Loukko by 
Elina Ahlback Literary Agency celebrates its five-year anniversary today. Since June 9th, 2009 we have sold rights to the works of Finland’s brightest authors, including award-winners and bestsellers, to publishers worldwide. Agents Elina Ahlbäck, Päivi Ruottinen and Melanie Schmitt are based in the Agency’s Helsinki headquarters, while agent Laura Palotie is based out of our recently opened New York office.
We are passionate about selling the best new voices from Finland to leading publishers all over the world. Our joint vision is to tenfold the export of Finnish literature and to establish a firm foothold for Finnish authors in the world’s literature heritage.
We are also proud to represent leading American children’s publishers such as Little, Brown, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster in Scandinavia as well as the books of industry-changing entertainment media company Rovio Entertainment, the creator of Angry Birds, in international markets.
The global breakthrough is Salla Simukka’s Snow White Trilogy (Tammi) with rights sold in 43 territories. Simukka is pictured above with her agents. In the U.S, a Publishers Weekly starred review praised As Red as Blood: “Fans of Nesbø and Larsson won’t be disappointed.” In France, Hachette decided to publish The Snow White Trilogy simultaneously in the French YA and adult markets.
Cécile Térouanne of Hachette Livre, France, says:
“One could think that the best part of our job as an editor is to choose a book – to fall in love with a story, a character, an author’s writing, etc. For me, there is something even more important: to put the book I’ve so much enjoyed in as many hands as possible. Since I bought French rights to the Snow White Trilogy by Salla Simukka a year ago, I’ve been thinking about the best way to publish it.”
To enlarge Salla’s French audience, I proposed a partnership with an adult department within the Hachette Book Group: Livre de Poche Editions. Their response was immediate and enthusiastic. We made the decision to launch the Snow White Trilogy simultaneously in the French YA and adult markets. I’m proud to announce the cross-edition of Je M’Appelle Lumikki in November of 2014, under both imprints Hachette Black Moon and Livre de Poche Editions.”
Literary agent Elina Ahlbäck says:
“We are thrilled about our other recent successes such as Emmi Itäranta’s U.S debut Memory of Water, whose rights have been sold in 14 languages, and Tuula Karjalainen’s biography Tove Jansson: Work and Love, with rights sold in 10 languages. The works of author Johanna Sinisalo have been sold in 19 languages, while Leena Lehtolainen’s novels have sold over 2 million copies in 29 languages worldwide. Winner of the EU Prize for Literature Katri Lipson and her novel The Ice Cream Man has been sold in 6 languages. Minna Lindgren’s Twilight Grove Trilogy has recently been sold in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Estonia. Finland’s bestselling children’s character Ricky Rapper by sisters Sinikka Nopola and Tiina Nopola is conquering the world with rights sold in 17 languages.”
Thank You to all of our wonderful publishers and partners worldwide! We are at your service.
Elina Ahlbäck, elina.ahlback(at)ahlbackagency.com
Päivi Ruottinen, paivi.ruottinen(at)ahlbackagency.com
Melanie Schmitt, melanie.schmitt(at)ahlbackagency.com
Laura Palotie, laura.palotie(at)ahlbackagency.com