Before I say thank you to certain important persons and people, I would like to – as I believe they say in English-speaking countries – take stock. Little Siberia is both my third and my eighth book. It is eighth if you count all the way from the beginning (and most people who know their maths do), and yet it is also my third if you count from The Man Who Died, which was published in 2017 in English-speaking countries. The original Finnish version came out in 2016 under the title Mies joka kuoli.
So why count from TMWD, as I call it when I write to my agent and wish to be seen as someone with their finger on the business pulse? I suppose this has to do with the change I made after my fifth book, The Mine. By that time, I’d written five very dark, very noirish crime novels. I felt I needed a change, that I needed to bring forth an element I had used in a much more subdued manner before. That element was humour.
The Man Who Died turned out to be a success. I think I can say that. It was even nominated for The Best European Crime Novel of the Year in France and for the Petrona Award and The Last Laugh Award in the UK. Most importantly, quite a few readers seemed to like it. I followed that book with Palm Beach Finland, which made The Times say ‘Tuomainen is the funniest writer in Europe’ so I wouldn’t have to say it myself.
Anyway. I’m hoping Little Siberia can be seen as part of the same continuum, even though I know it is also quite different. I wanted to try some new things. I thought it would be interesting to write a crime novel with a priest as the main character, and make that story both dark and darkly funny. I wanted to explore some philosophical questions, some life stuff too. I feel now that it was an important book for me to write. I’m happy I wrote it and I’m proud of it too.
I hope you enjoy(ed) it.
And, so, even though I write my books alone (by this I mean that I literally sit in a room all by myself and make up the whole thing in my lonely head), I do receive invaluable help and assistance along the way. I have been blessed with some truly excellent company. In geographical order, they are:
Jaakko Launimaa edited the original Finnish version. He saved both me and the main character Joel Huhta from gravest perdition. Thank you, Jaakko.
David Hackston translated this book from Finnish to English. Trust me when I say this: Finnish is the hardest language to translate. And yet David makes it seem like it’s the most natural thing. To say that David is talented is an understatement. He is downright fantastic.
I can’t thank my agent, Federico Ambrosini from Salomonsson Agency, enough. Same goes for everyone at Salomonsson. You’re the best.
Karen Sullivan is simply amazing, and I’m happy and incredibly privileged to call her my publisher. She is the hardest-working person in publishing and yet she finds time to be funny and supportive and kind when a writer needs it. Thank you for everything, Karen.
West Camel keeps things on track with steadfast and precise editing. I’m grateful for the support you’ve given me – and all Orenda’s authors. Thank you so much, West, it’s a delight to work with you.
Mark Swan has created all my Orenda covers. He is an artist and a wizard. See any of my books for proof. Thank you, Mark.
Bloggers – thank you. Thank you for reading, for spreading the word, keeping the flame alight. It means so much. Without you, I don't know where we’d be. Well, I do know, and it isn’t pleasant. Thank you for keeping the (reading) light on.
People I’ve met and keep meeting along the way – thank you for making the 9.00 a.m. panel, for coming up and saying hi, for the kind words and for reading the books. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me. I might write the books alone, but, truth be told, I write them for you.