22 September 2025
Welcome to New Author Elli Salo – 2025 Lea Prize Winner
We are excited to welcome Finnish writer Elli Salo with her novel The Gatherers (Keräilijät) to the agency.
Elli Salo’s debut novel The Gatherers (Keräilijät), published by Otava, was one of the most talked-about debuts in Finland last spring (“A feast of literary delight.” – Helsingin Sanomat; “The secret to Finnish happiness lies within this compelling debut novel.” – Satakunnan Kansa). The novel is based on her play of the same name, which premiered in 2024 at Kajaani City Theatre and was recently awarded the 2025 Lea Prize for Drama by the Finnish Playwrights and Scriptwriters Association.
The Gatherers is a tragicomic novel about gathering and gatherers where three women and a retired dog find themselves randomly convened at a deserted border patrol station at the Finnish-Russian border. A bond grows between the three women, and as far as they may seem from everything, as close to the core of almost everything they get. Suddenly, the peripheral Lääte turns into the navel of the world: history that seems to be catching up with us, human knowledge of civilization and the disappearance of the untamed nature come together in this touching yet comic novel about life, not death. The embodiment of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction, Elli Salo tells the story not of those who hunt or conquer, but those who stay behind to cook, wash dishes, boil potatoes – the gatherers – even in the midst of crisis and catastrophe.
Elli Salo is a versatile creator. A writer, dramaturge and Finnish translator. Salo currently works as a writer-in-residence at the Finnish National Theatre.
The Gatherers Play Awarded the 2025 Lea Prize
Last Thursday night, Elli Salo received the most significant playwright prize, the Lea Prize for the best play of 2025, for her play The Gatherers.
Quote from jury: “Salo’s play draws on classic dramatic literature: the scenes are carefully constructed, the rhythm is lively, and the dialogue leads to deeper reflection. Simultaneously, the story is innovative and original: it doesn’t follow contemporary themes or pursue fleeting trends, but rather constructs its own perspective. Silence, keen observation, and the significance of small gestures form the core of the play, in which trauma, death, and borderline experiences unfold in a profound and unexpected manner.”
The Lea Prize, worth 5000€, is presented by the Finnish Playwrights and Scriptwriters Association. It’s given to the best Finnish play of the year based entirely on the text. The aim is to bring recognition to new drama and visibility to Finnish creators.
Our warmest congratulations to Elli Salo.
Rights & Brands represents translation rights to the novel. For rights enquiries, please get in touch with us! publishing@rightsandbrands.co
