Märta Tikkanen is one of our greatest, now living Finland-Swedish writers. Over the past decades she has been a greatly influential figure worldwide. Her authorship became known throughout Europe with the hugely successful verse novel The Love Story of the Century (1978) and through her unrelenting fight for equality, Tikkanen paved way for other female authors in Finland. But how are her works perceived today?

Johanna Holmström has by the means of interviews with the author and close readings of Märta’s collective works and correspondence with colleagues Åsa Moberg and Birgitta Stenberg complemented the image of a highly stylistically conscious writer and a human rights activist of the highest rank. But there is also another side to Märta. One that swears and grouches; one that longs for recognition for her works and that perceives conspiracies targeted at herself from the domestic cultural life. And one living life, also after the rocky marriage to Henrik Tikkanen. After all, what is a female author icon if not human?

Ought to Shut Up is a the first encompassing biography of icon Märta Tikkanen.

Katrine Engberg is one of three authors nominated for Danish online book platform Plusbog’s Author of the Year award. The motivation for Katrine’s nomination is as follows:

“Since her debut in 2016, she has with her shrewd and bulletproof plots in book after book cemented her place among the favorite authors of Danish crime readers. She is particularly loved for her unique language, which is both accessible and humorous. Also the latest addition to her series has been well-received by Denmark’s readers, with Katrine Engberg currently topping the bestseller lists with newly published crime novel, Isola.”

The winner will be chosen by the readers, who are able to vote for their favorite up until November 9. To place your vote, click here.

An affluent family fallen on hard times. The small inlet village depending on it for its survival. An unbending will to do what it takes meets a matching will to look the other way, and soon an underground network is growing in the Norwegian village of Vike, visible only to those who know where to search; in the mountains, in the fjord, and inside the trucks leaving town.

What happens when a returning daughter, an outcast with ghosts of her own, enters this world? As the balance is upset, new secrets reveal the truth behind an even older mystery. To survive finding out the truth, she’ll have to play for keeps – and for dominion.

The Homecoming is a thrilling journey into the carefully hidden depths of a small town nested among the Norwegian mountains. Family history and criminal ingenuity meet salmon farming and a peerless ruthlessness as the novel’s protagonist, Stella, fights to save her own skin as well as avenge the future stolen from her. The Homecoming is Ingar Johnsrud’s first stand-alone title.

Hans Rosenfeldt’s When Crying Wolf is once again No. 1 on the official bestseller list for hardcovers in Sweden. The book also claims the No. 2 spot on the audio list. Jo Nesbø is another No. 1 bestseller on the lists: his The Kingdom comes in first in e-book, additionally landing the No. 3 spot in hardcover and No. 4 one in audio. Niklas Natt och Dag grabs the last placement in this week’s roundup, coming in at No. 5 in paperback with 1794.

The third annual Canneseries Festival took place this Wednesday night, and the big winner of the evening became the Swedish series Partisan, which received the award for ‘Best Series.’ Partisan is co-created by Amir Chamdin and Fares Fares. Hans Jörnlind, Anna Platt, Fares Fares and Amir Chamdin number among the series’ writers.

Top Dog was also one of the prestigious festival’s winners, walking off with the award for ‘Best music for crime thriller’.

SVT’s Christmas Calendar, an annual TV series for children and families, has been broadcasted since 1960 and has developed into an essential part of the contemporary Swedish Christmas tradition.

This year’s Christmas Calendar is called Miracle and revolves around two girls from different time periods who switch bodies. One travels 100 years back in time, and the other 100 years forward.

Miracle is directed by Calle Åstrand and written by Peter Arrhenius, Fredrik Agetoft and Sara Young.

In the cast one can find comedy stars Johan Glans and Babben Larsson. The girls Mira and Rakel will be portrayed by Sarah Rhodin and Bibi Lenhoff.

In their early youth Dessie and Sam were mad about each other. Devastating events at a party decimated their love and brutally tore them apart. As adults, none of them have quite recovered from the betrayals and lies. Fifteen years on, Dessie is a highly skilled security expert with experience from war zones all over the world. With a top position in a violent business where women are rare, she is also haunted by traumas that threaten to destroy her.

Sam was the underdog from the suburbs that everyone counted out. Following Dessie’s deceit, revenge was long his driving force, and it fueled him to create a vast and successful hotel empire. When Sam finds himself targeted by disturbing death threats, he becomes in need of a bodyguard. Fate brings Dessie his way…

One look at each other is enough for Dessie and Sam to know exactly what’s at stake. Now they’re playing with their hearts on the line.

Simona Ahrnstedt’s Hearts on the Line is a pulse triggering story about lowering your guard and facing your past. Hearts on the Line is the third installment in the stand-alone series Opposites Attract.