De Arbeiderspers Foreign Rights
Transcription
De Arbeiderspers Foreign Rights
Rights Guide London 2013 De Arbeiderspers Foreign Rights For any requests or enquiries contact: Laetitia Powell-Gutierrez Foreign Rights Manager Contact: Tel. +31 ((0)30 247 04 37 Mob.+ 31 (0)6 55 36 50 18 Fax +31 (0)30 241 00 18 E-mail: [email protected] Publisher’s address: De Arbeiderspers Franz Lisztplantsoen 200, 3533 JG Utrecht Postbus 40203, 3504 AA Utrecht The Netherlands De Arbeiderspers Foreign Rights Foreign Rights Manager De Arbeiderspers Uitgeverij Tel: +31 (0) 30 247 04 68 Mob: +31(0) 06 5536 5018 E-mail: [email protected] Publisher’s address: De Arbeiderspers Franz Lisztplantsoen 200 3533 JG Utrecht Postbus 40203 3504 AA Utrecht The Netherlands 2 Contents Abdelkader Benali – Bad Boy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Christiaan Weijts – Euphoria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer – La Superba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Arjan Visser – Hotel Linda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Peter Terrin – Post Mortem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Jolien Janzing – The Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Geert Kimpen – The Prince of Filettino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Britta Bolt – Valour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Britta Bolt – Witch Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 J.J. Hermsen – We Have Everything . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 J.J. Hermsen – Walking Wounded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Anna Enquist – Anaesthesia/Poems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Atte Jongstra – Depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Kisling & Verhuyck – Black Lace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Corine Kisling – The Bath House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Arthur Japin – To The Outside Gaze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Roderik Six – Flood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Christine Pannebakker – Seven Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Boris O. Dittrich – The True is a Lie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Marion Bloem – The Hundred-Year-Old Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Ineke Riem – Seven Attempts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Christophe Vekeman – An Extraordinary Woman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Herman Chevrolet –The Mystery of the Yellow Shirt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Jeroen Wielaert – France through the Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 3 4 LITERATURE ‘What do you do when life takes an unexpected turn…punch back?’ Abdelkader Benali Bad Boy Marzoek Kaddoeri is a successful kick boxer in the K-1 category (Karate, Kickboxing and Kung Fu), widely known as a tough man. After accusations of assault by a man from the advertising world, Marzoek runs away to Morocco. The life he made for himself, the world he built with his sweat and bare knuckles, his achievements, his heroic status, are shattered. The only person who still stands by him, is his old school friend Mo. Mo was present in his life way before Marzoek’s transformation into a prize-fighter. He knew him when he was still a vulnerable and insecure boy. Now Mo has been helping him with a successful comeback. But what happened that night anyway and why can’t Marzoek remember anything at all? What role does girlfriend Chanel have in the chaos? Literature: 352 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] English sample available Bad boy is Benali’s twelfth book published by De Arbeiderspers. - Publication date: August 2013 - Film rights under negotiation Abdelkader Benali (1975) writes novels, stories and poetry. He also writes plays and works as a journalist. He has also created some television show that is called Benali’s books. His debut Bruiloft aan zee (Wedding at the Sea) was a big success both in the Netherlands and internationally. ~ 5 LITERATURE ‘An uncompromising reflection of the Zeitgeist.’ Shortlisted for the Libris literatuur Prijs Award Christiaan Weijts Euphoria Following a terrorist attack in The Hague on a summer’s morning, an architect, Johannes Vermeer (allegedly a descendant of the famous painter) becomes the protagonist of a prestigious project. He is put in charge of the designs for the redevelopment of the area devastated by the attack. This project will have a major impact on his personal and professional life. Euphoria is about the generation that grew up in the nineties, in the bloom of technology, wealth, air travel, parties, globalization, and its actual limits. This is an indispensable book for anyone seeking to understand our time. Literature: 452 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] English sample available In October 2008 he published his second novel, Via Cappello 23 and was named by Peter Steinz as “a natural successor to Mulisch.” The novel was nominated for the Golden Owl and the AKO Literature Prize, and won the Gerard Walschap