This was my first trip to a trade fair – I had read about many before, I had looked at pictures of trade fairs and I knew what to expect.
Although a majority of the stalls were aimed at other publishers, rights agents and publicity teams to showcase each house, the content creators like authors, illustrators and translators weren’t ignored. There were events for writers and illustrators and there were special area for translators from PEN etc.
It was a great way to see how the indies competed side by side against publishing giants. The Macmillan, the Random House, HarperCollins – all having huge displays, televisions and posters, ten times the size of a small publishing house. To be fair, they had loads of imprints and companies under each and they all shared that space. But it was interesting to see how all the rights people, sales and maybe some editors too, making deals. (I didn’t actually witness a deal, but I’m an author after all and I let my imagination run its course).
Turkey was on prominent focus and then there were other countries and groups that represented their members – like one of my favourite group – the Singapore publishing team along with NBDCS. I wandered along trying to find interesting publishers, taking photos of their names, when they didn’t notice and then I came upon the Singapore contingent.
I have been published in Singapore and I was looking at new trends on display. The publishing team in the booth not only recognised me, they were happy to introduce me to their various publishers too.
Before I attended the bookfair, I asked many people whether I should carry my books and such. And predictably and correctly, everyone told me to take my business cards and not to bother with anything else. So I went there armed with a box full of business cards. As I walked through the aisles, I found some publishers having a quiet time. So I gathered courage and said hello and introduced myself. Some of them were very keen to talk to me. They asked for my books. Ugh! I didn’t bring any. I gave them my card and promised to send detailed proposals.
So the moral of the story for me was – to take some covers, some sample books or if you have a tablet, take all the digital portfolios you can- you never know who you bump into.
I attended a couple of sessions for authors – especially the one about poetry organised by BookTrust and it was a great treat. As an author, other than the events organised specifically for writers, there won’t be enough to do for 3 days. But one day in the 3 day fair calendar was a good way to dip my toe into the professional waters of publishing.
This will not still convince me to go to Bologna Children’s Book Fair just for this – unless of course I go on holiday as well around the same time or I have an event I get invited to. If you are on your own, it can get lonely very quickly.
All in all, it was a great way to spend a day – surrounded by books and people who are passionate about them.