Mia Kankimäki

THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT, by Mia Kankimäki, hits US shelves!

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Mia Kankamaki The Women I think About At Night US

What a day! Published by Simon & Schuster, Mia Kankimäki’s Finnish best-seller, “The Women I Think About at Night,” hit shelves yesterday, November 10, in the United States and Canada. On that same day, incredibly, she also published an essay in the Wall Street Journal. Kankimäki’s star is officially rising in North America; definitely cause for champagne, as you can see CEO, Elina Ahlbäck raising a toast to Mia. Bravo!

Request full English manuscript of the title by clicking here.

With rights to “The Women I Think About at Night” sold to 15 countries (and counting!), we at EALA are thrilled to partner with Simon & Schuster for Mia Kankimäki’s publication in the United States and Canada, where she’s already generating incredible buzz. Putting her alongside authors such as Barack Obama, Fortune magazine named Kankimäki’s unique work one of their 6 books to read in November!

“Fortysomething, childless, and feeling stuck, Finnish author Mia Kankimäki takes that big leap we all fantasize about but never have the guts to do: She quits her job, sells her apartment, and travels the world. In a blend of travelogue, memoir, and biography, Kankimäki recounts her travels through Japan, Kenya, and Italy, while retracing the steps of 10 remarkable female pioneers from history.” – Fortune

And make sure to read her beautiful Wall Street Journal essay, The Finnish Island Where Time Stops.

A publishing sensation in Finland with over 40,000 copies sold, “The Women I Think About at Night” solidifies Kankimäki’s standing as one of Finland’s leading new authors. Her book was translated by Douglas Robinson and published by Simon & Schuster, one of the four largest English-language publishers in the world. 

Her book has already received positive reviews In Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, Travel & Leisure,
and Kirkus Review, along with Fortune magazine. 

Elina Ahlbäck Literary Agency is responsible for the sale of international rights to Mia Kankimäki’s books.  The rights to ”The Women I Think About at Night” have already been sold to 15 countries.

In 2013, Mia Kankimäki instantly became one of the top names in the literary field with her debut, ”Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster.” More than 80,000 of her two books have altogether been sold in Finland.

Rights Sold

FINLAND:
Otava (orig.)
CHINA:
Winshare Publishing
CZECH REPUBLIC:
Albatros Media/Motto
DENMARK:
Bilgrav Publishing
ESTONIA:
Varrak
FRANCE:
Editions Leduc.s
GERMANY:
btb Verlag/RandomHouse
ITALY:
Neri Pozza
LATVIA:
Zvaigzne
LITHUANIA:
Gelmes Publishing
NETHERLANDS:
Uitgeverij Orlando
NORWAY:
Gursli Berg Forlag
RUSSIA:
Eksmo Publishing
SLOVENIA:
Didakta
SWEDEN:
Wahlström & Widstrand
UNITED STATES & WORLD ENGLISH:
Simon & Schuster

About author


Mia Kankimäki

Mia Kankimäki is the author of two best-selling books which blend travelogue, memoir, biography, and women’s history. After taking a master’s degree in comparative literature at the University of Helsinki and working diligently in Finnish publishing, in 2010 she left her job and traveled to Japan to write her first book. Her books have received several literary awards, for example the Best Travel Book of the Year 2013, the HelMet Award 2015, and Otava Book Foundation’s Non-Fiction Award 2020. She currently lives in Helsinki, Finland, whenever she’s not traveling for her next book project.

Mia has been enthusiastic about Japanese culture for years and is a qualified ikebana teacher of the Sogetsu school. Her first book Things That Make One’s Hear Beat Faster took her to Kyoto where she has spent long periods of writing and making research ever since. Kankimäki’s second book The Women I Think About at Night has sold over 55,000 copies in Finland and the translation rights have been sold to 21 territories, including USA and China.