prize. In 2009, The Window Dresser was published and was selected for the Libris Literature Prize. It is also fully available in English. What the press says about Euphoria: - Euphoria will be published in November 2012 Christiaan Weijts (1976) is an author but also a columnist for the NRC.next.and the Groene Amsterdammer. In 2003, he published a collection of columns entitled Sluitentijd. In 2006, his debut novel Art.285b (The Scarlatti Fingerings), whose title refers to the stalking article in the Dutch Penal Code, Art. 285b. received high praise, and earned him nominations for both the AKO Literature Prize and the Golden Uil. “Dazzling pages (..) A novel with such an upstanding level as Euphoria is unusual , even though we are accustomed to such novels of this author.” - Vrij Nederland “The most intelligent Dutch novel of the year” - Humo “Subtle art of a novel”- De Telegraaf “Euphoria is a novel rich of ideas” – Knack Focus “A true finding of highly formulated smart conceptions” – Trouw The Libris Literatuur Prijs is the equivalent of the Booker Prize but for the Dutch language. The winning title will be chosen from a shortlist of six nominated books. ~ 6 LITERATURE ‘A love story, a city, the quest for something better…’ Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer La Superba This great novel pays homage to a city like no other: Genoa, La Superba. A novel about a labyrinthine city, it is also a love story that ends tragically. La Superba investigates, explains and unravels the illusion of a better life elsewhere, and shows how people get lost in that fantasy in different ways from renowned writers to upstanding gentlemen, to poor Senegalese immigrants and prostitutes, no one is left out. A search for love, happiness and a better life when fate gets in the way. A masterpiece! of the eighteenth century, the Scottish Earl Elgin becomes Literature: 347 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Translation sample available in English and Italian What the press says about La Superba: Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer (1968) writes novels, stories, poems, columns, essays, theatre plays and lyrics. He is also a critic. He lives and works in Genoa for the last five years and during that time he has worked on this ambitious novel. ‘Bravissimo!’ - Vrij Nederland ‘A clicking glass of prosseco.’ – De Morgen **** ‘…..the virtuose Superba.’ – ”Volkskrant ~ 7 LITERATURE ‘A gripping book about the reliability of memories and a love that lasts a lifetime’ Arjan Visser Hotel Linda Jonah Jacobson, a Jewish diamond cutter from Amsterdam, has lived in Brazil for a long time, sixty-five years to be precise. After all these years, he is returning to Amsterdam for the very first time. During his stay, he begins a quest, a search for a former girlfriend lost in a forest of memories. Where is the woman who helped him to flee the war? Will Jonah admit to Linda how he repaid her? Or should he, as Marcus Aurelius suggests, expect and ask for no gratification for his good deeds? Hotel Linda is a compelling story told through the prism of old age that takes place between dreams and reality, past and present. Amsterdam and Brazil. Literature: 232 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Right sold: D.T.V Germany English sample available Arjan Visser (1961) is a wellestablished Dutch journalist, interviewer and author. Arjan has worked for the Nieuwe Revu and Trouw. He has won the Anton Wachterprijs, the Geert Jan Lubberhuizenprijs and was nominated for the AKO Literatuurprijs with his debut ‘De laatste dagen’ (The Last Days, 2003). His second novel 8 ‘Hemelval’(Fall From Heaven) came out in 2006, followed in 2009 by ‘Paganinipark’. Hotel Linda is his fourth novel. What the press says about Hotel Linda: ‘A beautiful and gentle novel about reflection and remembrance.’ – Trouw ‘Visser is a compelling storyteller.’ – Noordhollands Newspaper ‘Arjan Visser succeeds wtih vivid images to evoke both the prewar Amsterdam of life in rural areas in Brazil [...] It is no more compelling. It is also a gripping book that never sentimental.’ - Literair Nederlands ~ LITERATURE ‘An author's unforeseen circumstances.’ Winner of the AKO Literatuurprijs - Nominated for the Libris Literatuur prijs 2013 Peter Terrin Post Mortem “Due to unforeseen circumstances.” The unknown writer Emil Steegman is in the shower while this thought comes to his mind, as he is trying to think of a last minute excuse to avoid an awkward dinner party with a delegation of colleagues from Estonia. It is a trite phrase, rather vague but it has impact. The question of how these fictitious “unforeseen circumstances” will be perceived by an ambitious biographer who at some point in the future will read his email exchange, will not leave him in peace and provides him with a brilliant idea for a new novel. Audaciously, Steegman decides that the time has come to reveal his personal life in the literary battle. Until something disastrous happens to Renée, his daughter, almost four years old, Literature: 288 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Rights sold: MacLehose Press UK English sample available