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In order to better promote works of Indian literature and independent Indian presses, a number of publishers are talking about joining forces to create their own collective stand at next year’s Book Fair. Granted, this is all still in development, but Zubaan Books, DC Books, Blaft, and Kalachuvadu Publications have all agreed in principle to working together to create a large, joint display at FBF 2010.
Let me put this into a bit of perspective and explain to anyone not actually here at the Fair why this is noteworthy. If you wander through halls 5 and 6 (again, for those not here, the FBF is made up of eight large halls filled with throusands of stands) you’ll see huge displays from the “book offices” in Romania, Hungary, Estonia, Denmark, Argentina, Iceland, Macedonia, etc., etc. These national book promotions are incredibly helpful to publishers looking for some information about what’s going on in the book scene in a particular part of the world. There are usually overview guides (e.g., “48 New Writers from Poland,” “New Korean Fiction,” “10 Books from Holland and Flanders”) booklets with data on that country’s book market, lists upon lists upon lists of publishers from that country, and all kinds of other promotional material.
Well, although India was a huge success as Guest of Honor just a few short years ago, the National Book Trust stand is completely empty and covered with a white sheet. Not to salt a wound or anything like that, but the Pakistan stand right around the corner is hoppin’ . . .
So for anyone interested in finding out what’s going on in Indian lit, you have the more difficult task of having to troll the aisles and talk (or try to talk) to all the individual publishers. This possible alternative–a vibrant stand with X number of innovative, indie presses–would be a frickin’ godsend. India is booming in all ways. And it’s a market that a lot of people are interested in. To provide a bigger, more attractive, more active platform for these presses to share their knowledge and info would be spectacular.
Tags: indian literature
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18. October 2009
19:43 Uhr
My compliments to the independent book publishers, who did stay open Sunday, the last day of the Fair.
As newcomers to the Fair, my wife and I were quite excited to see the offerings. Our son has begin reading in English, and we were excited to show him how many English-language publishers there are. Coming from the UK, we had long heard of this fair. However, we discovered something distressing: arrive on a Sunday, and by 13:00 (1:00pm) major publishers are packing up, at least in the International Publishers area.. We noticed Random House and Penguin Books no longer allowed visitors in by 1:00pm on Sunday; these were two of the largest publishers, and arguably main attractions. Since the Fair does not close until 5:30pm, we found this disappointing. They would not let us look. And so we had to explain to our son that despite the posted hours, things were already closing. Our son had a look like he had been told there is no Santa Claus.
Perhaps if major publishers such as Random House and Penquin are only putting in half-days on Sunday, admission tickets should be half-price. While we realize that the Frankfurt Book Fair is a trade-only event for five out of its seven days, and perhaps these major publishers are not so interested in “the little people.” But it seems a bit unfair that if one pays full admission, one can not access the materials of some of the largest international publishers.
Sadly, it seemed that this “early closing” was contagious. By 1:30pm, we noticed many smaller publishers in the International Publishers region were packing up also. I suppose they all have the right to set their own hours, and I suppose the crowds for these publishers is not as large for German publishers. But, really - if the Fair advertises that all areas are open to 5:30pm, shouldn’t they be? And, if not, why does the public pay full price. Our son commented, “Looks like we missed everything.”
A very disheartening experience.