J.S. Meresmaa

J.S. Meresmaa (b. 1983, she/they) is an award-winning Finnish author who mainly writes fantasy and other speculative fiction. This versatile storyteller’s works have been nominated for several literature prizes, and she has gotten glowing reviews from critics and readers alike.

Published titles and awards

Meresmaa’s backlist includes epic fantasy, short story collections, YA novella trilogies, and verse novels, to name a few. She has also written children's books, the most recent being picture books Minä en pelkää (I Am Not Afraid) and Kevätystävyys (Spring Friendship), as well as middle-grade horror trilogy Lumola (Monster Manor). Ongoing chapter book series Hirviöhoitola (Monster Care) begun in 2023.

The first book of her recent fantasy duology Tytär hämärän, piika pimeän (Twilight's Daughter, Darksome Maid) won Blogistania Kuopus Award and was nominated for both Kuvastaja Award (the best Finnish fantasy novel of the year) and Tähtivaeltaja Award. Rauniara duology combines Finnish folklore, magic and clockpunk in a unique way.

Meresmaa’s YA verse novel Dodo won the Blogistania Kuopus Award 2020 and was nominated for the best YA novel in Finland (Topelius Prize). Mifonki fantasy series received a Kuvastaja Honorary Mention in 2021.

In 2025, readers were swept into the world of Noidanlanka (The Witch of Sardesia), a standalone young adult fantasy from Meresmaa. Set in a realm where threads carry secrets and pearls hold lives, the novel follows a determined young pearl-whisperer on a perilous journey to save her sister—no matter the cost.

Translations

Many of her short stories have been translated into languages other than Finnish. In addition, her steampunk MG novel Naakkamestari (The Jackdaw Master) was translated to Hungarian and published in 2023 as A Csókamester, and picture book Minä en pelkää (I Am Not Afraid) was published in Estonia as Mina ei karda! in 2024.

Themes and topics

The main themes in Meresmaa’s stories are love and friendships, the formation of one’s identity, power structures between individuals as well as between societies, and the empowerment of those who belong to minorities or lower rungs in the hierarchy.

She often also examines the human relationship with nature and animals, as well as the impact of the environment on individuals.

Many of her stories have feminist aspects and queer characters. She has a talent for bringing fictional characters to life, and a keen sense of great plot twists and pacing. Her writing style is both emotive, strong, and engaging. Meresmaa is an incurable romantic, but never shies away from doing the groundwork to get her stories’ facts right.

Background

Meresmaa, who previously worked as a gardener and warehouse worker, is now a full-time author. In addition to writing, she has been the editor of many anthologies. Meresmaa is also a founding member of the co-operative publishing house Osuuskumma and previous chair of the board. She resides in Tampere, Finland, surrounded by a horde of books, plants, and guinea pigs.