lemmetty (Urpo ja Turpo). Hannele Huovi is also an accomplished translator into the Finnish language, having translated more than 50 children’s books.

About author


Kristiina Louhi

Kristiina Louhi is an artist and an awarded graphic designer, illustrator and author. She has illustrated dozens of children’s books over the years including illustrations for the texts by Hannele Huovi, Hannu Mäkelä, Leena Laulajainen, Katri Tapola and Riitta Jalonen.

Kristiina Louhi’s Aino series has been published since 1984 and Tomppa series since 1993. Books illustrated by Kristiina Louhi have been published in over ten languages all around the world.