It is quite easy to pass by the London exhibition complex “Olympia” this year, because the entrance to the book market looks like the entrance to a construction site, but further on visitors are greeted by the usual atmosphere of the book market, although not as glamorous as in other years, when every stand tried to attract attention with something unusual.
“It could be compared to the process of picking mushrooms, which is so well-known to Latvians, because we meet our partners here, we put a lot of things in that basket, many new works, which, when we return home, we evaluate, think about what we want from it and what we can publish. The other thing that’s extremely important is that we stay in that sense of community when we meet with our partners in different countries, we already talk about not only specific books, but also what’s new in the industry, what’s happening in their countries, what’s trends,” says Evija Veide, director of the “Latvijas Mediji” publishing house.
“Even if we don’t have a stand, the exhibition is very successful. Little by little, maybe we have managed to convince the publishers to talk. And I was lucky to meet larger publishers in a private atmosphere, and it helped to establish contacts with them,” emphasizes literary agent Zhanete Vevere Paskavlini.
This year, more than 1,000 companies from more than 50 countries are participating in the book market, but not only Latvia, but also Lithuania, Finland, Sweden and other countries do not have a stand. However, Estonia is participating, whose booth many see a similarity with the Latvian introverted writer.
“It is expensive, but we believe that the money is well spent, because the attention that is given to us is worth it. Of course, it could be a little cheaper, but it is as it is,” admits the representative of the Estonian Literary Center Ilva Līvi- Rosipu.
The focus is on Ukraine, which has been given a stand for free. Not only books are on display, but also white painted furniture from libraries that suffered Russian attacks.
“Our slogan this year is “Sensitive information”, because in the eyes of the world, all news from Ukraine is sensitive information, but for us it is a harsh reality, and we talk about it and emphasize what is most important to us,” says the Director of International Cooperation of the Ukrainian Book Institute Olena Odinok.
But there is another topic that is currently being intensively discussed around the world.
“Artificial intelligence. How to work with it, whether it will be our helper or a threat, whether it will kill publishers. Will it kill books or authors. And how to deal with it. That’s the top topic that I feel is happening in London this year, ” explains Evija Veide.
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2023-04-23 16:07:18
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