News

Epix continues The A Dog Called Cat series by Tomi Kontio & Elina Warsta (ill.) continues securing the rights to books #3-4 and acquires Sent Across The Sea by Eppu Nuotio & Sanna Pelliccioni (ill.)

Wonderful news for three of our beloved picture books Epix has secured the Swedish rights to A Dog Called Cat Looking For a Home (#3) and A Dog Called Cat and the Wonder of Christmas (#4) by Tomi Kontio & Elina Warsta (ill.). They previously published A Dog Called Cat (#1) and A Dog Called Cat Meets a Cat (#2). Epix also secured the Swedish rights to Sent Across the Sea by Sanna Pelliccioni & Eppu Nuotio, marking a three-book deal.

The A Dog Called Cat series is a touching story about finding friendship and the things truly important in life. It tells the tale of a small dog. She is called Cat by her mother, because cats are independent, and the young one must learn to be independent. Soon, Cat realizes, however, that often being independent only means being lonely. But one day things change, and then Cat is not alone anymore. The series then follows the trio of Cat, Weasel, and Dog as they navigate life and find joy and friendship even through hardship. The last volume in the series, a middle grade book titled A Dog Called Cat Says Farewell, won the Finlandia Junior Prize in 2025. The series is published in Finland by Teos.

In Sent Across the Sea by Eppu Nuotio & Sanna Pelliccioni little Heidi is told she must leave home and travel far across the sea. Not all alone, as she is going with her brother. But in a foreign country, Heidi is separated from her brother and forced to live with a grumpy couple. Heidi can’t speak the language of her new aunt and uncle, but she understands they don’t want her to be the way she is. Luckily, Heidi gets to spend a day with her brother and his family. Her brother’s sweater immediately understands that Heidi needs to find a nicer auntie. Based on real memories, Sent across the Sea is the story of a period in Finnish history, when around 80,000 children were evacuated from Finland during the Second World War. In a Europe at war, their story resonates again. For the illustrations in Sent Across the Sea Sanna Pelliccioni has been awarded the Plaque Award by Biennal of Illustrations Bratislava. 

Epix is a Swedish publisher specialised in comics and picture books. They are the Swedish publisher of, among others, Riikka Jäntti and Martin Baltscheit.

Warm congratulations to the authors and the publisher!

The Smuggler’s Treasure by Axel Åhman & Ola Skogäng (ill.) is travelling to Italy, where it will be published by Emons.

Wonderful news: Emons has secured the Italian rights to The Smuggler’s Treasure by Axel Åhman & Ola Skogäng (ill.), marking the second foreign deal for this title.

In The Smuggler’s Treasure, it’s two weeks till Christmas, and 12-year-old Oliver is stuck at Grandma’s place on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere. Christmas preparations at Grandma’s aren’t a lot of fun, until Oliver makes an exciting discovery in the attic: a stack of sea maps, letters, and a mysterious compass that doesn’t point North but enables its holder to follow their heart and always find their way home.  It is the beginning of an adventurous treasure hunt at sea that could give Oliver answers not only about the mysterious treasure, but also about the family secrets that have been hidden long ago: what really happened to the owner of the compass, his ancestor Verner Strand? And who are the shady newcomers who seem a little too interested in the rumours about the smuggler’s treasure?

The Smuggler’s Treasure is a thrilling adventure story for middle-grade readers that just so happens to be set around Christmas time, mixing adventure and holiday cosiness. The book consists of 24 chapters, making it a great way to navigate Advent. It was nominated for the prestigious Runeberg Prize in 2024, and has already traveled to Denmark, where it is out with Bogoo. In Finland, the book is published by S&S.

Author Axel Åhman is also active as a comedian and is a member of the musical group KAJ, that won the Melodifestivalen 2025 and competed in the Eurovision 2025 representing Sweden with the song Bara bada bastu.

Ola Skogäng (b.1974) is a successful Swedish illustrator, author and cartoonist. He was nominated for the Urhunden Award in 2009, and won the Adamson Award the same year.

Emons is a medium-sized independent publishing house. In recent years their books have secured the Premio Strega Ragazzi and a spot on the Premio Andersen shortlist. They are the Italian home of other Nordic authors, including Malin Klingenberg and Matilda Gyllenberg.

Warm congratulations to the publisher and the authors!

Author Ulla Donner will attend the Rencontres de la Bande-Dessinée et de l’Illustration in Bastia, Corsica. The festival was established in 1993 and takes place on a yearly basis, boasting a program dedicated to comics and illustration. This year the festival will take place between March 26th and March 29th.

