Further Information

About the Name

The name *Ýtar* is an ancient Icelandic word meaning "people." It is primarily used in poetic language (verse). It captures the essence of the work: bringing people stories that open up new worlds, fostering a love of reading, and bridging gaps.**

Ýtar Publishing aims to achieve two main goals:

1. Publish high-quality, engaging novels for the general market.
2. Develop and publish easy-to-read books in Icelandic for people of foreign origin—at all proficiency levels and of all ages—so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy reading genuine fiction in Icelandic.

The three titles in this publishing campaign:

From the North to New Worlds (a new novel for the general market):

The protagonist is a business tycoon who is fired in January and decides to escape to Scotland on his yacht. But when he witnesses his friend being killed, the journey takes an unexpected turn and transforms into an extensive global voyage.

The journey spans five continents—from the Suez Canal to New York and Japan. Along the way, he encounters dangerous adventures, finds love, and undergoes a transformation that shapes him forever.

What lies hidden in the small chest (New book for level 3 in Icelandic):

Specially designed for students and individuals of foreign origin who have reached level 3 and wish to strengthen their Icelandic language skills through enjoyable reading. The book contains 12 short, entertaining, and standalone stories from various sources. It is currently undergoing its second final proofread by a teacher, and work is underway on the cover design.

Beyond the Valleys (Only 90–100 copies left!):
A popular book for learners of Icelandic at Level 3, which has been selling briskly this year. The book contains 12 short, entertaining, and standalone stories from various sources. There are 90–100 copies remaining!

The fundraising campaign on Karolina Fund is the big leap toward formally establishing the publishing house Ýtar.

The funds will be used for:

Business registration and intellectual property (IP) protection.
Cover design and professional styling by a designer.
Printing costs for the book *Frá norðri til nýrra heima* (From the North to New Worlds).
Website development for the publishing house.
A spectacular launch and release party, where all backers will be invited to celebrate with me!

About me

I have been a professional diet cook with years of experience in the profession. During that time, I noticed how difficult it was for people of foreign origin to find suitable reading material in Icelandic—most books were either children’s books or written in complex, archaic language. I saw a clear opportunity there to make a positive contribution. I decided to pursue further studies in office administration and computer skills at NTV, completed my matriculation examination, and transitioned into office work, which I found very enjoyable.

A writer is born.

After taking a course at the University of Iceland’s Centre for Continuing Education in 2008, I began writing, and I now have nine novel manuscripts.

In 2014, it was brought to my attention that there was a need for books for people of foreign origin, so I began developing concepts for easy-to-read books, gathering many great ideas from individuals of various nationalities. The first book in this series, "*Nýjar slóðir*", was published around the 2019/2020 and was well received. Since then, I have released one book per year and built a loyal base of regular readers, both at home and abroad.

The books contain 12 short, entertaining, and standalone stories drawn from a variety of sources. They range from Icelandic history and culture to fairy tales; inanimate objects come to life, we gain insight into the minds of animals, and much more. Based on suggestions from people of various nationalities, complex words and phrases are explained via references—a feature included in all the books except *Nýjar slóðir*.

Staying abroad

I know from personal experience what it is like to learn a language in another country; there were times when things were going poorly and I wanted to pack my bags and go home. In the end, however, I managed to learn the language quite well. I've noticed both foreigners reading books that are too complex for them and people struggling with grammar. That is why I decided to embark on this project—and teachers have told me that there is a need for books of this kind.

Here comes the moment I've been waiting for:

I am formally establishing the publishing house Ýtar. In the future, it will publish books for people of foreign origin—catering to all proficiency levels and age groups—as well as works for the general market. If all goes well, I plan to release my first novel for the general market, *Frá norðri til nýrra heima!* (From the North to New Worlds!), along with my eighth book, *Hvað leynist í kistlinum* (What Lies Hidden in the Little coffin?), which is intended for people of foreign origin.

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