A new Tove Jansson!

Right on the heels of Project 24's #12 comes, in orthodox numerical ordering, #13. But this certainly isn't unlucky for me - I'm very excited about it. Someone send Silvester Mazzarella a box of chocolates and a hundred red roses for translating Travelling Light (and also a balloon shaped like a kitten for having such a brilliant name).

I think I've mentioned before that Tove Jansson is the only author (until Edward Carey picks up his pen again... c'mon, Eddie boy!) whose books I eagerly await. Or rather, since she is dead, I await the translations. Since all my favourite authors have completed their output, by virtue of completing their lives, this is quite an unfamiliar feeling for me...

So, yes, I did get rather over-excited. And I bought two copies - one for me; one for you. Pop your name in the comments for a chance to win my second copy. And, because it's always fun to have more than just a name, tell me which author's books you most eagerly wait to be published.

If you've missed out on Tove Jansson's earlier output, you can see my thoughts on four of her other books here. Travelling Light is a collection of short stories, and although (confusingly) there is a section in A Winter Book called 'Travelling Light', only one story appears in both collection (to add to the confusion, that story is called 'Travelling Light'). Jansson's prose is always beautiful and evocative without being remotely sentimental. She's up there amongst my favourite writers, and I can't wait to start this collection...

So, have a go and try to win this copy! I'm feeling generous, so the competition is open to anyone, wherever you are in the world.