“Ivan Drichko rose to fame faster than I ever did.”
Biography
Sasho Kokalanov is Macedonian journalist, writer, and playwright. Under the pen name Ivan Drichko, he publishes books for children, while under his real name he writes for adults. Kokalanov is a professor of Film and TV Screenwriting at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts.
So far, he has published seven novels for adults and one picture book for children. Alone in a Swarm is his first novel for children. It was shortlisted for the 2025 “Olivera Nikolova” Award for Best Unpublished Novel for Children and Young Adults.
Outstanding title:
ALONE IN A SWARM (2025)
A picture book in which knitting is not just a skill but also an act of caring for the community. A fox is portrayed as a symbol of solidarity among forest animals; instead of being a trickster, she is a knitter who weaves clothes for the entire forest from her own tail. A story about friendship, care, empathy, and the love of creating.
Publisher: Libi, part of Ars Lamina – Publications
80 pages, paperback, 14 x 20 cm
Age: 10+
Rights:
Ars Lamina – Publications
rights@arslamina.com
389 (0) 2 3124 227