David Sundin winner of the 2021 Adlibris Award
The winners of the Swedish Adlibris Awards of 2021 have just been announced and David Sundin’s hit children’s title The Book That Really Did Not Want To Be Read has been crowned as the ‘Children’s Book of The Year’ for ages 0-6.
Adlibris is the leading book retailer in the Nordics and the nominated titles were selected by a jury of Adlibris employees from all works published throughout 2021. The readers were then able to elect their favourites.
Photo: Johan Paulin
Henrik Björn joins Salomonsson Agency
Showrunner, writer and director Henrik Björn has a long-standing career in the film and TV industry, creating groundbreaking, quality storytelling. He is dedicated to and has a passion for genre and exciting world building – and for telling gripping stories that can travel the globe.
Already in his early twenties Björn co-founded the successful production company Palladium, then foremostly working with commercials. As a commercial director he soon moved up in the industry and has today made more than 500 commercials with TV-clients such as Sony Ericsson, Premier League, Peugeot, Viasat, TV4, Amnesty International and the UN. Björn has also received multiple awards for his work, among else Gold in Promax for Premier League/Off to Sweden/Viaplay and Gold in 100W for SEB – The Bank at Home. Furthermore he has been nominated five times as one of the top ten commercial directors in Sweden in the business magazine Resumé’s Film of the Month.
Whilst working as a commercial director he felt increasingly drawn to creating stories for bigger formats, and an idea for a TV series started to grow. The following years this idea evolved into the incredibly successful crime fantasy drama Jordskott (2015-2017) for which he was creator, showrunner, head writer and conceptual director. Jordskott was a mega hit among viewers and critics alike, and has been sold to over 160 countries to date. It was awarded with a Swedish Emmy – a Kristallen award – for ‘Best TV Drama’ and the Banff Rockie Award for ‘Best Serial Drama’.
2021 saw the premiere of his audio drama Djupet/The Deep, starring Alba August and Stina Ekblad. The series, which he wrote and directed, was a huge success for commissioner SR. It was nominated at the Swedish Radio Academy’s Golden Ear Awards in the prestigious ‘Best Pod Production’ category as the only drama production.
Currently, Björn is working on several projects for TV, soon to be announced.
‘Insta-Brain Junior’ No. 1 in Sweden
Anders Hansen & Mats Wänblad’s Insta-Brain Junior claims the top position on the official Swedish bestseller list for children’s books this week.
All of Katrine Engberg’s novels on the Norwegian bestseller list
Katrine Engberg’s entire Copenhagen series dominates the official Norwegian bestseller list for paperbacks this week. The Tenant comes in at No. 2, Blood Moon at No. 3, The Butterfly House at No. 4, Isola at No. 6 and The Harbor at No. 12.
Hans Rosenfeldt’s ‘Cry Wolf’ on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list
Cry Wolf, Hans Rosenfeldt’s first novel under his own name and the first installment in the Haparanda series, debuts on US trade magazine Publishers Weekly’s bestseller list this week at No. 13.
The December bestseller list in Finland
The official Finnish bestseller list for the month of December is out. On the list for hardcover fiction, Liza Marklund’s The Polar Circle is featured for the third consecutive month, climbing to the No. 2 spot.
Marc Forster to direct US adaptation of ‘A Man Called Ove’ with Tom Hanks to star
Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, World War Z, The Kite Runner) has been set to direct the anticipated US adaptation of A Man Called Ove, the hit movie based on Fredrik Backman’s bestseller with the same name, with Tom Hanks set to star. Two-time Oscar nominee David Magee (Life Of Pi) is scripting the project and re-uniting with Forster after their collaboration on acclaimed drama Finding Neverland, for which both were BAFTA nominated. SF Studios is producing the film with Rita Wilson (Mamma Mia!, My Big Fat Greek Wedding). Neda Backman is attached as Executive Producer and production is due to begin this year.
Marc Forster stated: “When I first read Fredrik Backman’s novel, I fell in love with the notion that friendship has the power to shape a person’s life. I can’t wait to create a film with so much humor and heart alongside Tom and Rita.”
Rita Wilson said: “Fredrik Backman wrote a novel that has entertained, moved and inspired countless readers through his character of “Ove”. The humanity of the story has resonated with people all over the world, including myself. I have always looked for films that bring people joy and, hopefully, create a common experience of recognizing ourselves in others. It’s an honor to be producing this movie and to be bringing it to audiences everywhere.”
Björn Natthiko Lindeblad 1961-2022
With tremendous sadness we announce the passing of our beloved author and mentor Björn Natthiko Lindeblad. Through his moving book I May Be Wrong, his work as a public speaker and meditational teacher, he has inspired people all over the world to live a more free and present life. His candid and heartfelt reflections on his ALS diagnosis and on death have been a source of comfort for so many. We will miss him dearly and forever cherish his insights, wit and warmth. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Jørn Lier Horst & Hans Jørgen Sandnes on the Norwegian bestseller list for December
Jørn Lier Horst & Hans Jørgen Sandnes claims three of the top five positions on the official Norwegian children’s book bestseller list for the month of December. The Search for the Christmas Elf comes in at No. 1, Operation Christmas Ornament at No. 4 and Operation Witches Cauldron at No. 5.
The official Swedish bestseller lists for 2021
The official bestseller lists for 2021 in Sweden have been announced and the hardcover fiction list sees Niklas Natt och Dag’s 1795 at No. 2. This bestselling final part of Natt och Dag’s Bellman noir trilogy also appears at No. 5 on the e-book list, together with Liza Marklund’s acclaimed first installment in her highly anticipated new trilogy, The Polar Circle at No. 4.
Måns Mosesson’s intimate portrayal of Tim Bergling, Tim – The Official Biography of Avicii, grabs the No. 5 spot on the hardcover non-fiction list.
David Sundin’s children’s book debut and instant bestseller, The Book That Did Not Want To Be Read, comes in at No. 3 on the children’s list.
The paperback list sees Storm Watch, the first installment in the immensely popular August Strindberg series by Kristina Ohlsson, come in at No. 2 and Björn Natthiko Lindeblad’s beloved and moving non-fiction work, I May Be Wrong, at No. 5.
I May Be Wrong also claims the No. 2 spot on the audio list.