Finnish publishing house Siltala is partnering with publishers Gummerus, Teos and Schildts & Söderströms in ownership of Helsinki Literary Agency, which sells the foreign rights of books by Finnish authors.
Helsinki Literary Agency is acquiring a new stakeholder, as Siltala transfers management of its authors’ foreign rights there. The authors include figures such as Kari Hotakainen, Aki Ollikainen, Leena Lander, Pirkko Saisio, Hannu Raittila and Teemu Keskisarja.
“This addition to the agency’s list will strengthen it with numerous award-winning and rising authors,” says Helsinki Literary Agency chair Anna Baijars.
“Interest in Finnish literature is constantly growing around the world. It’s important to offer foreign publishers as wide a range of quality writing as possible.”
Siltala Publishing was founded in 2008 with a focus on high-quality literary fiction and narrative non-fiction by Finnish authors and also by international names including Lena Andersson, Jonathan Franzen, Herman Koch, George Saunders, Patti Smith, Timothy Snyder, Lyudmila Ulitskaya and David Foster Wallace.
“Recent years have shown that Finnish literature also has all the earmarks for significant international success. HLA has quickly established itself as an interesting and important agency for new Finnish writing. This concentration of forces will make sure that our work gains stronger resources,” says publisher Touko Siltala.
“Siltala’s involvement will strengthen the agency’s position in a field where there aren’t many Finnish players,” adds Helsinki Literary Agency CEO Urpu Strellman.
Helsinki Literary Agency opened in 2017 with the aim of representing Finnish writing internationally. At present it has some 60 authors on its list, including Selja Ahava, Eva Franz, Juha Hurme, Ulla-Lena Lundberg, Riikka Pelo, Mikko Rimminen and Minna Rytisalo.
For more information, please contact Urpu Strellman
+358 40 7375535 | urpu@helsinkiagency.fi