ELEONORA VON ESSEN

ELEONORA VON ESSEN (b. 1978) was born to be a writer. As the daughter of journalist and priest Bo Söderberg and author Anna Wahlgren, she grew up surrounded by words and stories.

Eleonora has made a name for herself as a cookbook writer and creator of recipes. In 2022 Eleonora made her fiction debut with the novel SISTERS, REGARDLESS – a relationship drama that explores the complexities of sisterhood.

THE CHALLENGE is von Essen’s second novel and will be published by Bazar in October this autumn.

Photo Credit: Gabriel Liljevall

Agent: Erik Larsson

WORKS

THE CHALLENGE

TO BE published bazar, OCTOBER 2024
GENRE FICTION
pages 320

rights sold
german: c. bertelsmann verlag

A relationship drama full of surprises and relatable moments

Cecilia and Robert have been married for almost thirty years, but sometimes it’s hard to remember who they were when they first got together – and who they wanted to be.

The kids have moved out and Cecilia and Robert are left with each other in the big house, standing on opposite sides of the kitchen island, alone in a marriage that is stuck in a rut.

Who is Cecilia writing to late at night, long after her husband has gone to bed? What happened in the neighbor's garden? Why is Robert hiding in the bathroom at work? And will their marriage survive the challenge the couple exposes it to?

Suddenly, they see each other and themselves clearer than in a long time, and they don’t always like what they see.