July 15th, 2015

LA ÚLTIMA SALIDA (THE LAST WAY OUT) by Argentinian author Federico Axat reaches 10 translation rights sold before its original language publication

La última salida (The Last Way Out), the forthcoming psychological thriller by Argentinian author Federico Axat, has reached ten translation rights sold before its Spanish original language publication by Ediciones Destino in February 2016.

 Federico Axat 2013 retratThe level and speed of international sales is very special for a thriller written by an unknown Latin American author, more than six months in advance of its publication date in its original Spanish language. The quality and passion of the international editors involved also demonstrates that this is a title that stands out above the rest in its genre.  The North American publication of La última salida (The Last Way Out) will be the English-language debut for Federico Axat who has written two previous novels.

Joshua Kendall, Editorial Director, Mulholland Books an imprint of Little, Brown (Hachette USA), who has recently acquired English-North America rights, said: "Axat is doing something really quite unprecedented; he's rethinking the ways thrillers can be made. The result is unique, seductive, and wholly exciting."

Among other territories, from the Pontas Agency we have also sold German translation rights to Atrium and Dutch to HarperCollins Netherlands (both at pre-empt); French rights to Calmann-Levy (at auction) and Polish rights to Swiat.

Meanwhile, all audiovisual rights are still available and the amount of producers interested is increasing! There is a film inside this novel, no doubt of it! La última salida (The Last Way Out) feels like a mix of Memento and  Inception, meeting Shutter Island and the final revelations of The Usual Suspects.

Some comments from international editors:

«This is one of the most special psychological thrillers I have ever readTim Jung, at Atrium Verlag

«It felt like watching the best Christopher Nolan movie, I was completely hooked, it’s quite something! Axat really holds everything together, makes it suspenseful and thrilling all the way.» Erika Söderström, Massolit Forlag

My colleague was so hooked that she burnt down her dinner, unable to stop reading!Niko Aula at Basam Books

«I am extremely interested in this young writerRobert Pépin (‘legendary’ French editor of thrillers at Calmann-Lévy)

«I absolutely loved this novel. I think that Federico’s voice is really strong, and he’s got the capacity to plot a complex story with the simplicity that only the best writers in the genre can achieveAnna Soldevila, Ediciones Destino (Grupo Planeta)

More information: Maria Cardona – maria@pontas-agency.com