Mia's both books have been aqcuired by Japanese publisher Soshisha:

"I am delighted to share that Mia Kankimäki’s debut title, THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER, is embraced and loved by many Japanese readers. A cross between an autobiography and a travelogue, the author finds an emotional connection with a woman geographically far apart and from a different era and tries to discover who she really was. I believe this style is reflected in THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT as well. Though some of the female figures in this second book might not be well-known locally, I am looking forward to seeing how our readers will react to their lifestyles." - Daisuke Watanabe, Editor, Soshisha

Read more Author's page

Bibliography


2018, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

The Women I Think About At Night

Mia Kankimäki


2013, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

Things That Make One's Heart Beat Faster

Mia Kankimäki

Related news

Great review for THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT in Publishers Weekly

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Finnish author Kankimäki profiles in this astute, entertaining work 10 daring female writers and artists who took risks in their quest toward fulfillment. …/ Along the way, Kankimäki, a spirited narrator, highlights her own travels—to Tanzania, Italy, Japan—and shares advice. This insightful book will appeal to adventure enthusiasts and be an inspiration for those with an eye on hitting their stride later in life.” 
– PW

Read the full review here.

The Women I Think About at Night is the perfect book for the time-being, pure escapism: Mia Kankimäki blends travelogue, memoir, and biography as she recounts her enchanting travels in Japan, Kenya, and Italy while retracing the steps of ten remarkable female pioneers from history. The Women I Think About at Night will be published in the US in November by Simon & Schuster. Translated by Douglas Robinson. Rights have been sold in 16 territories and counting.

About the book:
Have you heard about Artemisia Gentilleschi, Lavinia Fontana or Nellie Bly? The Women I Think About at Night follows in the footsteps of 10 historical women, who did what was impossible for women to do in their own times: travel the world or create a career as an artist. And these women were quite successful: some of them actually became celebrities of their own time! So why have they been forgotten by the history books? Finnish writer Mia Kankimäki sold her house, packed her suitcase and traveled the world to find out. Warning: May cause strong case of wanderlust!

Mia Kankimäki is also known for her earlier narrative nonfiction Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster, which has sold over 40,000 copies in Finland and won numerous awards including the best travel book of the year and Helmet Library Award.

About the book:

A narrative non-fiction about a Finnish writer’s trip to Japan to look for her soul mate – who lived over 1,000 years ago.

Mia Kankimäki embarks on an adventure and travels to Kyoto to research Sei Shonagon, a Japanese writer and lady-in-waiting who wrote about her life in the court of Heian era Japan. Mia doesn’t speak a word of Japanese, and isn’t quite accustomed to scientific research, but her endeavor produces the most wonderful book about Japan, Sei Shonagon and a middle-aged woman’s solo travels.

Despite her struggles and initial culture shock, Mia finds herself mesmerized by temples, cherry blossoms, kabuki theater, Zen meditation and tearooms. She reads the Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon and finds a soul sister: a modern woman who loves making lists of all things charming, annoying, elegant and things that make one’s heart beat faster.

Rights sold:

The Women I Think About at Night

FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
CHINA: Winshare Publishing
CZECH REPUBLIC: Albatros Media/Motto
DENMARK: Bilgrav Publishing
ESTONIA: Varrak
FRANCE: Editions Leduc.s
GERMANY:btb Verlag/RandomHouse
ITALY: Neri Pozza
LATVIA: Zvaigzne
LITHUANIA: Gelmes Publishing
NETHERLANDS: Uitgeverij Orlando
NORWAY: Gursli Berg Forlag
RUSSIA: Eksmo Publishing
SLOVENIA: Didakta
SWEDEN: Wahlström & Widstrand
UNITED STATES:
Simon & Schuster (North American rights)

 

Rights sold:

Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster

FINLAND: Otava (orig.
ESTONIA: Varrak
ITALY: Edizioni Piemme
JAPAN: Soshisha
GERMANY: btb Verlag/Random House

About author


Mia Kankimäki

Mia Kankimäki is the author of two best-selling books which blend travelogue, memoir, biography, and women’s history. After taking a master’s degree in comparative literature at the University of Helsinki and working diligently in Finnish publishing, in 2010 she left her job and traveled to Japan to write her first book. Her books have received several literary awards, for example the Best Travel Book of the Year 2013, the HelMet Award 2015, and Otava Book Foundation’s Non-Fiction Award 2020. She currently lives in Helsinki, Finland, whenever she’s not traveling for her next book project.

