Gabriel Liljevall
Gabriel Liljevall
Photo: Gabriel Liljevall Photo: Gabriel Liljevall

Lisa Ridzén

Lisa Ridzén (b. 1988) is a doctoral student in sociology, researching masculinity norms in the rural communities of the Swedish far north, where she herself was raised and now lives in a small village outside of Östersund. The idea for her heartrending debut When the Cranes Fly South came from the discovery of notes her Grandfather’s care team had left the family as he neared the end of his life. She began penning the novel whilst attending Långholmen Writer’s Academy.

Awards

Ho Chi Ming City Writers Association's Merit Award (Translated fiction) Vietnam – Tranorna flyger söderut When the Cranes Fly South 2026
The Zetterström Commemorative Medal Sweden – Tranorna flyger söderut When the Cranes Fly South 2025
Shortlisted for Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize UK – Tranorna flyger söderut When the Cranes Fly South 2025
Norrland Culture Prize Sweden – Tranorna flyger söderut When the Cranes Fly South 2025
Swedish Booksellers' Award (Book of the Year) Sweden – Tranorna flyger söderut When the Cranes Fly South 2025
Shortlisted for Norrland's Literature Prize Sweden – Tranorna flyger söderut When the Cranes Fly South 2025
The Adlibris Award (Best Fiction) Sweden – Tranorna flyger söderut When the Cranes Fly South 2024
The Adlibris Award (Best debut) Sweden – Tranorna flyger söderut When the Cranes Fly South 2024
Book of the Year Award Sweden – Tranorna flyger söderut When the Cranes Fly South 2024
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Bibliography

Related news

Lisa Ridzén No.2 in the UK

Lisa Ridzén’s lauded debut When the Cranes Fly South soars to the No.2 spot on this week’s Amazon Charts for fiction across all formats on Amazon UK. This is its third week on the list.

Lisa Ridzén No.1 in Germany

Lisa Ridzén’s acclaimed debut When the Cranes Fly South claims the No.1 spot on Der Spiegel’s bestseller list for hardcover fiction in Germany this week. This marks the fourth consecutive week that the novel has featured on the list.

‘When the Cranes Fly South’ a Der Spiegel bestseller

Lisa Ridzén’s When the Cranes Fly South is No. 9 on German Der Spiegel’s bestseller list for hardcovers. The novel has now featured on the list for three consecutive weeks.

Lisa Ridzén No. 4 in the UK

When the Cranes Fly South continues to take the UK by storm. Lisa Ridzén’s acclaimed debut novel takes the No. 4 spot on this week’s Amazon Charts for fiction across all formats. This is its second week on the list.

‘When the Cranes Fly South’ No. 7 in the UK

Lisa Ridzén’s When the Cranes Fly South claims the No. 7 spot on the Sunday Times bestseller list for paperback fiction. This is the lauded novel’s fourth consecutive week on the list.

‘When the Cranes Fly South’ receives a Merit Award from the Ho Chi Ming City Writers Association for translated literature

Lisa Ridzén’s When the Cranes Fly South has received a Merit Award from the Ho Chi Ming City Writers Association for translated literature. The award recognizes works of the highest quality and outstanding efforts of those involved in the publication. The lauded novel was translated into Vietnamese by Minh Khôi.

Lisa Ridzén on Polish bestseller lists

Lisa Ridzén’s When the Cranes Fly South comes in at No. 1 on the Polish major book retail chain Empik’s bestseller list for translated fiction this week. The novel also features at No. 3 in all categories.

‘When the Cranes Fly South’ No. 4 in Denmark

Lisa Ridzen’s internationally bestselling debut, When the Cranes Fly South, is now featuring at No. 4 in the fiction category on Bog og Idé, Denmark’s largest book retailer.

The Swedish bestseller lists of 2025

The official 2025 bestseller lists in Sweden have just been announced. Among the most sold titles of the year was Lars Kepler’s The Sleepwalker, coming in at No. 4 in the hardcover fiction category. Lisa Ridzén takes the No. 1 spot for paperback fiction with When the Cranes Fly South, while Kristina Ohlsson’s Nightshifter comes in at No. 3 in the e-book category.

Additionally, Kristina Ohlsson is No. 1 on the list of authors’ total sales in 2025, closely followed by Martin Widmark who claims the No. 2 spot. Martin Widmark’s The JerryMaya Detective Agency series also comes in at No. 4 among book series with the largest turnover.

‘When the Cranes Fly South’ No. 1 in the UK

Lisa Ridzén’s acclaimed debut When the Cranes Fly South features in the UK Top 10 for a second consecutive week, now claiming the No.1 spot on The Times bestseller list as well as the No.8 spot on the Sunday Times bestseller list for paperback fiction.

‘When the Cranes Fly South’ No. 8 in the UK

Lisa Ridzén’s lauded debut novel When the Cranes Fly South enters the Sunday Times bestseller list for paperback fiction at No. 8.

‘When the Cranes Fly South’ a Waterstones Best Books of 2025

Lisa Ridzén’s debut When the Cranes Fly South has been featured in UK retailer Waterstones’ Best Fiction of 2025. The novel was listed in the category ‘The Contemporary World’; the best novels to reflect the love, politics and communities that typify the current moment.

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