Bio

Mia Kankimäki (b. 1971) is a Finnish author. Her two best-selling books blend travelogue, memoir, biography and women’s history. After taking a master’s degree in comparative literature at the University of Helsinki and working diligently in Finnish publishing as a copywriter and editor, in 2010 Mia left her job and traveled to Japan to write her first book. Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster (2013) took her to Kyoto where she has spent long periods of writing and doing research ever since. Her second book, The Women I Think About At Night (2018), was inspired by her travels in the footsteps of inspirational, historical female figures in Tanzania, Kenya, Italy, and Japan. Her books have received several literary awards, for example the Best Travel Book of the year 2013, the HelMet Award 2015, and Otava Book Foundation’s Non Fiction Award 2020. They have been translated to 19 languages.

Mia has been enthusiastic about Japanese culture for years, and holds a teacher’s diploma in Sogetsu ikebana. She lives in Helsinki, Finland, whenever she’s not traveling for her next book project.

Awards and nominations

Otava Book Foundation's non fiction award, 2020
Honorary Award by Lauri Jäntti Foundation's Non Fiction Prize, 2019
Nomination for Finnish Literary Export Prize, 2019
Nomination for Great Journalist Prize, 2019
Helmet Award, 2015
Best Travel Book of the year 2013 (by Mondo magazine)
Nomination for Kanava Award for non fiction, 2013

Photo Elsa Kallonen