Photo: Thron Ullberg Photo: Thron Ullberg

Martin Widmark

Martin Widmark (b. 1961) is an acclaimed Swedish children’s book author known for popular series such as The JerryMaya Detective AgencyNelly RappHalvdan the Viking, and many more. His books have received countless awards, sold more than 15 million copies, and been translated into 39 languages. Many of the books have been adapted into feature films and TV series, or made into board games, theater, and video games.

Martin is strongly engaged in promoting reading comprehension among children and young people and is considered one of the most prominent writers of children’s fiction today. He has received multiple prestigious awards. In 2014, he was awarded the Swedish Government’s medal Illis quorum for his work to encourage young people’s reading.

Before becoming a full-time author, Martin Widmark worked as a middle school instructor and a Swedish language teacher. In the year 2000, he made his debut with the book To Catch a Tiger (Att fånga en tiger). Since then, he has written over a hundred books for children and young people and is today one of Sweden’s most popular children’s book writers.

Martin Widmark & Helena Willis


Swedish writer Martin Widmark (b. 1961) and illustrator Helena Willis (b. 1964) have together created the bestselling children’s book series The JerryMaya Detective Agency
 for ages 6-9.

The popular books with the young detectives Jerry and Maya are constantly on the bestseller lists, on the libraries’ most popular lists, and have been awarded the children’s own book award 12 times.

Awards

Fenix Awards (Best Role-Play Book of the Year) Sweden – Nelly Rapps rollspelsbok för monsteragenter Nelly Rapp’s Role-Play Book for Monster Agents 2023
USBBY Outstanding International Books United States – Den långa vandringen Dreams of Near and Far 2023
Shortlisted for the Storytel Awards (Best Children's) Sweden – Berättelser från Valleby: Det mystiska brevet Stories from Valleby: The Mysterious Letter 2023
Shortlisted for the Storytel Awards (Best Children's) Sweden – Maskeradmysteriet The Masquerade Mystery 2023
The Adlibris Award (Best Children’s 6-12) Sweden – Maskeradmysteriet The Masquerade Mystery 2022
The Emil Prize (by the Småland Academy, in honor of Astrid Lindgren) Sweden 2021
USBBY Outstanding International Books United States – Huset som vaknade The House of Lost and Found 2019
The Crimetime Award (Best Children’s Book) 2019
Astrid Lindgren’s World Scholarship Sweden 2015
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Fängelsemysteriet The Prison Mystery 2015
The Illis quorum medal Sweden 2014
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Brandkårsmysteriet The Fire Brigade Mystery 2014
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Cykelmysteriet The Bicycle Mystery 2013
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Födelsedagsmysteriet The Birthday Mystery 2012
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Simborgarmysteriet The Swimming Pool Mystery 2011
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Campingmysteriet The Campsite Mystery 2010
The Blood Hound (Best Children's and Youth Detective story) Sweden – Nåjdens sång The Song of the Wise One 2008
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Biblioteksmysteriet The Library Mystery 2007
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Guldmysteriet The Gold Mystery 2006
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Tidningsmysteriet The Newspaper Mystery 2005
The Blood Hound Sweden – Tidningsmysteriet The Newspaper Mystery 2005
The Book Jury Prize Sweden – Nelly Rapp och varulvarna Nelly Rapp and the Werewolves 2004
Close award list

Bibliography

The JerryMaya Detective Agency

Stories from Valleby

Activity books

Nelly Rapp, illustrated by Christina Alvner

Nelly Rapp, illustrated by Emil Maxén

The Jansson Family

David & Larissa

Picture books

Halvdan Viking

Related news

‘The JerryMaya Detective Agency’ tops list of most borrowed books in Stockholm

Martin Widmark and Helena Willis’ The JerryMaya Detective Agency is the undisputable favorite of the past decade, topping the list of the most borrowed books at the Stockholm City libraries. Six out of ten volumes on the list are titles from the immensely popular series.

‘JerryMaya’s Summer Holiday Book: Work Out with the Priest’ published in Sweden

Did you know that Valleby’s potty priest has an exercise group? It’s true! Jerry and Maya are not the only ones to participate this day, but also a whole bunch of Valleby locals come along. Ivy is sweating and Rune is feeling fine, while Barbro is embarrassed by her overalls. Real grown-ups are supposed to wear suits! But who is lurking in the bushes and stalking the exercise group? And what are those mysterious lightnings and sparks that appear?

In JerryMaya’s Summer Holiday Book:Work Out with the Priest you will find, together with fun tips on activities and crafts, a brand-new case for Jerry and Maya. Learn a delicious recipe from Dino and Sara at the Valleby cafe, play the sweaty workout game, dive into the water, solve the summer crossword puzzle and look for the clothes belonging to the Valleby locals. A book that will last all summer!

Lars Kepler and Martin Widmark March’s most sold in Sweden

The most sold authorships of the month of March in Sweden are Lars Kepler and Martin Widmark. Lars Kepler are the most sold hardcover fiction authors, featuring at No. 1 with The Spider. Meanwhile, Martin Widmark occupies three of the top spots on the children’s books list. First, at No. 1, is The Detective Mystery, followed by The Gold Mystery at No. 2, and The Library Mystery at No. 4.

Lars Kepler, Martin Widmark and Måns Mosesson on the Swedish bestseller lists

Lars Kepler stays put at No. 1 on the hardcover fiction list with The Spider, the ninth Joona Linna novel. Martin Widmark similarly continues to occupy the top spots in the children’s fiction category, coming in at No. 1 with The Detective Mystery, No. 2 with The Gold Mystery, and No. 4 with The Music Mystery. Måns Mosesson makes a comeback on the non-fiction list with Tim – The Official Biography of Avicii, which lands the No. 4 spot.

Lars Kepler and Martin Widmark February’s most sold in Sweden

Lars Kepler and Martin Widmark are the most sold authors of the month of February in Sweden. Lars Kepler is No. 1 on the hardcover fiction list with The Spider. Martin Widmark is No. 1 in the children’s category with The Gold Mystery.

Lars Kepler and Martin Widmark No. 1 in Sweden

Lars Kepler’s The Spider stays put at No. 1 on the official bestseller list for hardcover fiction in Sweden. Martin Widmark also reprises his placements of last week, claiming both the No. 1 and No. 2 spots on the children’s fiction list with The Gold Mystery and The Detective Mystery.

Lars Kepler and Martin Widmark No. 1 in Sweden

Lars Kepler’s The Spider – the most sold novel of 2022 in Sweden – is back at No. 1 on the official bestseller list for hardcover fiction. The ever popular Martin Widmark also comes in first, claiming both the No. 1 and No. 2 spots on the children’s fiction list with The Gold Mystery and The Detective Mystery.

‘Dreams of Near and Far’ listed as Outstanding International Picture Book 2023

Martin Widmark and Emilia Dziubak’s Dreams of Near and Far has been chosen by the United States Board on Books for Young People as one of the Outstanding International Picture Books for 2023.

The USBBY’s Outstanding International Books List is an influential list and has been published annually since 2006 and holds large influence on the American market for children’s books. A committee selects books that represent the best of children’s literature from other countries based on a number of criteria such as uniqueness and artistic and literary merit.

The Icelandic Storytel Awards 2023 Shortlist Announced

The nominees for this year’s Icelandic Storytel Awards have been announced. The Storytel Awards have been bestowed to highlight the best audio books of the year. The awards are granted within six categories: Suspense, Fiction, Non-fiction, Feelgood, YA, and Children’s books.

Among the nominees for suspense are Johan Theorin’s Weathered Bones and Yrsa Sigurdardottir’s I See You.

We’re Just Trying to Have Fun by Hálldor Armand Asgeirsson is featured within the non-fiction category.

Simona Ahrnstedt’s High Risk is nominated in the feelgood category, whilst Martin Widmark’s The Saffron Mystery is in the running for the children’s books award.

Readers will be able to vote for their favorite works, after which a jury will pick a winner among the three candidates with the most votes in each category.

The winners of the Adlibris Awards 2022

The winning titles of the 2022’s Adlibris Awards have been announced. Lars Kepler’s The Spider wins ‘Crime Novel of the Year’, Anders Hansen & Mats Wänblad’s The Happiness Cure for Teens  wins ‘Young Adult of the Year’ and Martin Widmark takes home ‘Children’s book 6-12 of the Year’ with his The Masquerade Mystery.

Adlibris is the leading book retailer in the Nordics and the Adlibris Award was founded in 2019 to celebrate the site’s greatest titles.

The Storytel Awards 2023 Shortlist Announced

The nominees for this year’s Swedish Storytel Awards have been announced. The Storytel Awards have been bestowed since 2007 in Sweden to highlight the best audio books of the year. The awards are granted within six categories: Suspense, Fiction, Non-fiction, Feelgood, YA, and Children’s books.

Among the nominees for suspense are Lars Kepler’s The Spider, Anders de la Motte’s The Mountain King, Kristina Ohlsson’s Dimmed Lights, Anders de la Motte and Måns Nilsson’s Death Goes Antiquing, and Liza Marklund’s The Mire.

The Details by Ia Genberg is featured within the fiction category.

Meanwhile, Anders Hansen and Mats Wänblad’s The Happiness Cure for Teens and Elaf Ali’s Who Said Anything About Love? feature on the YA list, whilst Martin Widmark’s The Masquerade Mystery and Stories from Valleby: The mysterious letter are in the running for the children’s books award.

Readers will be able to vote for their favorite works until February 5, after which a jury will pick a winner among the three candidates with the most votes in each category.

To cast your vote, click “Read more” below.

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