- No products in the cart.
Morten Dürr with the Japanese edition of “Zenobia” and the Greek edition of “The Whispers Game.”
“Do not even think about selling foreign rights before you have a bestseller!”
This was something Morten Dürr was told by a major Danish publisher when he first started writing fiction for children 20 years ago. The publisher was just repeating what was common sense at the time. If your book had not sold several thousand copies, how would you even begin to make foreign publishers interested in your work?
As an aspiring author, Morten Dürr found this a little depressing. Denmark is a very small country, so it would be extremely nice if one could have a readership in other countries as well. During the next couple of years, a handful of his books did eventually get sold to other countries, but only to neighbouring countries like Sweden, Norway and Germany.
Zenobia changed it all
Then in 2016, it all changed when the graphic novel “Zenobia” was published (text by Morten Dürr, illustrations by Lars Horneman) — “and suddenly one of the books that I had been involved with as a writer, ended up being sold for publication in 18 countries.”
So what had changed exactly?
“Zenobia” has sold well in Denmark but not in the tens of thousands — so no, it was not what you would call a bestseller. In fact, it is a very serious book that is hardly the perfect gift for Christmas or birthday – since the story is all about a girl who flees from the war in Syria.
“But what had changed was perhaps, that I had moved on from traditional children’s books to writing graphic novels. I found out that there are many adventurous publishers around the world, who have a special commitment to the art of comic books and who are willing to publish a book not because it is the most commercial book they can find – but because they simply want to connect that particular book to a readership in their own country. I am thankful to be part of such a community that loves books and stories for their qualities and not only their commercial appeal,” Morten says.
Ivalu — sexual abuse or violence in the home
Morten Dürrs following books “Ivalu” (illustration Lars Horneman) and “The Whispers Game” (illustration Sofie Louise Dam) has also made it to countries such as France, Greece and South Korea. These three books have a common theme, children’s rights and the plight of disenfranchised children, be it victims of war, sexual abuse or violence in the home.
“From the reaction I get from foreign readers, I expect that this decade could be the time when many countries make great progress with regards to children’s rights by banning violence, abuse and perhaps lowering the voting age so that children feel connected with and included in today’s society. It is certainly a theme that I will continue to write about. For now, I am taking a break from the heavy stuff, my new book “Spacemail” (illustrated by Patrick Steptoe) is pure fun and is a story about the boy Comet Kurt who is a rocket delivery boy and flies all around the universe with packages.”
Hopefully, Comet Kurt will also fly to many countries around THIS planet too — in the form of foreign right editions – time will tell.
Data
2 books in the series:
Zenobia, 92 pages
Ivalu, 116 pages
17.5 x 24.5 cm
- Contact for Foreign Rights: Morten Dürr
- Reading sample: PDF in English
Description
Ivalu and Zenobia are the first two books in a series about children’s rights around the world.
Zenobia is about the war in Syria. A graphic novel about a girl fleeing from the war in Syria. Zenobia has been sold for publication in 18 languages.
Ivalu is a story from remote Greenland about sexual abuse and suicide among children and young adults. A young girl suddenly has to face the horrible realities of incest and suicide, when her older sister Ivalu disappears.
Data
1 book
72 pages
24.0 x 17.0 cm
Sold to: France, Greece and Korea.
Ages 9 and up
- Contact for Foreign Rights: Alessandra Sternfeld, AM-Book
- Reading sample: PDF in English
Description
Playing ”pass the message” at school was a lot of fun for Vera and her friends. Then the quiet, new girl Anna joined the game. She whispered: ‘My mom hits me’. The Whispers Game is a comic book about girls making themselves heard.
Data
1 book
68 pages
16.0 x 23.0 cm
Ages 6 years and up
- Contact for Foreign Rights: Morten Dürr
- Online sample: PDF in English
Description
Comet Kurt has his very own space rocket. He has a very cool job too. Kurt is a rocket delivery boy flying through outer space with his trusted robot dog Rex. A fun read for young school children – guaranteed to spark their imagination.
Morten Dürr
Danish Children’s author with 61 published books, translated into 21 languages. Morten has won several national book awards including “Skriverprisen”, from the Educational Ministry of Denmark. Titles in this catalogue: “Comet Kurt and Rex”, “The Whispers Game”, “Ivalu” and “Zenobia”.
