FROM THE MODERN-DAY BOOK SMUGGLER #1. Kotryna Zylė and Her Horror Stories in the Crypt of Saint Sebastian
In this series of posts, we sharing how the books we represent travel the globe, the paths they lead authors on, and stories from the life of the literary agency.
FROM THE MODERN-DAY BOOK SMUGGLER
9/30/20241 min read
When books travel, so do their authors. At the beginning of September, Kotryna Zylė attended the renowned Festivaletteratura in Mantua, Italy, which has attracted many well-known authors since 1997. Her event took place in the macabre setting of the crypt of Saint Sebastian, yet she noted that children were more frightened by the Lithuanian laumės—mysterious fairies known for swapping babies—than by the actual martyrs' bodies in the chest behind them.
Kotryna's journey was made possible by the Italian translation of her book "The Soul in the Sandwich Box," published last year as "Storie quasi di paura". The collection received positive feedback, praised for its wisdom and elegance, and described as perfect for an alternative Halloween. The Italian publisher was captivated by its originality, particularly noting that Kotryna was inspired by the stories her father told in childhood. This collection of ten mythological horror stories has also been translated into Latvian.
FROM THE MODERN-DAY BOOK SMUGGLER #1
Kotryna Zylė and Her Horror Stories
in the Crypt of Saint Sebastian
