Johan Ehn

Touching stories that linger long after reading

Fiction

THE SLEEPER

Not Dead Yet

Children & YA fiction

HAND IN HAND

12 DAYS OF SUMMER

THE HORSE BOYS

Down Under

Rights

Belgium/The Netherlands
Finland
Italy
Norway
Sweden

AWARDS & NOMINATIONS

2024 – The Sleeper – Nominated for the QX Awards in the category “Novel of the Year”
2024 – The Sleeper – Nominated for the Prisma Literary Prize in the category “Novel of the Year”
2024 – The Horse Boys – Nominated for the Belgian Youth Jury Award
2020 – The Horse Boys – Winner of the Nils Holgersson Plaque
2020 – The Horse Boys – Nominated for the Swedish Audio Award
2020 – The Horse Boys – Nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize
2017 – Down Under – Nominated for the Swedish Audio Award

Johan Ehn is an author, actor, director, and playwright. He debuted in 2017 and has since written for both children and adults. His YA novel The Horse Boys was awarded the 2020 Nils Holgersson Plaque and was nominated for the Nordic Council Children’s and Young People’s Literature Prize that same year. Johan also gives lectures on LGBTQI history, primarily for young adults and he is the artistic director at the theatre group Teater Barbara in Stockholm.

As an actor, playwright and author, storytelling in different forms is something Johan Ehn has worked with for a long time. He finds many similarities in the art forms, with both books and plays convey emotions to the reader and audience, but also big differences.

When he is not acting or writing, he enjoys cooking vegetarian food and bakes lavish cakes. He shares his time between Stockholm and the Canary Islands.

Bibliography fiction

2024 – The Sleeper (Den sovande), novel
2021 – Not Dead Yet (Inte död än), novel

Bibliography children & YA fiction

2025 – Hand In Hand (Hand i Hand), children’s novel (9-12)
2024 – 12 Days of Summer (Kollokillen), children’s novel (9-12)
2019 – The Horse Boys (Hästpojkarna), YA novel
2017 – Down Under (Down Under), YA novel

Reader’s comments

“I listened to this book last week and it stirred up a lot of emotions! I love how Jim dares to go his own way, I hate that he is so badly treated and, above all, I get a lump in my stomach to know the book is largely autobiographical. I really recommend the book, which is also very well read by the author himself.”

“I almost read the book in a one go, with great enjoyment. You’ve really found a nice tone and good structure on the story, and the book is captivating, touching and brave. I especially like that you let it have such a light basic tone, despite all that Jim is going through. A very strong debut, so just to keep going!”

“Well-written and personal, dramaturgy that increases the interest and keeps you in a grip until the end of the book. A novel as important for adults as for young people. One of the year’s literary highlights!”

“So strong and touching! I’m extraordinary touched after reading, taken by the whole story. Very well written too. The book is a ‘must’ read! Thanks Johan!”