Sofia Tawast and Riikka Leinonen start the spring author visits at the Main Library

27.1.2025 | Sofia Tawast and Riikka Leinonen will be the first guests of the Spring 2025 Literary Encounters evenings. They won the Finlandia Prize for Literature in 2024 with their book The Suuri valhe vammaisuudesta (Tammi). The authors of the book will visit the auditorium of Kotka Main Library on Thursday 30 January at 17.30. The authors will be interviewed by Saila Hoxha from the Kotka Disability Council.

Suuri valhe vammaisuudesta deals with disability and the social prejudices and structures associated with it. The self-help non-fiction book presents the basics of disability, whether it’s about assistive technology, accessibility or disabled serial killers in films. The book aims to break down stereotypical notions of disability and challenge the reader to think about disability in a broader and deeper way.

Sofia Tawast is a freelance journalist, social activist, media researcher and mother of a disabled child. Riikka Leinonen is a social professional with CP disability who has worked in landscape architecture, sport social sciences and politics.