Simon & Schuster buys North American rights and btb Verlag German rights to The Women I Think About at Night by Mia Kankimäki

This is big! We’re thrilled to announce both a U.S. deal for Mia Kankimäki’s bestselling book The Women I Think About at Night and a two-book-deal in Germany for Mia Kankimäki!

Simon & Schuster acquired North American rights to The Women I Think About at Night: part travelogue, part biography, highlighting the lives of ten female adventurers, writers, and artists from around the world who have been lost to history, and how retracing their steps inspired the author’s own personal journey, sold to Ira Silverberg at Simon & Schuster, by Rhea Lyons at Hannigan, Salky, Getzler on behalf of Elina Ahlback Literary Agency. Rights have previously been sold to Orlando in the Netherlands.

”To be completely honest The Women I Think About at Night was one of very few books I returned from the Fair excited about. Elina, your pitch and your passion were one of few I remembered after hearing about who knows how many books – and led to me remembering, pursuing, and buying a book that I think will make many, many readers happy and inspired. The pitch deserves, and this comes from a former agent, best pitch of Frankfurt awards.”
– Ira Silverberg, Senior Editor, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

btb Verlag, Random House GmbH acquired German rights at auction to both The Women I Think About at Night and Kankimäki’s debut book: Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster (Otava 2013).

“Mia’s fascinating books will definitely make your heart beat faster: A beautiful, exceptional style, fancy ideas, honesty, bravery and wittiness – an exciting new voice. As our list includes such fine writers as Gloria Steinem, Lauren Elkin, Roxane Gay, Olivia Laing or Rebecca Solnit in our paperback list, I think Mia finds a publishing home with us which is the perfect environment for her and her work.   – Madlen Reimer, Editor, btb Verlag, Verlagsgruppe Random House

The Women I Think About At Night was our most requested Frankfurt title and a huge success at the recent Helsinki Book Fair, topping the bestseller lists!

What can a 40-something, childless woman do with her life? Hop on a plane and follow the footsteps of historical female figures: fearless explorers, gifted writers and passionate artists. For fans of Eat, Pray, Love and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.

Click here to request reading materials!

Rights Sold:
The Women I Think About at Night

FINLAND:
Otava (orig.)
GERMANY:
btb Verlag/Random House (2-book-deal)
NETHERLANDS:
Uitgeverij Orlando
UNITED STATES:
Simon & Schuster (North American)

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 54,000 copies in Finland and the translation rights have been sold to 20 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

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
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