Mia has been enthusiastic about Japanese culture for years and is a qualified ikebana teacher of the Sogetsu school. Her first book Things That Make One’s Hear Beat Faster took her to Kyoto where she has spent long periods of writing and making research ever since. Kankimäki’s second book The Women I Think About at Night has sold over 55,000 copies in Finland and the translation rights have been sold to 21 territories, including USA and China.

Mia's both books have been aqcuired by Japanese publisher Soshisha:

"I am delighted to share that Mia Kankimäki’s debut title, THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER, is embraced and loved by many Japanese readers. A cross between an autobiography and a travelogue, the author finds an emotional connection with a woman geographically far apart and from a different era and tries to discover who she really was. I believe this style is reflected in THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT as well. Though some of the female figures in this second book might not be well-known locally, I am looking forward to seeing how our readers will react to their lifestyles." - Daisuke Watanabe, Editor, Soshisha

Read more Author's page

Bibliography


2018, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

The Women I Think About At Night

Mia Kankimäki


2013, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

Things That Make One's Heart Beat Faster

Mia Kankimäki

Related news

Translation Grants and New Awards for our Bestselling Authors!

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We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. What a perfect time to read and consider award-winning and internationally bestselling Finnish authors and their works for your 2021/2022 lists! In April, both FILI translation grants and Creative Europe Grants can be applied:

FILI translation grant application is open! Apply for the translation grants and production grants before May 1st.
More information here: FILI Grants.

The Creative Europe grants can be applied until May 5th!
More information here: Creative Europe Grants.

We would like to congratulate nonfiction author Mia Kankimäki who was awarded with Otava Book Foundation’s Award. This annual award is worth 15.000€, and is given to authors who have significantly contributed to Finnish literature in their respective genres.

Both Kankimäki’s narrative nonfiction books, The Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster (2013) and The Women I Think About at Night (2018),  have been bestsellers in Finland, and the foreign rights have been sold to over 15 countries.

The Women I Think About at Night will be published in the US in December by Simon & Schuster.

Congratulations to Maria Turtschaninoff, whose YA novel Maresi Red Mantle has been awarded with the Global Literature in Libraries Initiative’s Translated YA Book Award 2020. The book is published in the UK by Pushkin Press. Its US edition, published by Abrams Books, is titled Red Mantle.

“Maresi Red Mantle is a stirring epistolary novel that presents a young woman caught between two homes, cultures, and communities. It is the concluding title in the Red Abbey Chronicles trilogy, but we were very impressed with how beautifully it works as a stand-alone title.” – Committee Chair Annette Y. Goldsmith.

The book is part of The Red Abbey Chronicles trilogy, which has been sold to 22 territories, and there’s a feature film under development by Film4/The Bureau, but can be read as a standalone as well.

We would also like to congratulate Magdalena Hai, who was also granted Otava Book Foundation’s Award of 15.000 € for children’s authors. She is known for her humorous, but gentle books for all ages. She has written picture books, middle grade and YA novels and won numerous awards. Her chapter book series The Little Shop of Nightmares has been sold to 14 territories. Her upcoming middle-grade novel ”Miss Swift’s Weird and Wonderful House” will be published in summer 2020 and it has already gathered excitement around the world.

About author


Magdalena Hai

Magdalena Hai is an award-winning author, lover of cross-genre fiction and all things strange. Her fiction often combines elements of sci-fi, fantasy and horror.

Her Little Shop of Nightmares series has been sold to 30 territories around the world. Among Hai's many accolades are winning the Finlandia Prize for children's and YA literature and the Finnish Literary Export Prize, and being nominated  the Nordic Council Children & Young People's Literature Prize.

Besides being an author, Hai teaches writing and is an active member and editor in the publishing co-operative Osuuskumma.

