Photo: Ana Vidic
Korneti’s writing is humorous, innovative, unmediated, with a unique and lively voice and language, dealing with subject matters relevant to the contemporary world and contemporary youth.
Biography
Hana Korneti (b. 1992, Skopje) graduated with double major in History and Philosophy at METU (Ankara) and got her MA in Cultural Studies at Sabanci University (Istanbul). She won second place for the best short story in 2017 at one of Macedonia’s oldest short story competitions (“Nova Makedonija”) and won first place for best theater script in 2019 (awarded by the Macedonian Association of Screenwriters and Dramatists). Her novel, “Ilina and the Forest Trolls”, was shortlisted for Novel of the Year Award and was a finalist for the regional literature selection award “Štefica Cvek.” She has published four works: her debut short story collection for adults “Milk Teeth”, (“Ili-Ili”, 2021) in the fiction genre; a non-fiction that she co-authored with Ivana Chaloska and Dimitar Samardziev entitled “Croprising: Bad Gardeners and Good Weeds – A Guide” (“Private Print”, 2023), a fantasy novel for children, the first and the second of a trilogy, entitled “Ilina and the Forest Trolls” (“Ili-Ili”, 2023) and “Ilna and the Secrets of Granny’s Tooth” (“Ili-Ili, 2025) and “Where Do You Fly Off to, Julia?” (“Ili-Ili” 2025), her latest book of stories for adults.
Outstanding title:
ILINA AND THE FOREST TROLLS (2025)
This sequel to the beloved Ilina and the Forest Trolls continues the story of the irritatingly-lovable Ilina and her friends – the human, troll, and witch kind – in their attempts to unravel the mystery of the evil, dream-stealing wizard Sangruel – who is back, and this time, stealing colors! In the everyday world, Ilina learns empathy through new friendships and her newly-divorced parents, finding music a perfect tool for communication where words won’t do the trick. In the magical world, she learns about patience and perseverance, as she discovers that the first thing about becoming a witch is learning how to listen.
No. of pp: 277
Cover illustrator: Aleksandra Sofronieska
Publisher: Ili-Ili, 2025
277 pages, paperback, 13 х 21 cm
Age: 8-12
Awards and honors:
- 2025 Award for Best Children’s Book from the Macedonian Writers’ Association
Rights for the first book of the trilogy sold to:
Slovenia (reserved), Serbia (reserved).
English translation available on demand.
Latest title:
WHERE DO YOU FLY OFF TO, JULIA? (2025)
“Where Do You Fly Off To, Julia?” is а the author’s second short story collection for adults. It marks a partial departure from her previous style, venturing into the realms of the surreal, the absurd, and fantastical. The collection takes a more “mature” turn in terms of themes, such as the duality within each of us – the struggle between the need for connection and the desire for freedom; between how we want to be seen and who we truly are; between what we yearn for and what we strive to achieve. It also delves into death, ecological catastrophe, and familial relationships, as well as sillier topics like autosexuality and the horror known as telemarketers.
No. of pp: 136
Rights sold to:
Serbia (reserved)
English translation available on demand.
Rights:
Hana Korneti
hana_skopje@yahoo.com