Fishing For the Little Pike by Juhani Karila is travelling to Slovenia, where it will be published by Pivec. This is the 21st language territory for this title.
Fishing For the Little Pike by Juhani Karila continues to enchant international publishers: this title is travelling to Slovenia, where it will be published by Pivec, marking the 21st language territory for this title.
Fishing For the Little Pike by Juhani Karila, published in Finland by Siltala, has since its release in 2019 won over readers both domestically and internationally with its quirky atmosphere and fast-paced and multi-faceted plot. In Finland Fishing for the Little Pike (2019) was awarded with Kalevi Jäntti Prize and Tähtifantasia Prize, and nominated for the Jarkko Laine Prize, and the title is currently running for the globally prestigious Dublin Literary Award.
The book follows young Elina as she returns to her hometown in Eastern Lapland on her yearly quest to fish a specific pike out of a specific pond. Her life and an old lover’s depend on it, but this year a detective is on her trail, and the pond has a new inhabitant. These ingredients come together in a successful mix of Lappish atmosphere, a generous sprinkle of magic and mythology, and an equal dose of humor and wisdom.
Pivec is a mid-sized Slovenian publishing house and family business, founded by Milena Pivec and now being run by the second generation of the family, Milena’s daughter Zala Stanonik. The acquiring team at Pivec has stated their enthusiasm for the book with warm words:
“Fishing for the Little Pike was one of the few [titles], that really caught our eyes and hearts upon the very first reading. We found it a heartfelt ode to Eastern Lapland, a piece of land that is dismissed even though its stories and mythological creatures are impressive and rich and incredibly attractive. Our traditions, folk stories, our forests are filled with similar creatures and whisper similar tales as those of Eastern Lapland. Some of us still remember walking under mighty beech trees, spruces and oaks as kids, listening to our parents and grandparents telling stories about tree spirits, water creatures, fairies and other invisible beings that defined our lands as much as its visible elements did. Then the modern times came, and people had less and less time to wander the nature. Within one or two generations we stopped telling the stories too. That is probably the main reason why we were enchanted by the storytelling of Fishing for the Little Pike – it seamlessly intertwines the past and modern times into a breathtakingly beautiful story, reminding us that just because we stopped telling those tales all the magical beings are still here with us, and just as much a part of our lives as they used to be.“
Warmest congratulations to the author and the publisher!