Read more Author's page

About author


Maria Turtschaninoff

Maria Turtschaninoff is known for crafting lyrical, historically inspired fantasy stories starring strong female protagonists. In addition to J.R.R. Tolkien, she counts Philip Pullman, Ursula K. Le Guin and C.S. Lewis among her favorite authors. She is a two-time winner of the Society of Swedish Literature Prize, winner of the Swedish YLE Literature Prize, winner of the Thank You for the Book Award, a nominee for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (2020-2024), and winner of the 2014 Finlandia Junior Prize. In 2024, Maria Turtschaninoff won the Eeva Joenpelto Literary Prize (10,000 euro award) for her literary masterpiece Tangled Roots.

Her Red Abbey Chronicles YA trilogy has been sold into 30 languages, while her first adult novel Tangled Roots has been sold to 23 territories. Maria has a Master of Arts in human ecology and works full-time as a writer.

Photo credit: Veikko Somerpuro/Tammi

Read more Author's page

About author


Mia Kankimäki

Mia Kankimäki is the author of two best-selling books which blend travelogue, memoir, biography, and women’s history. After taking a master’s degree in comparative literature at the University of Helsinki and working diligently in Finnish publishing, in 2010 she left her job and traveled to Japan to write her first book. Her books have received several literary awards, for example the Best Travel Book of the Year 2013, the HelMet Award 2015, and Otava Book Foundation’s Non-Fiction Award 2020. She currently lives in Helsinki, Finland, whenever she’s not traveling for her next book project.

Mia has been enthusiastic about Japanese culture for years and is a qualified ikebana teacher of the Sogetsu school. Her first book Things That Make One’s Hear Beat Faster took her to Kyoto where she has spent long periods of writing and making research ever since. Kankimäki’s second book The Women I Think About at Night has sold over 55,000 copies in Finland and the translation rights have been sold to 21 territories, including USA and China.

Mia's both books have been aqcuired by Japanese publisher Soshisha:

"I am delighted to share that Mia Kankimäki’s debut title, THINGS THAT MAKE ONE’S HEART BEAT FASTER, is embraced and loved by many Japanese readers. A cross between an autobiography and a travelogue, the author finds an emotional connection with a woman geographically far apart and from a different era and tries to discover who she really was. I believe this style is reflected in THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT as well. Though some of the female figures in this second book might not be well-known locally, I am looking forward to seeing how our readers will react to their lifestyles." - Daisuke Watanabe, Editor, Soshisha

Read more Author's page

13 PRE-LONDON DEALS!

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Here are the 13 deals made just before London Book Fair. Although the Fair is now canceled, the titles are still hotter than ever! Congratulations to all the authors and publishers!

PUTIN’S TROLLS by Jessikka Aro

Last weeks’ sales: Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic
Total rights sold: 5 languages.

Today, we can announce that Czech Rights have been sold to Denik N. 

”The extraordinary story of Finnish journalist Jessika Aro is a prime example of a great personal courage and journalist’s dedication face to face new types of threats at the time of an actual hybrid information conflict. The book represents important evidence in the recent debates about the risks we underestimate or even don’t realize.”
– Ján Simkanič, Director, Denik N, Czech Republic

RIGHTS SOLD (5): FINLAND, CZECH REPUBLIC, ESTONIA, LITHUANIA, POLAND

Materials available: Full English manuscript – ask by clicking here

A WONDERFUL LIFE by Frank Martela

Last weeks’ sales: Turkey, Taiwan, Greece, Lithuania. 
Total rights sold: 13 languages.

As the book will only be published by HarperCollins/Harper Design on 24th of March 2020, this is altogether 13 pre-publication deals!

What is the meaning of life? Why doesn’t happiness work as a life goal? Don’t worry, philosopher Frank Martela has got you covered on these questions.

RIGHTS SOLD (13): FINLAND, CROATIA, ESTONIA,  GREECE, JAPAN, KOREA, LITHUANIA,  NETHERLANDS,  NORWAY,  RUSSIA, TAIWAN, UNITED STATES, TURKEY

Materials available: Full English manuscript – ask by clicking here

THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT AT NIGHT by Mia Kankimäki

Last weeks’ sales: Sweden, Italy
Total rights sold: 16 languages.

