A Smooth and Sunny Bologna
This story originally appeared in Children's Bookshelf on April 26, 2007 Sign up now!
by Diane Roback, Children's Bookshelf -- Publishers Weekly, 4/26/2007
At the warmest Bologna fair that anyone could remember, publishers from all parts of the globe convened to talk children's books in the Italian sunshine. Bobby Byrd, publisher of Cinco Puntos Press, called it an upbeat and businesslike fair. "We've had a lot of meetings and people are starting to know more about our books."
Few publishers were reporting acquisitions, but several trends have emerged—most noticeably, fewer trilogies are being offered than in recent years. "They're still around but it's not quite the craze," said Mary Cash, v-p and executive editor at Holiday House. Allyn Johnston, Harcourt editor-in-chief, noted, "Publishers actually seem really sheepish now about pulling out a trilogy."
The literary agents' center was a hive of activity throughout the fair.
But that doesn't mean fantasy trilogies are dead in the water, either. Random House had a new one to unveil: The Tapestry Trilogy by debut author Henry Neff. Rights director Pam White had sold it into five territories just before the fair, and judging from the interest she'd seen this week, she was expecting to sell it to many more when she gets back.
Fairies seem to be the latest big thing on the British stands—especially in chapter books and series. "Everyone's got one, it seems," Johnston said. But as one American editor points out, "With the dollar so low against the pound, it's really going to be an uphill battle to make a book work."
 A full house, for Innovative Kids. |
Film companies are well-represented at this year's fair. Eddie Gamarra from The Gotham Group predicted, "Bologna's going to get like Comic-Con, where all of a sudden Hollywood is everywhere." In fact, it may already have reached that point. Two publishers held receptions on Tuesday night to give sneak peeks of films based on their bestselling properties. Scholastic showed a promotional reel from the eagerly anticipated The Golden Compass, which New Line will bring out in December. Author Philip Pullman, on hand to help introduce the film, said he had been involved in the production and had written some scenes. "It's unusual for a novelist to feel optimistic," Pullman said, "but I'm optimistic about the quality of this film." Read more about film deals at Bologna here.
 S&S’s Angharad Kowal shows new books to Itsuka Komiyama and Marie Takayasu at Kaisei-sha Publishing. All photos: Mario Ventimiglia |
Houghton Mifflin rights director Rebecca Mancini hadn't done any deals yet, but considers that a sign of a thoughtful market. "Everyone has a very good idea of what would work for their list and in their market," she said. "Since people are buying in fewer books for their list, they're much more careful about what they buy."
Next year's dates: Monday, March 31 through Thursday, April 3, a week after Easter.
