ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It’s a long journey between the writer’s finished manuscript and the reader – even when that journey is smooth and fast. But if you add the fact that I write my books in Finnish and publish them first in Finland, we have, I think, something of a miracle here. There are so many things that could go wrong or, obviously, not happen at all. Yet, happily, everything has gone right, the right things have happened, and here we are: you are reading the book in English somewhere in the world, and I’m here in Finland thanking you for it. (Also, planning to go to the sauna later this evening.)
All this, excluding the sauna, has been made possible by several wonderful people.
In Finland, the manuscript was expertly edited by Aleksi Pöyry. Then, David Hackston performed his magic and took the book from Finnish to English in a way that seems seamless. If you know anything about Finnish, that is a thing to behold. David is simply the bee’s knees, as I believe you say.
In Stockholm, Sweden, my literary agent, Federico Ambrosini at the Salomonsson Agency, has provided me with invaluable insight and support throughout the years. The same is true for everyone at the agency, and I am deeply grateful to them.
In London, England, the English-language manuscript has been steadfastly and precisely edited by West Camel, who always seems to find the correct linguistic equivalence for my words. And the book has seen the light of day because the fabulous Karen Sullivan has published it. It’s a huge joy and a privilege to work with Karen.
Everywhere and anytime, I wish to thank my Faithful First Reader: Anu, I love you.
Finally, from my heart, thank you, the reader, for reading. I don’t take it for granted and I do hope to see you somewhere down the road.
And now to the sauna.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. In 2011, Tuomainen’s third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for ‘Best Finnish Crime Novel’ and was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. In 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the ‘King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime-genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. Palm Beach Finland (2018) was an immense success, with The Times calling Tuomainen ‘the funniest writer in Europe’, and Little Siberia (2019) was shortlisted for the Capital Crime/Amazon Publishing Readers Awards, the Last Laugh Award and the CWA International Dagger, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel. The Rabbit Factor is the first book in Antti’s first-ever series.
Follow Antti on Twitter @antti_tuomainen, or on Facebook: facebook.com/AnttiTuomainen.
ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR
David Hackston is a British translator of Finnish and Swedish literature and drama. Notable recent publications include Kati Hiekkapelto’s Anna Fekete series (published by Orenda Books), Katja Kettu’s wartime epic The Midwife, Pajtim Statovci’s enigmatic debut My Cat Yugoslavia and its follow-up, Crossing, and Maria Peura’s coming-of-age novel At the Edge of Light. He has also translated Antti Tuomainen’s The Mine, The Man Who Died, Palm Beach Finland and Little Siberia (published by Orenda Books). In 2007 he was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Translation. David is also a professional countertenor and a founding member of the English Vocal Consort of Helsinki. Follow David on Twitter @Countertenorist.
Other books by Antti Tuomainen available from Orenda Books: