Jonas Gardell has been bestowed with Växjö Municipality’s Literature Prize in Pär Lagerkvist’s Memory 2021. The award was established in 2011 with the purpose of highlighting outstanding authorships in the spirit of Pär Lagerkvist and is handed out biannually. Gardell is praised with the following motivation: ”An authorship that with its strong anchoring in contemporary structures and historical roots alike, actualizes eternal fundamental moral issues and provides a voice to the vulnerable and those repeatedly rendered invisible.”

The award ceremony will take place on November 4th at the Växjö City Library.

Following its world premiere in the Midnight section of the Sundance Film Festival, Frida Kempff’s Knocking has opened in US cinemas to great acclaim. The movie will be released in Sweden on November 5. 

Knocking, based on Johan Theorin’s short story Knocks, revolves around a woman who moves into a new apartment after a tragic accident and begins to hear a disturbing knocking, which sounds like a call for help or a message in Morse code. She confronts her neighbours as the knocking intensifies but it becomes clear that no one else can hear it.

“Gripping from first scene to last.”
– The Hollywood Reporter 

“With Knocking, Kempff masterfully crafts the slow steady decline of a mind on edge. /…/ A real masterclass of building tension and character work. /…/ All will be kept on the edge of their seat.” 
– The Hollywood News

“Knocking is a Aronofsky-like knockout.”
– Pajiba

“A stifling, claustrophobic nightmare. /…/ A smouldering slow-burn of a movie that will linger in your mind for some time.” 
– Starburst Magazine

“A sharp debut. /…/ Strikingly atmospheric cinematography and an intense central performance.” 
– Screen Daily

Katrine Engberg is the winner of the danish literature prize the Martha Award 2021. The Martha Award is the largest book retailer award in Denmark, voted by the public and handed out annually by Bog & Idé. Previous winners include Jussi Adler-Olsen, J.K. Rowling and Stephen King.

Kate Ekberg is a star. She has single-handedly created the immensely popular night club Kate’s, which is on everyone’s bucket list. She’s a glamorous, tough, and savvy business woman. But no one knows that she is also in the grip of a blackmailer.

Outwardly, Jacob Grim is an uptight bank manager complete with a stern look, double-buttoned suits and sober ties. Ever since a tragedy unfolded ten years back, he has forced himself to suppress all emotions. It’s been working fine, until he comes across a desperate Kate.

Something occurs in the meeting of these opposites: the charismatic nightclub icon and the closed-off bank man. They are thrown into a whirlwind passion that changes everything and suddenly there’s a promise of something more. If they dare to do the most difficult thing: be vulnerable.

The Queen of the Night is a feelgood love story about falling for your complete opposite against all odds and re-evaluating everything you thought you knew in the process. The book is the fourth installment in the stand-alone series Opposites Attract.

Christmas is just around the corner and the entire class at Pear School simply cannot wait. But neither Lisbet nor her best friend Hanin celebrate Christmas – they don’t even know how. Lisbet grows ever more excited about celebrating a Real Christmas this year. Problem is, her granny the Samba King hates traditions with a passion and wants to do everything her own way. Someone who on the contrary knows exactly how Christmas ought to be celebrated is their next-door neighbor. Unfortunately, he just so happens to be grumpiest old man in the world (who’s also potentially a catnapper!). How will Lisbet dare to approach him to get hold of his expert knowledge?

In A Happy Dissmas we return to Emma Karinsdotter’s beloved, vibrant and zany universe that encourages children to have the confidence to be themselves.