Contra, a.k.a. Margus Konnula, is a poet, children's writer and translator from Urvaste in Southern Estonia – a very unique ethno-futurist poet.
Born in 1974, he has worked as an English-language teacher and a post officer, and has been a screenwriter for television and a TV anchorman. The freelance poet and member of the Tartu Young Authors' Association likewise heads a farm in Võru County. His first collection, titled Ohoh!, was published in 1995.
He is self-taught in Latvian and spent some time in International Writers and Translators house in Ventspils, where he finished work on translating Latvian poet Eduards Veidenbaums, published in Estonian by Jumalikud Ilmutused. He continues to translate Latvian poetry.
Veiki Ojaperv. Contra presents Latvian anthology // Tartu Postimees, May 2024 [EE]
Andris Kalnozols and Contra presents Latvian bestseller Call me Calendar // Raamatud.postimees.ee, November, 2023 [EE]
Olavi Ruitlane. Contra translated a Latvian bestseller // ypsilon.postimees.ee, November, 2023 [EE]
Poetry publisher wins Latvian, Estonian Language Promotion Award // News.err November, 2023 [EE]
The nominees for the August Sanga translation poetry award have been revealed Anna Auziņa, Contra // Kultuur Err, September, 2023 [EE]
The librarian recommends 4 books that offer a truly enjoyable reading experience // Raamatud.Postimees September, 2023 [EE]
The translators’ assembly shares ideas and practical advice // Baltics News, May 2023 [ENG]
In Estonian and Latvian poems, jokes are made about the neighbors // Viro-instituutti.fi, March 2023 [FI]
Don't look the Latvian in the eye. Ball of introverts. Anthology of new Latvian poetry // Sirp, January, 2023 [EE]
New Latvian poetry translated into Estonian // Kultuur.err.ee, December 2022 [EST]
Contra explains why he wrote such a weird dictionary // Raamatud Postimees, November 2022 [EST]
Contra Weird Dictionary release // Raamatud Postimees, November 2022 [EST]
Contra: It's best to write when you don't feel like doing anything else // kultuur.err.ee, September 2022 [EST]
Näpsud teevad vahetust
Näpsud teevad vahetust (Kā Lupatiņi mainījās)
Title
: Näpsud teevad vahetustTitle*
: Kā Lupatiņi mainījāsAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Estonian
Pages
:31
Year
:2016
Copyrights
:Inese Zandere, Reinis Pētersons, Liels un mazs, Atom Art
Synopsis
:The Shammies are four little curious beings – Sockie, Mitten, Pillow and Hankie – who live in a colourful textile house.
Mind ärge lugege
Mind ärge lugege (Mani nelasiet)
Title
: Mind ärge lugegeTitle*
: Mani nelasietAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Jumalikud Ilmutused, Estonia
Pages
:134
Year
:2014
Copyrights
:info@akka-laa.lv
Synopsis
:Poetry collection of latvian poet Eduards Veidenbaums, translated into Estonian by Contra (aka, Marguss Konulla).
Kiska-Miska
Kiska-Miska (Mincis Brincis)
Title
: Kiska-MiskaTitle*
: Mincis BrincisAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Estonian
Pages
:36
Year
:2017
Copyrights
:The author, the illustrator;
Synopsis
:Mincy Brincy is a cat who loves collecting things in his bag as he walks along the road, but soon finds that there is a serious downside to collecting rocks, birds' eggs and chestnuts.
Emapiim
Emapiim (Mātes piens)
Title
: EmapiimTitle*
: Mātes piensAuthors
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Kirjastus Hunt, Estonia
Pages
:224
Year
:2018
Copyrights
:The author
Synopsis
:This novel considers the effects of Soviet rule on a single individual. The central character tries to follow her calling as a doctor. But then the state steps in. Banished to a village, her sense of isolation increases.
Ärajäänud avastus
Ärajäänud avastus (Nenotikušais atklājums)
Title
: Ärajäänud avastusTitle*
: Nenotikušais atklājumsAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Estonian
Pages
:40
Year
:2018
Copyrights
:The author, the illustrator, Liels un mazs
Synopsis
:The natural scientist goes to take his magazine out of the mailbox, but finds a trail of some one–legged creature in his snowed–up yard.
Jakobi väga hästi õnnestunud plaan
Jakobi väga hästi õnnestunud plaan (Maskačkas stāsts)
Title
: Jakobi väga hästi õnnestunud plaanTitle*
: Maskačkas stāstsAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Estonian
Pages
:144
Year
:2019
Copyrights
:Luīze Pastore, Reinis Pētersons, Gatis Gierts
Synopsis
:Jacob Bird lives in Riga with his father. Jacob loves maps like his dad, and is fascinated by the legend which warns that no one must say `Riga is ready' or the river will flood the town.
Näpsud söögilauas
Näpsud söögilauas (Lupatiņi pie galda )
Title
: Näpsud söögilauasTitle*
: Lupatiņi pie galdaAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Lumemana OÜ, Estonia
Pages
:33
Year
:2019
Synopsis
:The series, How the Shammies Learned, will feature five interactive picture books that children can explore with a special assistant – a talking pen. The pen is a digital device that makes a book not only readable and interactive, but also audible.
Näpsude linn
Näpsude linn (Lupatiņu pilsēta)
Title
: Näpsude linnTitle*
: Lupatiņu pilsētaAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Lumemana OÜ, Estonia
Pages
:32
Year
:2019
Synopsis
:The series, How the Shammies Learned, will feature five interactive picture books that children can explore with a special assistant – a talking pen. The pen is a digital device that makes a book not only readable and interactive, but also audible.
