We are continuing our creative literary interviews series with HLA’s writers! Legendary Pirkko Saisio, a six-time nominee for the Finlandia prize and the winner in 2003 discusses writing processes, artistic stereotypes and irony, and tells the best curse word so far. Read the entire interview here.
We are continuing our creative literary interviews series with HLA’s writers! Fenno-Swedish writer Ellen Strömberg discusses her deep, psychological novels Chasing Water and The Itch, the limits of sanity and looking for ugly things. Full interview can be found here.
Sami poet, musician, actor, and cultural and environmental activist Niillas Holmberg was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize for his new poetry collection Underfoot.
As the jury stated in its rationale:
“Underfoot is like a political and cunning joik that even the underworld can rely on. This is a volume of poetry in which both the illustrations and the well-chosen words build an aesthetic that allows for a broader mindset towards nature conservation, in terms of both willingness and knowledge.“
Underfoot is a collection of poems that emphasises the connection between people and the earth. It praises nature folklore whilst questioning whether it fits in with our contemporary mind and way of life.
It is the second time Holmberg was been shortlisted for the award. More information can be found on Nordic Council’s website.
Congratulations to the author!
A Dog Called Cat finds a home in Estonia.
The Estonian rights of the beautiful and beloved children’s book A Dog Called Cat with its sequel A Dog Called Cat meets a Cat have been sold to the Estonian publisher Päike ja pilv.
Poet Tomi Kontio’s illustrator Elina Warsta’s A Dog Called Cat is a story about a small dog, a man called Weasel and about a friendship that changes everything.
The rights have been previously sold to Lata de Sal in Spain and Nieko Rimto in Lithuania.
The story of a nutter travels to Albania
Nutter is a story about a man who’s mind decides to go for a walk one day. The man manages to take himself to a psychiatric ward to recover.
The outcome is a novel filled with dark humor, authenticity and insight. Compared to Ken Kesey’s legendary One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, it is a rare treat.
The Albanian rights have been sold to Onufri in Albania. The novel was recently published in German by Kommode Verlag.
Juha Hurme is one of Finland’s most loved and celebrated writers, known also for his innovative theatre. Hurme came to prominence in 2017 when he won the Finlandia Prize for his novel Headland.