Loukko by 
What a wonderful and hugely successful year 2018 for Finnish literature and Finnish authors represented by the Elina Ahlback Literary Agency! With more exciting new projects, authors, and books coming for the New Year 2019 – which will mark the 10th anniversary of the Agency! Thank You all for your excellent collaboration, commitment and passion!
NON-FICTION HIGHLIGHTS:
This year our biggest seller has of course been The Little Book of Bad Moods by Lotta Sonninen – rights sold to 30 territories! This cathartic adult activity book proves that bad moods are a global phenomena right now, but also showed us the rising demand of non-fiction books.
Our other non-fiction bestsellers include the wonderful travellogue/biography: The Women I Think About at Night by Mia Kankimäki. With this book everyone can travel around the world with Mia, Karen Blixen, Nellie Bly, Isabella Bird, Mary Kingsley and other brave women – without having to move from your favourite armchair! Rights sold to the United States, Netherlands, Germany, and Russia!
The third biggest hit has been philosopher Frank Martela’s The Meaning of Your Life Explained, This boldly named book tells you to stop looking for happiness and start to look for the meaning instead. Rights sold to the United States & UK, Netherlands, and Russia. Full English manuscript available in January 2019.
Last but not least, The Peace Machine by professor Timo Honkela has gotten a lot of attention in the past few weeks. This brainy book explains how Artificial Intelligence can be used for World Peace – a must read for all world leaders! Rights sold to France and Estonia!
FICTION HIGHLIGHTS:
In our fiction list, the bestseller is obviously the king of thriller: Max Seeck. His Daniel Kuisma Trilogy was completed this autumn when The Call of Hades came out. The book has been called the best Finnish thriller by Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, as well as Suomen Kuvalehti periodical. Rights sold to Estonia, Iceland, Italy and Germany.
Minna Lindgren, known for her super popular Sunset Grove cozy crime series, released a standalone novel in the spring. The Angry Widow has the same gentle humor and entertaining storyline her fans around the world love!
Sold to six countries!
Both Max and Minna will have new books coming out next year. Stay tuned!
CHILDREN & YA HIGHLIGHTS:
Our children & YA highlights this year have been Maresi andMonster Nanny.
Maria Turtschaninoff’s Maresi Trilogy came to an end with praised Maresi Red Mantle. This year the book 2, Naondel, has been nominated for the Dublin International Literary Award’s longlist, and Maresi Red Mantle is nominated for the Topelius Award for the best children’s book of the year. Feature film is in development by Film4, and the script is being finalized! Maresi publisher, if you haven’t bought the book 3 yet, now is the time!
Our other super star, Tuutikki Tolonen is currently working of the 3rd Monster Nanny book. This adorable children’s adventure story has been sold to 23 countries – the last addition being Poland.Monster Nanny feature film is in development by Ridley Scott/Scott Free Productions, and the script is being written.
The illustrated book of the year is The Grumblebelly Cat byMagdalena Hai (illustrated by Teemu Juhani)! This fairytale for young readers has been nominated for many awards, such as the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize 2018. The author herself was nominated for the Finlandia Prize for the best children’s & YA book 2018 with her fantasy book The Third Sister.
Rights for the Grumblebelly Cat have been sold to Germany.
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Happy Holidays!
Elina, Julia and Nicole
