Eva Björg wins French award for Icelandic crime novel

Icelandic crime writer Eva Björg Ægisdóttir has won the award for best foreign crime novel at France’s Prix Polar de Cognac festival for her book Heim fyrir myrkur, mbl.is reported.

“It is a great honour to receive this award, and it is always exciting to be recognised abroad,” Eva said. She noted that the crime-fiction market is large and that many authors compete for readers’ attention.

“I always find it remarkable when readers notice books written in Iceland and set in Iceland,” she said. She added that books can help readers discover other cultures, and that awards can help raise an author’s profile.

Eva travelled to accept the award at the festival, held in the Cognac region. The event recognises books, films and graphic novels. Previous recipients include Camilla Läckberg and Peter James, she said.

France and Germany are among the largest markets for her books. Eva described France as a country with a strong reading culture and said its publishing market protects books, authors and the book trade. Book prices are fixed, she said, and independent booksellers are also protected. Almost every town holds a book festival, where attendance is usually good and nearly everyone buys books.

Eva said she enjoyed writing Heim fyrir myrkur, but did not want to name it as her best book. Unlike the series she wrote around the character Elma, a standalone novel allowed her more freedom, she said.

Elma’s story has also been adapted into a television series now showing on Sjónvarp Símans. Eva said she was delighted with the adaptation and trusted the production team, noting that changes are needed when a story moves to a different medium. She wrote six books about Elma.