Santiago's 'The Wrong Way' Climbs Charts in Spain
The Wrong Way by Mikel Santiago, which Ediciones B published earlier this month, has become a bestseller in Spain. At press time, the title was #7 on the bestseller list of the Spanish newspaper, El Mundo. The book is about a rock star who accidentally hits a man with his car, late at night, and then leaves the body. Overcome with remorse, the rocker returns to the scene only to find that body is gone. Then, strange events begin to occur. Spanish agency SalmaiaLit controls rights for The Wrong Way. Santiago is the author of another recent Spanish bestseller, The Last Night at Tremore Beach, which has been optioned for film and was acquired last year by Simon & Schuster's Atria imprint.
Italian Novel by 'Goldfinch' Translator Draws Buyers
A debut thriller called The Deaths of Gods by Mirko Zilahy, the Italian translator of The Goldfinch, has sold to five countries. The book will be published in Italy in January by Longanesi and is represented by Laura Ceccacci, who has an eponymous agency in Rome. In the novel, police commissioner Enrico Mancini, along with his team, are trying to catch a serial killer who goes by the name of "Shadow." At press time, the book had been acquired by publishers in Spain, Greece, Germany, France and Turkey.
Two Pontas Agency Titles Heat Up
A Swedish novel called Heart of Jazz is picking up interest abroad. Written by Sara Lövestam (Different), the title was originally published by Swedish house Piratförlaget, and follows a bullied teenager, Steffi, who finds solace listening to music from the 1940s. Heart of Jazz recently sold to Spanish publisher Suma de Letras, and German house Rowohlt. The Barcelona-based Pontas Agency is now submitting a fully translated English-language version of the novel to British and American houses.
Another book being handled by the Pontas Agency is drawing buzz. Blanca Busquets's The House of Silence recently sold to ReganArts in a deal for North America and ANZ rights. Originally published by Catalan house Rosa dels Vents, the novel is told from the alternating perspectives of three women and one man, who are all connected to an orchestra conductor. Sales of the book have closed with houses in Norway, Spain and Italy.
Finnish Pirate Series Collects More Sales
A Finnish pirate series called Storm Sisters that began picking up steam in the late fall has since racked up a number of new deals. Mintie Das' series has now sold to Tammi (Finland); Editions Robert Laffont (France); Bastei Lübbe (a German publisher which nabbed German and world English rights); and Planeta (Spain). Finnish agent Elina Ahlback of the Elina Ahlback Literary Agency represents all rights. The series, which is YA and set in 18th century, was written in association with Rovio Books, a subsidiary of Rovio Entertainment, which produced the popular "Angry Birds" franchise.
Correction: An earlier version of this article referred to the Storm Sister as a Swedish series; it's Finnish.
