Writers' Union Warns Again About Hybrid Publisher Lava
If you dream of publishing a book, you should read SVT's news from last Friday. The Swedish Writers' Union (Sveriges Författarförbund) has once again warned authors against signing contracts with Bookea Group, the parent company of the hybrid publisher Lava förlag. The warning has been sent to members.
The reason is that Bookea has been in corporate restructuring (företagsrekonstruktion) since this summer, which, according to the union, increases the financial risk for authors and translators. The union also calls the hybrid model a problematic middleman between authors and publishers. In a hybrid model, the author co-finances the publication. The union argues that the author then takes on a considerable share of the financial risk, while potentially being locked into rights and having limited control over the work.
SVT presents some figures. Lava calls itself the largest book publisher in the Nordics. It published 486 titles in 2023, with a profit of 12.3 million kronor. The following year it made a loss of 9.2 million kronor. In its application to the Stockholm District Court, Bookea wrote that it could not pay wages and supplier debts. In autumn 2024 the union had already warned about unfair contracts and unreasonable confidentiality clauses, but withdrew that warning after dialogue with Lava.
Anna Bergius, who succeeded founder Peter Norrman in 2025, stepped down as CEO in August. Acting CEO Ann-Charlotte Baudin tells SVT that the company needs to improve in some areas and that the work is ongoing. She defends the hybrid model, saying it fills an important function in an industry where it is hard to get in.
I think this is a useful reminder: before paying to be published, read the contract carefully, compare your options, and preferably ask the Writers' Union.
Source: SVT Nyheter
The reason is that Bookea has been in corporate restructuring (företagsrekonstruktion) since this summer, which, according to the union, increases the financial risk for authors and translators. The union also calls the hybrid model a problematic middleman between authors and publishers. In a hybrid model, the author co-finances the publication. The union argues that the author then takes on a considerable share of the financial risk, while potentially being locked into rights and having limited control over the work.
SVT presents some figures. Lava calls itself the largest book publisher in the Nordics. It published 486 titles in 2023, with a profit of 12.3 million kronor. The following year it made a loss of 9.2 million kronor. In its application to the Stockholm District Court, Bookea wrote that it could not pay wages and supplier debts. In autumn 2024 the union had already warned about unfair contracts and unreasonable confidentiality clauses, but withdrew that warning after dialogue with Lava.
Anna Bergius, who succeeded founder Peter Norrman in 2025, stepped down as CEO in August. Acting CEO Ann-Charlotte Baudin tells SVT that the company needs to improve in some areas and that the work is ongoing. She defends the hybrid model, saying it fills an important function in an industry where it is hard to get in.
I think this is a useful reminder: before paying to be published, read the contract carefully, compare your options, and preferably ask the Writers' Union.
Source: SVT Nyheter
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