"Frankfurt
Book Fair is planning to highlight children's and young adult media as a focal
topic in October, addressing some 1,500 publishers of children's books from 100
countries."
This is a tremendous opportunity for the Children's literary community in this country and I hope it is grasped with both hands and made the most of. When I was a child the children's literary scene here was just starting out but over the years, thanks to the quality, strength and commitment of publications like the School Journal (Learning Media) filled with local content, supporting and encouraging local writers and illustrators, and the presence of internationally renowned children's authors and illustrators like Margaret Mahy, Lynley Dodd, Gavin Bishop, Maurice Gee, Joy Cowley and Robin Belton, and the continuing efforts of long standing, and new publishers of children's material, the local industry has blossomed. New writers are coming through all the time and I think our current scene is strong. Yet it is a struggle to find opportunities to have our voices heard overseas. In an article in the NZ Society of Authors magazine within the last year well known children's author David Hill lamented the difficulties of having titles picked up by foreign markets. He acknowledged the infrequency and unlikelihood of this happening. Is this our golden ticket - our chance to win some change in this trend? I sincerely hope so.
4 comments:
Also interesting to note that of the RECORD number of NZ books being published in Germany this year basically NONE are kids' books. Not sure what the barrier is. Certainly not the quality of the stories. Oh well, let's hope you're right and it turns out to be the breakthrough moment for kiwi kidlit in Germany ... and the world.
I'm not sure that children's book are to be "the" focus - it just appears that there will be 'more' focus on children's publishing than has been the case previously. A great thing for all involved in children's literature in NZ, but not a reason to send more children's writers than writers for other genres.
yes, true enough, Anonymous. I would dearly love to go - two of my titles will definitely be at the fair and another is being considered currently by a German publisher, but I'm sure there will be more authors wanting to go than there are places available. I imagine there is unlikely to be another opportunity like this at Frankfurt in my lifetime, especially with the additional kid-lit angle, so I wish everyone who wanted to go this time, could go
on the other hand one might argue if other genres are already getting traction in Germany and Europe in general, isn't this year's fair an opportunity to give children's literature from NZ a greater push overseas
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