SPRING IS THE SEASON OF FLOWERS, and the fairest flowers seem to grow in the company of Flora. Kristina Digman's little picture book character continues to flourish as her debut book Flora's Hill is on its way also to Japan and Russia and the second book Flora's Flowers currently is being published in Sweden. Furthermore, Kristina Digman has recently been awarded with Slangbellan ('The Slingshot'), a yearly prize for the best debutants in the field of children's literature!

Following the successful launch of Flora's Hill - also published in Denmark by Forlaget Klematis and in Finland by Karisto Oy - Raben & Sjogren are now launching the second title Floras blommor (Flora's Flowers) on the Swedish market. The new book follows Flora on a botanical expedition as she gives us her charming and clever descriptions of flowers and plants, their names and characteristics - a down-to-earth yet poetical and sensitive view of nature, from one of its smallest inhabitants.

In Japan, Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers are currently launching the Flora's Hill book, translated into Japanese by Akirako Hishiki in co-operation with Plus Licens' Japanese agent United Media K.K. The book has been carefully adapted for the Japanese market with some brand new as well as revised illustrations by Kristina Digman.

In Russia, Eksmo Publishing House has signed up for a Russian edition of Flora's Hill. The book is preliminary planned for a fall 2009 release in Russia.

In March, Flora's Hill won the Slangbellan Award at a ceremony taking place at Forfattarnas Hus in Stockholm! The jury described Flora's Hill as "a tale which in the most beautiful way deals with the necessity of dreams and the fear that the dream may darken and wither". The Slangbellan Award, founded in 1998, consists of 30.000 SEK (as well as a hand carved slingshot and a diploma) and is yearly awarded by the Swedish Writers' Union - the central professional organisation for writers and literary translators - to "a unique voice, a literary talent and a new exciting colleague in the field of literature for children and young adults".

Flora's Hill has attracted much press attention, including full spread articles in the leading Swedish morning newspapers Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet. "A highly original art style, inspired by the flat surfaces of medieval art", wrote Dagens Nyheter's Nisse Larsson in January 2008, noting that Digman in just a few years has become one of Sweden's most renowned children's book illustrators and a profile of her own in the world of picture book art. Svenska Dagbladet's Kristin Hallberg called into mind the enigmatic Blue Flower of German Romanticism, the symbol of striving and yearning, "that fantastic element which - no matter how many times you read and look - makes you unsure what is dream and what is reality, what is child's play and what is symbol. Something which I find very good and promising in a first book".

Plus Licens represents Kristina Digman for publishing, merchandising and promotional rights to Flora worldwide.

© 2009 Kristina Digman