Part biography, part travelogue, this book takes you from Karen Blixen’s farm to the forbidden city of Tibet to modern-day Japan,  following the footsteps of 10 brave historical women.RIGHTS SOLD (16): FINLAND, CHINA, CZECH REPUBLIC, DENMARK, ESTONIA, FRANCE,
GERMANY,  ITALY, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, RUSSIA, SLOVENIA,  SWEDEN, UNITED STATES

Materials available: Full English manuscript – ask by clicking here

RED ABBEY CHRONICLES by Maria Turtschaninoff

Yesterday sold to: Bulgaria
Total rights sold: 23 languages.

This best-selling trilogy, award-winning feminist YA saga has sold to 23 territories – and counting.
Also, the feature film is being developed by Film4/The Bureau.RIGHTS SOLD (23): FINLAND, BELGIUM, BRAZIL, BULGARIA, CANADA, CHINA, DENMARK, ESTONIA, FRANCE, GERMANY, HUNGARY, ITALY, LATVIA, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, POLAND, ROMANIA, SPAIN, SWEDEN, TURKEY, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES

Materials available: Full English manuscripts – ask by clicking here

LITTLE SHOP OF NIGHTMARES 3: STICKY THE HORRIBLE SNOWMAN by Magdalena Hai

Last weeks’ sales: Estonia, Romania
Total rights sold: 13 languages.

Magdalena Hai and Teemu Juhani’s quirky, popular and hilarious early reader’s series The Little Shop of Nightmares has nowa 3rd book coming up, rights sold already to Estonia and Romania!

RIGHTS SOLD FOR THE SERIES  (13): FINLAND, CZECH REPUBLIC, DENMARK, ESTONIA, GERMANY, HUNGARY, LATVIA, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, ROMANIA, RUSSIA, SWEDEN, TURKEY

Materials available: Full English pdfs – ask by clicking here

About author


Frank Martela

Professor Frank Martela, PhD, is a philosopher and researcher of psychology specializing in the question of meaning in life. His articles have appeared in Scientific American Mind, Harvard Business Review, Salon, CNBC and his work has been featured on Quartz and on the BBC. His research has been published extensively in numerous academic journals such as Nature Human Behaviour, Perspectives on Psychological Science, Journal of Personality, Metaphilosophy, Southern Journal of Philosophy, and Academy of Management Review. He has spoken to more than one hundred audiences worldwide, including invited lectures in universities on five continents, including Stanford University and Harvard University. He’s been interviewed by the New York Times, Discover Magazine, New Scientist, Vice News, Fox News,and Monocle Observer among others. He is Assistant Professor at Aalto University in Finland. Outside of work, Frank is a father to three lovely children, an amateur-level soccer player, with an occasional skiing trip in the winters. He is made in Green Bay, so Packers holds a special place in his heart.

Read more Author's page

About author


Jessikka Aro

Jessikka Aro is an award-winning reporter with Yle, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, specializing in Russia, extremism and information warfare. In 2014 and 2015, she published a series of articles on pro-Kremlin social media trolls and their influence outside of Russia’s borders. Due to her investigations, Jessikka became the target of a severe and still ongoing international propaganda and hate speech campaign, which she recounts in Putin’s Trolls.

In 2019, the US State Department awarded Jessikka the International Women of Courage Award, but the award was mysteriously rescinded by the Trump administration, allegedly due to her social media criticism of then President Trump. On December 1, 2020, Jessikka Aro received the International Women’s Media Foundation Courage in Journalism Award, presented in partnership with the Washington Post and hosted by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. Jessikka was recognized for her award-winning investigative reporting of Russian information warfare. Jessikka lives in Helsinki, Finland.

Read more Author's page

About author


Magdalena Hai

Magdalena Hai is an award-winning author, lover of cross-genre fiction and all things strange. Her fiction often combines elements of sci-fi, fantasy and horror.

Her Little Shop of Nightmares series has been sold to 30 territories around the world. Among Hai's many accolades are winning the Finlandia Prize for children's and YA literature and the Finnish Literary Export Prize, and being nominated  the Nordic Council Children & Young People's Literature Prize.

Besides being an author, Hai teaches writing and is an active member and editor in the publishing co-operative Osuuskumma.

Read more Author's page