Näpsude maja
Näpsude maja (Lupatiņu māja)
Title
: Näpsude majaTitle*
: Lupatiņu mājaAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Lumemana OÜ, Estonia
Pages
:31
Year
:2020
Synopsis
:The series, How the Shammies Learned, will feature five interactive picture books that children can explore with a special assistant – a talking pen. The pen is a digital device that makes a book not only readable and interactive, but also audible.
Näpsud maal
Näpsud maal (Lupatiņi laukos)
Title
: Näpsud maalTitle*
: Lupatiņi laukosAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Lumemana OÜ, Estonia
Pages
:31
Year
:2020
Synopsis
:The series, How the Shammies Learned, will feature five interactive picture books that children can explore with a special assistant – a talking pen. The pen is a digital device that makes a book not only readable and interactive, but also audible.
Kiosk
Kiosk (Kiosks)
Title
: KioskTitle*
: KiosksAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Estonian
Pages
:36
Year
:2020
Copyrights
:The author, the illustrator, the publisher
Synopsis
:It is a story of a lady named Olga who is stuck in the kiosk where she spends her days serving the customers, talking to them, reading magazines and longing to travel.
Castagnola
Castagnola (Kastaņola)
Title
: CastagnolaTitle*
: KastaņolaAuthors
:Genre
:Non-Fiction
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:University of Tartu Press
Pages
:220
Year
:2021
Copyrights
:Akka/Laa, info@akka-laa.lv
Synopsis
:Authors memoirs about his time spent in Switzerland.
Poiss, kes nägi pimeduses
Poiss, kes nägi pimeduses (Puika, kurš redzēja tumsā)
Title
: Poiss, kes nägi pimedusesTitle*
: Puika, kurš redzēja tumsāAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Mina Ise
Pages
:174
Year
:2021
Copyrights
:The author, the publisher
Synopsis
:Jacob is a boy who was born into an unusual family, but he wants to be just like everyone else riding his bike around, taking care of his cat and wearing a nice jacket.
Härra Heideggerile meeldivad kassid ja teisi jutte
Härra Heideggerile meeldivad kassid ja teisi jutte (Heidegera kungam patīk kaķi un citi stāsti)
Title
: Härra Heideggerile meeldivad kassid ja teisi jutteTitle*
: Heidegera kungam patīk kaķi un citi stāstiAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Short Stories
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Looming Raamatakogu
Pages
:91
Year
:2022
Copyrights
:the author
Synopsis
:Collection of short stories by Guntis Berelis
Ulsik, kahe koorijuhi tütar
Ulsik, kahe koorijuhi tütar (Ulsiks)
Title
: Ulsik, kahe koorijuhi tütarTitle*
: UlsiksAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Non-Fiction
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Mina Ise
Pages
:257
Year
:2022
Copyrights
:the author
Synopsis
:This apparently simple yet subtly painful tale of childhood memories shows life in Soviet-occupied Latvia during the 1960s and 1970s.
Introvertide ball. Läti uue luule antoloogia
Introvertide ball. Läti uue luule antoloogia (Dzejas antoloģija)
Title
: Introvertide ball. Läti uue luule antoloogiaTitle*
: Dzejas antoloģijaAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Anthology
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Hea Lugu
Pages
:Year
:2022
Copyrights
:the author
Synopsis
:Anthology of Latvian poetry
Tere, Vaal!
Tere, Vaal! (Sveiks, Vali!)
Title
: Tere, Vaal!Title*
: Sveiks, Vali!Authors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Estonian
Pages
:64
Year
:2023
Copyrights
:The author, the illustrator
Synopsis
:A grandfather and granddaughter call each other by the nicknames they have given each other: Whale and Buzzfly. Whale takes care of Buzzfly while her parents are at work – which is almost always. They spend a lot of time together, but there is one questio
Sõnad olid liigsed
Sõnad olid liigsed (Vārdiem nebija vietas)
Title
: Sõnad olid liigsedTitle*
: Vārdiem nebija vietasAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Mina Ise
Pages
:254
Year
:2023
Copyrights
:The author
Kalender on mu nimi
Kalender on mu nimi (Kalendārs mani sauc)
Title
: Kalender on mu nimiTitle*
: Kalendārs mani saucAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Postimehe Kirjastus OÜ
Pages
:304
Year
:2023
Copyrights
:The author
Synopsis
:The central image of the novel “Calendar calls me” is a young man with a difficult state of mental health. At times it seems that his mind works like a child, other times – that better than most adults.
Klikk-klikk!
Klikk-klikk! (Klik-klik!)
Title
: Klikk-klikk!Title*
: Klik-klik!Authors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Children`s Book
Language
:Estonian
Pages
:44
Year
:2023
Alfabeedi sünnimaa
Alfabeedi sünnimaa (Alfabēta dzimtene: latviešu konceptuālistu dzejas izlase)
Title
: Alfabeedi sünnimaaTitle*
: Alfabēta dzimtene: latviešu konceptuālistu dzejas izlaseAuthors
: , , , , , , , , , , ,Translated by
:Genre
:Poetry
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:;paranoia, Mina Ise
Pages
:144
Year
:2024
Copyrights
:The authors
Maarja
Maarja (Māra)
Title
: MaarjaTitle*
: MāraAuthors
:Translated by
:Genre
:Fiction
Language
:Estonian
Publisher
:Päike ja Pilv
Pages
:240
Year
:2024
Copyrights
:The author, the illustrator