His previous book The Guard is a highly acclaimed pageturning huis-clos about war, paranoia and the human condition. • Winner of EU Prize 2011 (for best Belgian book in past 3 years period). • Shortlisted for the Libris Literature Prize 2010. • Subsidies available from the EU and the Flemish Literary Funds. Rights sold to: Gallimard France, Bompiani Italy, MacLehose Press UK, Dauphin Czech, Canetti Bulgaria, Zavet Serbia, Carmel Israel, IBU Romania, Goncol Hungary, Modrijan Slovenia, Turbine Denmark, Rayo Verde Spain, Destek Publishing Turkey, Golden Poney Egypt. - Film rights available What the press says about The Guard: “I will say it right away…– The Guard is a sublime book…this novel has an unbelievable amount to offer, in first place a brilliantly told story. It doesn’t get much more accessible than this.” – Het Parool “The most intriguing author of his generation.” – De Tijd “It is not that Peter Terrin will become great, he is already.” – De Morgen Peter Terrin (1965) studied at the University of Ghent. He writes novels, short stories and contemplative pieces. His novel Women and Children first was nominated for the BNG Literature Prize, both Blanco (2003) and the stories The Bee-eaters (2006) were nominated for the AKO Prize and he also won a regional prize for the latter (WestFlanders province). ~ 9 LITERATURE ‘Charlotte Brontë's secret love in 19th century Brussels’ Selected for Books at Berlinale 2013 Jolien Janzing The Master Charlotte, a minister's daughter from Yorkshire, England, craves adventure, fulfilment and passionate love. Together with her sister Emily, she travels to Brussels to study French. Their plan is to set up their own school for young ladies back home. The girls stay in Madame Heger’s boarding house. The sisters do their best to adjust as well as possible. Charlotte falls in love for the first time and with no one less than the man of the house, Monsieur Constantin Heger... A coming of age story about a 19th century young English woman who changed the face of the British literature and based Jane Eyre on her own experiences. Charlotte Bronte is widely known, read and loved but few know about her own love story. The author has done extensive research on Charlotte Brontë’s life and has dedicated many years to this oeuvre. The Brussels Brontë Group is very interested in this project. Jolien Janzing is open to participate in writing the script and acting as a consultant during the process A book trailer of The Master is available: www.bronteinbrussels.com Jolien Janzing (1964) became famous with her sensational journalistic reports in the magazine Humo and other prominent magazines in the Netherlands and Belgium. Her book Your money or your dreams (2004) brought a new discussion to the fore about the feminist movement. With her book Men’s Love (2009) Jolien wrote about the love stories of famous male couples. Her debut novel Grammar of an obsession (2006) is about the destructive obsession of an author and was greeted with praise. Her writing style is very literary and visual. Article over the Books at Berlinale. http://www.jungewelt.de/2013/02-15/034.php Literature: 272 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] English sample available ~ 10 NOVEL ‘The mayor says Basta… and everything changes!’ Geert Kimpen The Prince of Filettino The mayor of Filettino in Italy has grand aspirations. He wants his village to become an independent principality and its inhabitants of Filletino support him. The euro is abolished. Europe and its financial institutions will no longer have any grip on the city. A new society is invented by trial and error; it is small, self-sufficient and tolerant. Against the backdrop of these developments, Geert Kimpen brings us the stories, the lives and loves of these villagers. Geert Kimpen (1965) debuted in 2006 very successfully with ‘De kabbalist’ (The kabbalist), which was also an international success. It was followed by De geheime Newton (The secret Newton) and Rachel, of het mysterie van de liefde (Rachel, or the mystery of love) and two non-fiction novels. Literature: 162 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Publication date: May 2013 ~ 11 THRILLER/TRILOGY ‘A great new character-driven detective series, set in Amsterdam.’ Britta Bolt Valour Pieter Posthumus is an extremely busy man - a suicide in an attic, a naked body found in a canal, an unknown tourist who suddenly dies on the street. Posthumus works for the City of Amsterdam. He organizes funerals for anonymous corpses found within the city limits, for people who die with no traceable relatives, and for those abandoned by their families. Funeral directors, mortuary assistants, police officers and detectives of all ranks – and of course dead bodies – are all part of Posthumus’s working week. Picture taken by Erik Smits Posthumus’ problem is that he cannot leave things alone, taking their courses. He is convinced that he has discovered a murder, even if the police treat the cases as accidents. Britta Böhler (Germany 1960) is a criminal lawyer, she became well known by defending Volkert van der Graaf, Pim Fortuyn’s murderer, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali. English version available Thriller: 352 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Britta Bolt is the pen name of the writing duo Britta Böhler, a German criminal lawyer and Rodney Bolt a South African journalist. 