We are thrilled to announce that the Polish rights to Mia Kankimäki’s internationally bestselling travelogue/biography THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT have now been acquired by Poznańskie! The deal was closed by Sten-Erik Tammemäe at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Mia’s book will be published in Poznańskie’s beautiful Works of Scandinavian Writers series, which so far includes titles from such writers as Roy Jacobsen, Karen Blixen, Knut Hamsun, Carl Frode Tiller, Laura Lindstedt et al.

Mia Kankimäki’s second book THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT has sold over 45,000 copies in all formats in Finland, and the translation rights have now been sold to 21 territories, including USA and China

A Nordic production company napafilms is developing a TV drama series, based on the book, that mixes the biographical lives of the real “Night Women” and the life of a fictional main character.

Rights are still available in Romania, Republic of Korea, Turkey, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Croatia etc.

Download the English PDF here!

THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT
by Mia Kankimäki
Otava, 2018, 448 pp.

Have you heard about Artemisia Gentileschi, Lavinia Fontana or Nellie Bly? What about Karen Blixen? The Women I Think About at Night follows in the footsteps of 10 historical women, who did what was impossible for women to do in their own times: travel the world or create a career as an artist. And these women were quite successful – some of them actually became celebrities of their own time! So why have they been forgotten by the history books?

Finnish writer Mia Kankimäki sold her house, packed her suitcase and traveled the world to find out. Part biography, part travelogue, this book takes you from Karen Blixen’s farm in Kenya to Renaissance artists’ Florence and modern-day Japan.

A publishing sensation in Finland with over tens of thousands of copies sold, The Women I Think About at Night solidifies Kankimäki’s standing as one of Finland’s leading new authors. Her book was translated by Douglas Robinson and published by Simon & Schuster, one of the four largest English-language publishers in the world. Her book has received positive reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Travel & Leisure, and Kirkus Review, along with Fortune magazine.

We are thrilled to announce that the Dutch rights to Mia Kankimäki’s THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER have now been acquired by Orlando Uitgeverij! The deal was closed by Elina Ahlbäck at Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Orlando praised the book for being a captivating and inspiring read:

“I am thrilled that we now also will publish THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER after the success of THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT. Mia is a wonderful writer, and the story of her travel to Japan in the footsteps of Sei Shonagon, her soulmate who lived over 1000 years ago, is mesmerising! I couldn’t put it down and my only problem is that I now want to go to Japan myself as soon as possible.”
– Jacqueline Smit, Owner/Publisher, Uitgeverij Orlando, The Netherlands

This bestselling book has recently been published in Germany and Japan to glowing reviews:

In the life-changing experience of reading and writing there is no room of one’s own, only a truth of one’s own. When this truth reaches the reader, they will be moved. Kankimäki’s book is doubtless a beautiful account of one’s own truth.
– Natsuko Seto in Shukan bunshun, Japan

The expansive book cleverly portrays the modernity of Sei Shonagon as a provocateur, a “pre-columnist” and an “original blogger”. The enlightening meanderings describe the reception and the artistic and feminist legacy of this world literature classic also as a history of abridgments, slander, and misunderstandings.
– Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany

Download the English sample and synopsis for the book here!

THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER
by Mia Kankimäki
Otava, 2013, 380 pp.

Mia Kankimäki quits her job and embarks on an adventure. She travels to Kyoto to research Sei Shonagon, a Japanese writer and lady-in-waiting who wrote about her life in the court of Heian era Japan. Mia doesn’t speak a word of Japanese, and isn’t quite accustomed to scientific research, but her endeavor produces the most wonderful book about Japan, Sei Shonagon, and a middle-aged woman’s solo travels.

Despite her struggles and initial culture shock, Mia finds herself mesmerized by temples, cherry blossoms, kabuki theater, Zen meditation and tearooms. She reads the Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon and finds a soul sister – a modern woman who loves making lists of all things charming, annoying, elegant and things that make one’s heart beat faster.

