Springtime in Bologna

by Diane Roback, Children's Bookshelf -- Publishers Weekly, 3/30/2006

Viking rights director Helen Boomer (l.) meets with an agent and two publishers from Korea.

This week the children's book world convened itself once again in the Italian springtime, for the 43rd annual Bologna Book Fair, which ended today. The fair began smoothly, hampered only by a one-day baggage handlers' strike at the airport, which meant that many publishers arriving on Monday were diverted to Venice and other cities, and had to be bussed to Bologna. And though the event was held unusually early this year, and many publishers feared cold and wet weather, the sun shone gloriously throughout every day of the fair.

Big fantasy projects were still very much in the news, with no sign of let-up. Though few of thesebooks are actually signed up in Bologna, several large deals were announced just on the eve of the fair, including Runemarks, from adult author Joanne Harris (Chocolat), and a fantasy adventure series by debut author Philip Caveney, the first book titled Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools, both bought by Random U.K., and a three-book series by Derek Landy that will kick off next year with Skulduggery Pleasant, for which HarperCollins bought world English-language for a rumored seven figures.

Martha Rago and Michael Stearns of HarperCollins enjoy the Bologna sunshine.

In a reflection of the international slump in the picture book market, few titles were creating a buzz among the Americans, who have been buying in much less often in recent years. However, strong, steady business was reported on the rights side, and many U.S. editors said they had seen a few projects they would be considering once they got back home. Pirates seemed to be everywhere this year, pointing to a trend that will only intensify this year as the Pirates of the Caribbean sequel goes into release on July 7, and Pirateology pubs the same month. "I'm seeing lots and lots of pirates," said Roaring Brook publisher Simon Boughton. "And lots of monsters coming out from under beds."

Bologna affords publishers the opportunity for certain kinds of gatherings that would be difficult or impossible in any other venue. Big international companies such as Disney and Scholastic held meetings with divisions around the world to share information and coordinate strategies, and authors such as Blue Balliett (Chasing Vermeer; The Wright 3) and Sarah Mlynowkski (Bras & Broomsticks; Frogs & French Kisses) could meet with their publishers from around the world.

One noticeable shift was the large number of film agents and scouts in attendance. Some of them have been coming for years, of course, but critical mass seemed to have been reached this year. Jean Feiwel, in her new role as senior v-p and publisher at Holtzbrinck, commented on the film people's "ubiquitous nature" at the fair. "They're much more of a presence this year," concurred Rebecca Mancini, children's rights director at Houghton. "No one wants to be missing out on something."

Scholastic's Kate Wilson and Dick Robinson, conferring between appointments.

As more children's properties continue to be optioned and developed into movies, the low-hanging fruit has long been picked, and Hollywood is eager to hear about new projects as early as possible. Chicken House publisher Barry Cunningham remarked that the entire arena of film rights has changed dramatically in recent years. The film people "want to be in early and they want to commit," he said. "Interest is huge." (For more on Hollywood in Bologna, click here.)

Ken Olshansky of Granada Kids, a fair first-timer, spoke for many around the world when he said, "Bologna has been great. It's a real opportunity to see a lot of good material in a short period of time."

Next year's dates: April 23-26.

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