12 Rodney Bolt (South Africa 1957) has lived and worked for over fifteen years in Amsterdam. He writes regularly over the city for the international press (including The Daily Telegraph and Conde Nast Traveller). Bolt also writes short stories and biographies. His book, Lorenzo da Ponte, the librettist of Mozart’s life, was nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Both authors live in Amsterdam. They are insiders and outsiders at the same time. They have a unique view on the city of Amsterdam and the social political events of the Netherlands. ~ THRILLER/TRILOGY ’ Amsterdam whodunit.’ Britta Bolt Witch Hunt Marloes Vermeulen is the owner of a guest house, next to the Dolle Hond, a café in Amsterdam's red light district. She is accused of murder. Anna de Vries is convinced that Marloes is innocent and asks Pieter Posthumus to help. To unravel the sequence of events, Pieter Posthumus will need to penetrate this gritty world. The paintings of Zig - one of the victims - seem to play a crucial role but which one? Time is running out as the case and trial against Marloes almost comes to an end. The press has already given her a nickname "The witch of the red light district". Picture taken by Erik Smits Everything seems set against her. Will Posthumus succeed in proving Marloes’ innocence? Or is she perhaps not as innocent as Anna would like to believe? What the press says about Britta Bolt Duo: “The most Amsterdam’s literary thriller from the Posthumus Trilogy. English version available Publication date: September 2013 “An atmospheric and wonderful crime novel, some duo are more like one plus one equal three.” - JAN Thriller: 288 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] ~ 13 PHILOSOPHY ‘Let’s slow down.’ Selected for Ten Books from Holland and Flanders J.J. Hermsen We Have Everything We Need, Don't We? In Stop the clock the last philosophical essay/bundle written by the Author J. J. Hermsen, she named the following states such as silence, rest, slowness and ennui the necessary and appropriate conditions for creativity, clearseeing and understanding. J.J Hermsen wants nothing less than a break and a slower paced future but what happens after that? What type of new mindset should one should go for? Have any changes taken place? Is it now different?, and is from this a not only a quieter, a more sustainable and balanced society arisen? This new philosophical bundle covers this matter, a natural successor of her previous book. Literature: 352 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Publication date: September 2013 Film rights under negotiation J.J. Hermsen is a talented and versatile writer, from Philosophy to Literary Novels. She organizes workshops in the Bourgogne and is a very active as a public speaker. http://www.jokehermsen.nl ~ 14 LITERATURE ‘Hermsen takes a slice of middle class midlife crisis and turns it into a magnificent drama.’ J.J. Hermsen Walking Wounded The winter is upon us. It has come early this year. A group of old friends is well aware of the change of seasons as they make their way out of Amsterdam in the Friday rush hour, all in their own cars through heavy snowfall to a country house in Drenthe, owned by one of them. They became friends during their time at University and met through the Student club Nil Desperandum ‘never despair’. There is something recognisable about the middle aged educated circle: they are either married or divorced, living together but not childless, childless but not alone, having an affair or all of the above. They finally arrive at the house, tired and late and there are not enough beds for everyone. The old group together with their partners and offspring will now spend the weekend under one roof, and things will take an unexpected turn… Picture taken by Jaap de Jonge Literature: 370 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] J.J. Hermsen (1961) is a writer and philosopher. She debuted in 1998 with the novel Het dameoffer, which was followed by the historical novel Tweeduister, De profielschets and De liefde dus. She is also the author of an essay collection Heimwee naar de mens, which was shortlisted for the best philosophical work in 2003. In 2008, her entire oeuvre was awarded the Halewijn Prize. The press about her last Book”Time on our side” which was a bestseller: “A well considered and stimulating collection of essays…Hermsen gives a crystal clear demonstration of how boredom and slowness can awaken creativity.” - De Morgen “Well-wrought and highly readable.” - De Volkskrant, ****(five stars) . The latter was nominated for the Libris Prize in 2009 and extremely well received by the press. ~ 15 LITERATURE ‘Hovering on the brink of life.’ Over 85.000 copies sold Anna Enquist Anaesthesia A gripping novel about love, work and the absurdity of life. Psychotherapist Drik de Jong returns to his work after a period of mourning. His wife has passed away after a long illness. This is a new beginning to his professional life, he is soon faced with a young patient, a student in psychiatry named Allard Schuurman, whom he cannot seem to reach. The relationship becomes even more complicated when Schuurman tells him that he is planning to stop his study in Psychiatry and instead tranfer to Anaesthesiology. Dr. de Jong hears that Allard is going to be mentored by his sister Susan who is an Anaesthesiology Specialist, Drik consciously doesn’t mention to Allard, which will have dreadful consequences. Anaesthesia is a novel about the elusiveness of our drives and our desires. The remedy that work and discipline can bring to our lives. Picture taken by Bert Nienhuis Anna Enquist has done some extensive research for this book, in the Anaesthesiology Department from the Amsterdam University Hospital. Anna Enquist (1945) is one of Holland’s best-loved writers. She is also the author of the widely translated, bestselling novels The Secret, The Masterpiece and The Homecoming, as well as plays, poems and short stories. She studied music, piano at the academy of music in The Hague and at the same time psychology in Leiden. Her last book Counterpoint was an international success. “Showing people the way they do not wish to be seen, when irrational, instinctive or compulsive, trying to save their own skin, this is the biggest talent of Anna Enquist.” - Aleid Truijens De Volkskrant 16 Literature: Circa 272 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Rights sold to: Sifriat Poalim Publishing Group/Israel, Actes Sud/France, Random House/Germany, Natur & Kultur/Sweden English sample available ‘A poetry collection of Anna Enquist’ Anna Enquist – Poems 1991-2012 – A collection of Anna Enquist’s poems published to coincide with National Poetry Week for which she was the guest poet. Anna Enquist, a multi talented author is also one of the most loved Dutch poet. Poetry: Circa 554 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] ~ NOVEL ‘A young boy’s obsession.’ Atte Jongstra Depth Nothing ever seems to happen In Wispolia. Then in 1959, a mysterious hole in the ground is discovered. Protagonist Junius (the writer’s alter ego) recalls how he began to develop a fascination for holes as a toddler in Friesland. He suddenly sees them everywhere; the holes grow to mythical proportions. In perhaps his most autobiographical novel ever written, painted in bright colours, Atte Jongstra tells the harrowing story of a small Frisian village, situated on the border between heaven and hell. Novel: 191 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Atte Jongstra (1956) is the author of a versatile literature oeuvre (approximately twenty-five individual titles). In the recent years De Arbeiderspers published the novels ‘De avonturen van Henry || Fix’ and ‘De heldeninspecteur’, the biography ‘Klinkende ikken’ (Privé-domein) and a novel about Multatuli, Kristalman. ~ 17 NOVEL ‘A hasty theft, a feud between two lords, a corpse, the breasts of Marie Antoinette, pornographic pictures, a ghost story, antiquarians, swindlers and rare books.’ One of the 10 Books from Holland and Flanders for Frankfurt 2012 Kisling & Verhuyck Black Lace Is porn lethal? In a village of the Dordogne are two castles. The elegant Cudessac, owned by the magnate and multimillionaire Durand, and the inhospitable Rameuillac, owned by the impoverished Baron De Malinobre. It seems that today the French Revolution is very present. The chapel of the Château Cudessac is hosting a conference over the erotic writings from the eighteenth century. Nora Blanker, who works for the prestigious Amsterdam antiquarian Nil Novi decides to attend several lectures there while on holiday. When one of the speakers suspiciously dies, a hasty search is made to find the culprit. This unplanned lecture sets in motion a series of fatal events, culminating to an equally morbid and nerve-racking apotheosis. These are the ingredients that Corine Kisling and Paul Verhuyck throw into their entertaining fourth joint novel. * Eros and Thanatos in a French castle”, This is an unconventional novel. Fully charged with literature and art … Sample available in English and German Corine Kisling was born in Rotterdam (1954) and studied French and literature at the University of Leiden. After her studies she started to work as a translator (French and English). In 1993, she published her first novel Tangen. And a year later, The Engelenbak which was nominated for the Libris Prize. In 1996 her book Satan in de polder, was awarded the Shadow Prize (the award for the best debut Dutch thriller). In 1998 she wrote on behalf of the Sugar Union a novel to mark the 100-year anniversary of this cooperative De groene gloed. Corine Kisling and Paul Verhuyck make a well-established and excellent partnership. They have published individually 5 novels each and worked on Paul Verhuyck was born in Antwerp (1940). and studied Philology at the University of Ghent. He worked at the School of Translators & Interpreters in Antwerp. Then he left for the Netherlands, and worked as associate professor at the University of Leiden. Besides a series of scientific publications, he has also published several novels and short stories. Picture taken by Richard Praast Thriller: circa 240 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] 18 3 novels together: Het leugenverhaal, Kwelgeest and De duim van Alva. All three novels have been nominated and also awarded for the Hercule Poirot Award, the Diamonds Bullets Award and the Golden Strop Award. ~ NOVEL ‘Her cries are left unheard...’ Corine Kisling The Bath House There is an old woman laying in the bath. She slipped and could not get out of it by herself. Her cries are left unheard. Marie Truyens is the old lady’s name. Marie was born in the same small village, where she still currently lives. She has lodged for thirty years at the presbytery where has worked as a housekeeper. Since her retirement, she has lived a somewhat surly, reclusive life above the old bathhouse, which is only used by her. Sitting in the cold water, her memories are coming to the surface: a tragic suicide, the death of her child and the violent end of one of the priest from her village… Novel: circa 176 pages 352 Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Corine Kisling (1954) was born in Rotterdam and studied French literature at the University of Leiden. Following, her studies she started to work as a translator (French and English). In 1993 she published her first novel Tangen. A year later, her other book De Engelenbak was nominated for the literary award Libris Prijs. In 1996 her book Satan In De Polder, was awarded The Shadow Prize (the award for the best debut Dutch thriller). In 1998 she wrote on behalf of the Sugar Union, the novel De Groene Gloed to mark the 100-year anniversary of this cooperative. ~ 19 LITERATURE ‘There are only two places where nothing can happen to you.’ Arthur Japin To The Outside Gaze When she comes to the aid of a young rape victim, Zonne, a popular singer, becomes wrapped up in a dangerous lawsuit that threatens to expose the harrowing events in her own past. As the case progresses, she comes to realize that what's at stake is nothing less than her privacy, her career, and her marriage. Every day, memories return to haunt her. But instead of hiding them away, as she has done all her life, she decides to do battle for herself and her sisters against their tyrannical stepfather. "When we were very young, we learned that there are only two places where nothing can happen to you. You can be completely safe and locked away in the dark, so that no one can see you, or stay in the full glare of the spotlight, where you can't be missed." Literature: 304 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: RCW Arthur Japin currently features in a theatrical production of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ By William Shakespeare. What the world press says: ‘The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi, Arthur Japin’s rich and risky first novel (…)a deeply humane book about a spectacularly exotic subject. It has spaciousness and stamina, and an unforced sense of history that nowadays are almost as unusual as Kwasi Boachi himself.’ – The New York Times. Option publishers: Bompiani Arthur Japin (1956) is one of Holland’s most celebrated writers. He has won almost every prestigious prize in Dutch Literature, including the Libris Prize. Arthur has written historical bestsellers such as The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi (De zwarte met het witte hart, 1997) and in Lucia’s Eyes (Een schitterend gebrek, 2003). On Lucia’s Eyes ‘Lucia exhibits an earthy wit. ( ) Eventually she makes an astonishing discovery about love. ( ) The plot is suspenseful and there are as many dramatic turns in her life as in that of her famous lover.’ – Laura Baggeley in The Observer On Lucia’s Eye His books have been translated into numerous languages and many of his works have been adapted for film and theatre. ~ 20 LITERATURE ‘An uncompromising reflection of the Zeitgeist.’ Winner 2012 of the Bronze Uil Award Roderik Six Flood For months now, an infernal rain has been lashing the earth. From the rooftop of a hall of residence, four students watch as the city is slowly inundated. They are the last remaining residents; the others have long since fled. Survival has become a full-time occupation. As the young people fight boredom with sex, alcohol and the new synthetic drug Ultra, the unrelenting water keeps rising. When one of the students is fatally injured during a storm, their relationships come under pressure: was it a tragic accident or something else? Desperately, the four cling to that one sign of life: a tiny rent in the clouds, admitting a few measly rays of sunshine. Is it enough to turn the tide? Roderik Six deploys his razor-sharp style to deliver a chilling story about the resilience of man and his ruthless urge to survive. Literature: 352 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Winner of the 2012 with Flood of the Bronze Uil (The prize of the best debut novel in the Dutch language). English sample available Roderik Six works as a literary critic for Cutting Edge and Focus Knack. He is on the jury of this year’s edition of the Gouden Boekenuil, Flanders’ premier literary prize. His short stories have appeared in De Brakke Hond, DWB and Poëziekrant. What the press says about Flood: ‘Roderik Six’s writing has such a strong rhythm that you can almost hear him as you’re reading. At the end of his novel, a city is overgrown by vegetation following a tidal wave. His prose has a similar primal force.’ – Hugo Bousset, professor emeritus modern Dutch literature, University of Brussel ‘Damn, he’s a good writer, I thought to myself after only a few pages. Not since Yves Petry has a debut made such an impression on me.’ – Johan Vandenbroucke, literary journalist and founder of bookshop De Zondvloed Stop Press: • Roderik Six has won the Literature Award from the province of West-Flanders. ~ 21 NOVEL ‘Seven days for yourself…’ Christine Pannebakker Seven days Seven days of freedom. No jealousy or suspicion. Without ever telling your loved one what you did during that time. “Are you up for it?" When Afra is asked this question, she realizes how much she longs to enact her secret desires. "Freedom is an illusion, you will find this out by yourself," her husband predicts when she proposes this week of freedom. His menacing tone eludes her. She goes to Paris to gain some new insights. But the deeper she digs, the more it comes to light that it is best to keep things hidden. Novel: circa 176 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Publication date: September 2013 Christine Pannebakker has worked for many years as a journalist for De Standaard and wrote for journals such as Miljonair, Viva, Kidsweek and De spirituele Margriet, she was a columnist for Libelle en Happinez. Cristine wrote seven titles including Mamamasterplan and Vrouwerpower. She gives lectures throughout the country. Seven days is Cristine’s debut novel. ~ 22 NOVEL ‘Warning: after reading this novel, your subway commute will never be the same!’ Boris O. Ditrich The Truth is a Lie Something happens in the diverse metropolis of New York. The individual stories, each describing the event in their own manner, eventually come together in one place: the platform of subway 7, deep below Grand Central Station, where a tragic accident has taken place. Murder? Suicide? Each witness has his own story. Who is hiding what? The FBI gets involved in the case. Will the truth be discovered in time or the lies unmasked? Novel: 272 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] English synopsis available English sample available Boris O. Dittrich has worked since 2007 as an advocacy director of Human Rights Watch. Before moving to New York, he was a member of the Dutch Parliament, a judge, and a lawyer. This is his second novel. His first, ‘Crying Blue Murder,’ was acclaimed by Dutch critics (‘provoking and daring’, ‘the reader is captivated by new and unexpected developments including an exciting and beautifully crafted grand finale’, ‘surprisingly well written debut with a beautiful plot’, ‘a great page turner’). In mid-2013, Dittrich moved with his husband to Berlin. What the press says about: -… the stories are ingeniously put together. The truth is a lie, The Big Picture Of The Big Apple. - Litteratuurplein.nl ~ 23 NOVEL ‘Moemie sees things that others do not.’ Marion Bloem The Hundred-year-old Girl A Hundred-year-old Girl tells the story of Moemie, a girl who sees things that others do not. It is her gift and her fate. Moemie loses her parents and family in the ritual suicide of the royal family in Bali in 1906. Throughout her life, she searches for something or someone to fill the hole made by the loss of her relatives. Moemie is taken in by a family, they need her gift of clairvoyance in order to chase some spirits from their home. An epic story, which follows Moemie, her adoptive family and their descendants. This rich book takes the reader through one hundred years of history: from the colonial past, wars, Japanese prison camps and the independence of Indonesia to the Skype-ing Indian grandmothers of the present. A book full of compelling passages in which you can smell the flowers in the garden, populated by characters who will become immediately dear to you. Marion Bloem tells the story of the twentieth century through their eyes. Marion Bloem is celebrating 40 years as a writer with her bestseller novel Geen gewoon Indisch meisje (1983). This book is a classic and is often used in School. Literature: 464 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] English sample available Her parents, Alexander and Jacqueline Bloem, repatriated from Indonesia in 1950. Her father is a survivor of the Junyo Maru disaster. Marion Bloem, herself a psychologist, is married to Dutch author and physician Ivan Wolffers. In addition to her career as an author and film director, Bloem is a painter who exhibits around Europe. Marion Bloem is a Dutch writer and film maker of Indonesian (Eurasian) descent, best known as author of the literary acclaimed book Geen gewoon Indisch meisje (No Ordinary Indo Girl) and director of the 2008 feature film Ver van familie (Far from Family). ~ 24 NOVEL ‘Wake up my love…’ Ineke Riem Seven Attempts Oudering is a small village on the island of Voorne-Putten. Its