Ulla Donner (b. 1988) is a Swedish-speaking Finnish illustrator, cartoonist and a graphic designer. Her first graphic novel Spleenish (2017) was awarded the Stipend of the Swedish-Speaking Finnish Society of Authors, in addition to the The Most Beautiful Book award and a nomination to the Finlandia Prize for the best graphic novel. Her second graphic novel Crap (2018) was a critical success and received the Finlandia prize for the best Finnish graphic novel. Donner is also running for the Runeberg Junior Prize for her debut picture book, Stop the Thief!

Her latest graphic novel The Natural Comedy was awarded the Puupäähattu Prize, the Urhunden Prize, was nominated for the Most Beautiful Book of the Year, the Finlandia Comics Award, and has already travelled to Poland and Germany.  The Natural Comedy is a playful twist on Dante’s Divine Comedy from the perspective of the creatures of a forest that has been destroyed by humans’ exploitation. Donner’s works are published in Finland by Schildts & Söderströms.

Don’t miss out on this title, and mark your calendars!

Gyldendal Astra has secured the Swedish rights to the Adel Sisters series by Ann-Christin Antell in a three-book deal.

Wonderful news for our queen of historical romance Ann-Christin Antell: Gyldendal Astra has secured the Swedish rights to her Adel Sisters series in a nice three-book deal.

The series follows three sisters, Thyra, Lily, and Kitty, as they leave home and embark on journeys and pursue careers in male-dominated fields, meeting plenty of challenges but also finding love along the way.

The first book White Lily (Adel Sisters #1) follows middle child Lily, who is a budding artist and receives the unique chance to travel to Florence and work on her art with the very best of teachers. Before she leaves a childhood friend proposes to her, and she promises to give him an answer upon her return, but in Florence Lily soon understands there’s no going back to her old life. White Lily was an immediate #1 bestseller upon its release, and was nominated for the Storytel Awards in the category romance.

The second book Hidden Star (Adel Sisters #2) focuses on eldest daughter Thyra, a mathematically gifted introvert who dreams of pursuing studies in astronomy. When her mother sends her to spend the summer with her maternal grandmother – whom Thyra has never met – a chain of unexpected events is set in motion. A local lord takes a liking to Thyra, and her uncle turns out to be eccentric but just as mathematically gifted as Thyra, and willing to help. Could this be Thyra’s chance to pursue her academic dreams, or does her happiness lie elsewhere?

In Wild Bird (2027), Kitty, the youngest of the Adel sisters studies archaeology in the University of Helsinki. She spends her free time at their grandmother’s summer cottage by the sea where she suddenly meets her childhood love. Unexpectedly, Kitty receives a possibility to travel to Greece to archaeological excavations where she falls in love, but which is more important to her: a career in research, or love?

Gyldendal Astra is a Nordic digital-first publisher with branches in Finland, Sweden, and Denmark. They are the the home of, among others, Anne-Lil Vestgård, Kaisa Stål, and Ann-Catrin Mattson.

Ann-Christin Antell is a bestselling author of historical romance. Her previous series, The Cotton Mill trilogy, sold over 200.000 copies and spent a long time at the top of the bestsellers list. Antell has a background in archaeology, and strives to bring to life bygone times and places in a way that feels believable and fresh. Her books are published in Finland by Gummerus.

Warmest congratulations to the author and the publisher!

Danish translator Siri Nordborg Møller has received the Finnish State Award for Foreign Translators, a yearly award presented to a translator of Finnish literature. The Ministry of Education and Culture awards the Finnish State Award for Foreign Translators annually on the proposal of the Finnish Literature Exchange (FILI). The prize has been awarded since 1975 and is considered the highest recognition awarded to translators in Finland.

“Siri Nordborg Møller has an exceptionally wide‑ranging body of work as a translator. Through her active contribution she has introduced the richness and diversity of Finnish literature to readers in Denmark and increased the international presence of Finnish writing. Translators play a vital role in bringing Finnish literature to new audiences abroad,” says Minister of Science and Culture Mari‑Leena Talvitie.

Her versatility as translator is one of the pillars of her work, as she aims to accept every translation assignment offered to her so she can present Danish readers with as broad a range of Finnish literature as possible. Nordborg Møller has translated into Danish, among others, Matara by Matias Riikonen, the Mythicals series by Miila Westin, Heavensong by Pauliina Rauhala, Katie-Kate by Anu Kaaja, and Leena Krohn‘s works.

Warmest congratulations!