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We are proud and thrilled to announce that Abrams, publisher of authors such as Jeff Kinney (of Wimpy Kid fame) and the award-winning Frances Hardinge, has acquired North American rights to Maresi (Schildts & Söderströms 2014) and two upcoming titles in The Red Abbey Chronicles by Maria Turtschaninoff. Rights to Maresi, winner of the Finlandia Junior Prize, are now sold in 12 territories.
“I am thrilled to be bringing this powerful and important book to a North American readership. The beautifully detailed world of the Red Abbey immediately captivated me, and Maria Turtschaninoff’s strong, true feminist vision feels absolutely necessary right now.”
– Susan Van Metre, Senior Vice President, Abrams
“I am thrilled that Abrams have acquired North American rights to this exceptional new trilogy. We’ve already had an extraordinary pre-publication response to the first book, Maresi, from booksellers, bloggers, vloggers and YA authors, and we’re sure that readers across the Pond will be just as enthralled with Maria Turtschaninoff’s powerful work of feminist fantasy. I can’t imagine a better partner for the books than Abrams.”
– Adam Freudenheim, Publisher and Managing Director, Pushkin Press/Pushkin Children’s Books
Pushkin Press, which holds World English rights, will publish the UK edition of Maresi in January of 2016, while Abrams will publish the U.S. edition in fall of 2016.
Naondel, the prequel to Maresi and Part II in The Red Abbey Chronicles, will arrive in Finnish bookstores next year.
Advance praise in the UK for Maresi:
“Maresi stands out for its startling originality, and for the frightening plausibility of the dangerous world it creates.”
Rebecca Hawkes, The Telegraph
“A poignant, slow-burning fantasy.”
– Taran Matharu, author, the Summoner fantasy series
“Maresi is a tale of sisterhood, survival and fighting against the odds that will capture the hearts of both teen and adult feminists alike and will leave you feeling extremely empowered.”
– Lucy Powrie, blogger at Queen of Contemporary and founder of #UKYA Day
“Atmospheric, immersive and definitely original, MARESI has a quiet, urgent magic that makes her story powerful, poignant and memorable.”
– Jane Bradley, Founder & Director of For Books’ Sake
“It is such a beautiful, haunting tale. Maresi’s voice is unlike any other YA voice I’ve read…The writing is amazing; it has an almost mythical feel to it.”
– Fiona Hadfield, Children’s and Teen Bookseller, Waterstones Macclesfield / Eventide Reads
“A few times in a lifetime, a book comes along that wraps you completely in its world and its characters. Wildly imaginative, vivid and filled with wonders…This book makes me proud to be a woman”
– Casey Daveron, Casey Ann Books
About The Red Abbey Chronicles by Maria Turtschaninoff:
Maresi, Book I: The Red Abbey is a refuge for women and girls where everyone pursues their own areas of interest. Maresi prefers to spend her time reading and learning. Everything changes when the frightened Jai arrives on the island. She has seen her sister get buried alive for speaking to a young man, and her father and a crew of thugs are after her. Maresi and her friends have to fight to defend both Jai and their community.
A prequel to Maresi, Book II, Naondel (Schildts & Söderströms) will tell the story of the First Sisters, and how they came to flee a harem in the faraway Eastern Lands and eventually establish the Red Abbey.
A sequel to Maresi, Book III (Schildts & Söderströms) will follow Maresi after she leaves the Red Abbey and sets out to establish a school in the oppressed province of Rovas.
RIGHTS SOLD: MARESI
Original publisher: FINLAND, Schildts & Söderströms
BELGIUM, Clavis
CANADA (French), Editions de la Bagnole/Groupe Livres Quebecor Media
DENMARK, Turbine
FINLAND, Tammi
GERMANY, Random House/Heyne
ITALY, Atmosphere Libri
NETHERLANDS, Clavis
NORTH AMERICA, Abrams
ROMANIA, Editura Univers
SWEDEN, Berghs
TURKEY, Altin Kitaplar
WORLD ENGLISH (UK), Pushkin Press
Reading materials: The Red Abbey Chronicles
Book I, Maresi:
Full English text
Swedish edition
Finnish edition
Book II, Naondel:
English synopsis
Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com