inhabitants live alongside each other, in a close community, quite set in their ways but where dreams never come true. Lioba, an ambitious, arty type of girl, wants nothing more but to leave this life, flee the village. One day, Lioba is found unconscious, nearby. The rumors start spreading, the village is buzzing, some inhabitants are desperately trying to find a way to wake her up. Who knows? Who can free Lioba from her mysterious sleep? Novel: 208 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Ineke Riem (1980) has spent her childhood on the Southern Dutch Islands. She studied Dutch at the University of Groningen. She also studied a year at the Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. Ineke provides poetry workshops for children and young adult. Seven attempts is her debut novel. Jury Nieuw Proza Prijs 2012 ~ 25 NOVEL ‘A woman full of good intentions.’ Nominated for the Libris Literatuur Prijs 2013 Christophe Vekeman An Extraordinary Woman As a small child, Gwen had already learned that the world is a complex place, especially for those who have the best intentions at heart; this realization is the start of her search for love, her identity and her happiness, which will last for decades. All this time, Gwen has a constant feeling that she is special, different from rest, a case apart, destined to rise above the grey mediocrity. But life will eventually set her right about that. Christophe Vekeman has written an insightful portrait of a woman, whom, however unique is also recognisable to every reader. Literature: 253 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Christophe Vekeman is a Flemish writer, poet, performer and also a journalist. He is an important author in the new Flemish literary scene. Christophe has published several novels, collection of essays and poems. He is also a columnist for the Flemish newspaper De Morgen. His literary style is often humorous with great attention to details.and wording. What the press says about An Exceptional Woman: Een uitzonderlijke vrouw is the latest novel by Christophe Vekeman and his best to date, filled with comic details, contemporary philosophy, subtly swaying sentences and a kick-ass main character. - Flanders Today His other work: 49 manieren om de dag door te komen (49 Ways to Get Through the Day) · Vincent de Wimper is the main character in Flemish author Christophe Vekeman’s nonsensical novel. Vincent is a mess after breaking up with his girlfriend, Patty, who was more passionate about Ikea than about him. This slightly bizarre loner lives in his own little world where he writes letters to his imaginary dog and pays his therapist with Monopoly money. In his famously cynical style, Vekeman has created 49 short and sensational chapters that will both haunt and dazzle you. ~ 26 Sport 27 SPORT ‘Le Tour de France stories untold.’ Herman Chevrolet The Mystery of the Yellow Jersey The Mystery of the First Yellow Jersey is a literary book about the history of the Tour de France. In nine wideranging stories, told chronologically, a clear historical picture emerges. Chevrolet offers a window with an uncanny view. No meaningless heroics, no statistics, only penetrating portraits of loners filled with fear and doubt, in constant conflict with the adversary or with nature itself. Loners who are busy chasing fame without knowing why, and finally come to the tragic knowledge that each success is followed by a fall. Novel: 288 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Date of publication: June 2013 Herman Chevrolet , works as a journalist for the newspaper De Muur and is widely seen and recognized as a cycling racing writer and expert. He has previously written three cycling racing books at De Arbeiderspers. All three were highly acclaimed. Two of his books were nominated for the Nico Scheepmaker Cup as best sports book. His book Het feest van list en bedrog details the dealmaking and double-crossing that have existed throughout professional cycle racing’s long and chequered history. English sample available of Het feest van list en bedrog. Translated by Olivier Nilsson-Julien. 28 ~ SPORT ‘ A travel guide of the Tour de France.’ Jeroen Wielaert France through the Tour This book is more than a tour guide through the landscape of the Tour de France. It is also a cultural history of one of the biggest sporting events in the world. A book full of personal observations and anecdotes. The author shows that France as we know it from the Tour is a actually a construction, an image of France the French like to show the world. Vive la France! Vive le Tour! Literature: 528 pages Publisher: De Arbeiderspers Translation rights: De Arbeiderspers Foreign rights manager: [email protected] Jeroen Wielaert (1956) studied Dutch at the University of Utrecht. He currently works as reporter for Radio 1 and as a journalist, FOR various magazine and newspapers such as Wieler Magazine, Volkskrant and Vrij Nederland. His new book ‘Het Vlaanderen van de Ronde’ will be published in 2013. What the press says about his book: ‘ A great book …’ - Wieler Revue ‘…The ultimate book about the Tour de France.’ - Wielersportboeken.nl ~ 29 NOTES 30