Zane Zusta

Zane Zusta (born 1982) is a Latvian author and screenwriter whose creative work spans children's literature, fiction for adults, and theatre. She made her literary debut in 2015 with the internationally recognized picture books "Ucipuci is Looking for Home" and "Ucipuci Thinks Outside the Box". The books have received wide critical acclaim, with "Ucipuci is Looking for Home" nominated for the Golden Apple Book Design Award, and "Ucipuci Thinks Outside the Box" shortlisted for the Jānis Baltvilks Prize and the Latvian Literature Award. Ucipuci books have been published in Lithuania, Estonia, North Macedonia, China, and Saudi Arabia, reaching readers across different cultures and languages.

Holding a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Zusta writes engaging stories for readers of all ages, adapts her works for the stage, and develops scripts for film and television, including those based on Ucipuci. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of the children's magazine "Ucipuci", which continues the adventures of her beloved character.

Her works have received professional recognition – the novel "Untamed Bird" was nominated for the Egons Līvs Memorial Award People of the Coast and selected for the Children's and Young Adult Literature Jury reading program, a guide used by schools across Latvia. Zusta's stories have been adapted for Latvian Radio Theatre and developed into television series.

She has received the AKKA/LAA Copyright Infinity Award for Ucipuci's ability to thrive across multiple platforms – in puppet theatre, print, and television.

More about the author: www.zanezusta.lv | www.ucipuci.lv

Mīļākā melleņu mētra [The Beloved Bilberry Bush]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2024.

Nepieradināts putns [Undomesticated Bird]. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2023.

Toto atkož noslēpumu [Toto Solves the Mystery]. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2022.

Tauriņa spārnu vēzieni [The Flutter of Butterfly Wings]. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2021.

Es esmu boss [I'm the Boss]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2021.

Labrīmes, kas mudina bērnu izaugt par labāku cilvēku [Bedtime stories that inspire children to grow into better people]. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2021.

Tarakāni tavā galvā. Stāsti par vīriešiem [Cockroaches in your head. Stories of men]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2020.

Aiz durvīm [Behind the Door]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2019.

Tarakāni manā galvā. Stāsti par sievietēm [Cockroaches in my head. Stories of women]. Riga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2018.

20 padomi laimīgākai bērnībai [20 advice for a happier childhood]. Riga: Latvijas SOS Bērnu ciematu asociācija, 2017. 

Ucipuci domā ārpus kastes [Ucipuci Thinks Outside the Box]. Riga: Ucipuci izdevniecība, 2017. 

Ucipuci meklē mājas [Ucipuci Is Looking for Home]. Riga: Ucipuci izdevniecība, 2015. 

Conversation with Zane Zusta // Knygos.lt, 2020 [LT]

About Cockroaches in my head // Lithuanian News 15 min, 2020 [LT]

Story excerpt // Online magazine Punctum, 2019 [LV]

"Tarakāni" jeb iekšējās problēmas. Sadzīvot ar tiem vai dzīt prom? Conversation with Zane Zusta // Latvijas Sabiedriskie Mediji, 2019 [LV]

Ucipuci domā ārpus kastes, nominations 2018 // LaLiGaBa webpage, 2018 [LV]

Interview with Zane Zusta // Happy Whispers blog, 2016 [LV]

Cockroaches in my head, review // villu.raamatukoi.ee, October 2022 [EST]

Zane Zusta, Diāna Zande "Cockroaches in my head. Stories about women" // triinujakultuur.blogspot.com, June 2022 [EST]

Goda Leo, review of Ucipuci Is Looking for Home and Ucipuci Thins Outside the Box // Seimosgidas.lt, 2020 [LT]

Līva Alksne, review of Cockroaches in my head // Līva Alksne blog, 2019 [LV]

2018, shortlisted for the Annual Latvian Literature Award for Ucipuci Thinks Outside the Box