We are super excited to announce that the Czech rights to Mia Kankimäki’s THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER have now been acquired by Motto, imprint of Albatros.
Mia Kankimäki’s debut biography/travelogue was originally published in 2013, but now has sold to Estonia, Italy and recently to Japan and Germany, where it was just published this year with excellent reviews!

Download the English sample and synopsis for THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER here

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Author Mia Kankimäki travels to Japan to fulfill her long-time dream to do research about the court lady and poet Sei Shonagon, whose 1000-years-old writings had enchanted Mia’s heart.

She is fascinated by Sei Shinagon’s The Pillow Book and will travel to Japan to walk in her footsteps and compare her life with her own, finding surprisingly, that a lot of things have remained the same a millennia later.

In Kyoto Mia is faced with all things beautiful and strange. Cherry blossoms, bath houses, temples and incredible food, but on the other hand experiences a culture shock and language-barrier makes her research slow down. In her witty and humorous way she describes her three months in Kyoto, and the reader will learn a great deal about the modern day Japan, get great travel tips, and learn all there is to know about mysterious Sei Shonagon.
The book contains excerpts from the Pillow Book and describes Mia’s travels in today’s Kyoto and Tokyo as well as London and briefly escaping from the deadly 2011 tsunami to Phuket, Thailand.
Praise for THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER

“Thank you very much for allowing us to introduce such an intriguing book to Japanese readers. Finland on the northern edge of the Eurasian continent and Japan, an island country in the Far East, may be as far apart as possible, but we do seem to share some characteristic traits, such as being naturally shy. (Aren’t we!?) I am pleasantly surprised that Mia Kankimäki, the author born in Finland took an interest in a female Japanese author from 1,000 years ago and decided to travel all the way to this country. Readers here will be more than excited to discover how Japan appeared in her eyes.”
– Hiroshi Fujita, Chief Editor, Soshisha

“It is always the most delightful experience to find something new and valuable in unexpected places. Mia Kankimäki’s book is one of those things. Kankimäki imitates Sei Shonagon’s style of making lists and succeeds in conveying a message that human life is not a chronological story, but a collection of moments that carry different meanings.”
-Suvi Ahola, Helsingin Sanomat newspaper

”Mia’s fascinating books will definitely make your heart beat faster: A beautiful, exceptional style, fancy ideas, honesty, bravery and wittiness – an exciting new voice.
– Madlen Reimer, Editor, btb Verlag, Verlagsgruppe Random House

More about the book:

Who was Sei Shonagon? A sharp-tongued courtesan, a brilliant poet and forgotten genius or something completely different? What is actually known about this Heian era writer who has always been living in the shadow of her famous rival, Murasaki Shikibu?

In this book the author Mia Kankimäki quits her job and travels to Japan to fulfill her long-time dream to do research about the court lady and poet Sei Shonagon, whose 1000-years-old writings had enchanted Mia’s heart.

Perfect for those who love travelling and making lists!

Excellent news! Published in November by Simon & Schuster in the US, Mia Kankimäki’s Finnish best-seller, “The Women I Think About at Night,” has now been sold to 17 territories.
The latest happy addition to the family being Muza in Albania.

Request full English manuscript of the title by clicking here.

“Fortysomething, childless, and feeling stuck, Finnish author Mia Kankimäki takes that big leap we all fantasize about but never have the guts to do: She quits her job, sells her apartment, and travels the world. In a blend of travelogue, memoir, and biography, Kankimäki recounts her travels through Japan, Kenya, and Italy, while retracing the steps of 10 remarkable female pioneers from history.”
– Fortune Magazine

A publishing sensation in Finland with over tens of thousands of copies sold, “The Women I Think About at Night” solidifies Kankimäki’s standing as one of Finland’s leading new authors. Her book was translated by Douglas Robinson and published by Simon & Schuster, one of the four largest English-language publishers in the world. 

Her book has already received positive reviews In Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, Travel & Leisure,
and Kirkus Review, along with Fortune magazine. 

In 2013, Mia Kankimäki instantly became one of the top names in the literary field with her debut, “Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster.” More than 80,000 of her two books have altogether been sold in Finland.