Bologna by Day and Night
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Most Commented On
Archives
Posted by Craig Virden on March 30, 2009
Have been thinking a bit about Bologna. Part of me agrees with the photographer I went around with for an afternoon. He's been photographing the Fair for 30 years. (translating) "Year after year, everything the same, everything boring." A bit harsh, but the sameness was there. It's too bad we can't avoid the sea of books and just run into interesting people. It's very hard, I think, to spot great titles; it's much easier to share someone else's insight.That is unless you're trying to write a blog. Then the people who ARE willing to talk to you will only do so OFF the record. Sorry I can't share some of those tidbits. Here are some impressions, in no particular order: It's about branding, and Twilight is the series people love to hate. (Of course that won't stop anyone from trying to come up with the next one.) It has the first four...Read More
Posted by Craig Virden on March 26, 2009
Many of you know that this is Linda Summers' last Bologna, as she retires at the end of June. I will miss her company, her courage under fire and her common sense. She has
Of course we will see her in London and in Perpingan, but Mary Cash spoke for all of us, I think, when she said, “It really won’t BE Bologna without Linda....”
QED. Posted by Diane Roback on March 26, 2009
Like for instance Nancy and I (and our friends Diane and Neal, when they are in attendance) have lunch together on the last day of the Fair. We just returned from that. Crummy food, but great company. I actually bagged the Fair this morning and went shopping, to get a present and also to get Parmiggiano for ourselves and for Nancy’s Italian brother-in-law.
Speaking of gelato, for all you Gianni fans, there is a new flavor this year: chicken mint (pollo con menta). I know, it sounds disgusting—and it is.
Posted by Craig Virden on March 26, 2009
There appears to be some interest in what I've had to eat and where I ate it.This requires a small confession. I have been walking with two canes this week (I have rheumatoid arthritis and a bad back -- nothing life-threatening, but pretty painful), and after being mostly on my feet all day, I have given up table dancing. There is a new (to me) a place called Hosteria degli Usberti. Food is good and the pasta is excellente! Tortelli alla panna to die from. Best of all, it's around the corner from the Palace. Been there twice, once with Tim D and Nancy and once with Ulrich Stoeriko-Blume, a pal from RH days. I ate by myself one night, a pizza capriciosa and a bottle of acqua frizzante, while I reviewed notes and did some blogging. ...Read More
Posted by Craig Virden on March 26, 2009
Except instead of wandering through Athens looking for an honest man, I was looking for an editor and/or rights person who had either bought or sold a book.A number of option books sold before the Fair, and Simon Boughton and Mary Cash are probably going to close deals after the fair. Ginger Clark of Curtis Brown made a two-book deal for a property called Generation Ghost in Germany and Brazil. Emily van Beek of Pippin Properties has two auctions going. Perhaps this seems a bit paltry, but the fact is that not since Sebastian Walker held publishers hostage by forcing auctions at the fair have too many deals actually been done on the floor here.
Posted by Craig Virden on March 25, 2009
I promised a blog post about electronic publishing and — haven’t delivered. It’s not for lack of trying, it’s just that I can’t really anyone here who seems interested or who wants to talk on the record. Here’s what I have so far.
Posted by Craig Virden on March 25, 2009
I haven’t heard about many layoffs, except for in the U.S. Many companies have had some contraction. Most people to whom I've spoken believe that the downturn is giving companies the chance to tidy up a bit. There seems to be very little panic talk. U.S. editors are the big no-shows, but it’s my impression that most folks just consider this prudence.
Posted by Craig Virden on March 24, 2009
It’s my impression that this is a theme that still has legs. (Lots of black jackets out there.) No one appears prepared just now to want to abandon things that are working. In fact, Claudia Mody, a buyer for Waterstones in the U.K., wishes they could find more para-romance faster. Jacqueline Miller, the agent from France, feels that “unreal” stories trump reality and that French publishers are moving to 14-and-up crossover titles.
Posted by Craig Virden on March 24, 2009
In general, the mood at the fair feels subdued. People seem to be going about their business professionally, if not terribly enthusiastically.Some are complaining about too many fantasy wannabes. Picture books seem hard to sell, yet there are LEGIONS of them. In fact, to my eye, things look the same more than ever. According to several packagers, the Chinese are vying among themselves and bidding big numbers for both rights and copies. European publishers are lamenting a fluctuating dollar that's making as yet unpublished projects too expensive. The European stands strike me as sparsely attended, yet the Pippin Properties folks report an actual offer on the stand for a Jenny Han novel called The Summer I Turned Pretty. The Japanese and the Germans indicate that, so far, magazines are faring worse than boo...Read More
Posted by Craig Virden on March 23, 2009
It's only noon on Monday but not too early for a couple of observations.Many publishers have cut back on booth space, but the Fair has cleverly designed the space to create the illusion of fullness. Still, the agents centre is about half full, and early on there were many colleagues talking among themselves with not many customers in sight. Maybe Jean Feiwel said it best: "I knew attendance was down when I walked right into the ladies' room." A contender for quote of the day. German publishers, except Carlsen, are bemoaning the fact that Stephenie Meyer IS the German market. Another line I've loved this AM: "Sometimes I wonder if something is bad enough to be successful." Speaking from painful, personal experience, really bad stuff is NEVER successful. More anon. Thumbs beginning to rebel. Posted by Diane Roback on March 22, 2009
The lovely as usual RH party was tonight, at its usual spot in the Royal Hotel Carlton, though RH employees were in short supply. Crowd smaller than usual, but just as convivial. Simon Boughton refused to talk to me because he didn't want to appear in print. I told him if he dissed me, I'd just make something up. Actually, a lot of folks were cautious about talking with me, but I hope I assured them that I am not out to embarrass anyone.I spoke to a number of people with whom I will follow up as the week goes on. At the suggestion of Cindy Kane, I am adding "Wired" to "Fired, Retired and Expired," because I have a sense that people are thinking more in multi-platform terms than ever. I met Melina Marchetta, winner of this year's Printz Award. She's a lovely person with a lovely Australian accent and a nephew who is a HUGE fan of...Read More
Posted by Craig Virden on March 22, 2009
We went to the Fair on Sunday morning to check out set-up. Like watching grass grow, only slower. Seemed like lots of Italian guys setting up, not many exhibitors. Plenty of booths and lots of folks I didn't recognize. Time will tell.
Advertisement
|
|||
I have always been a fan of Italian merchandising and would have loved to buy some clothing. However, since the average Italian family of four could fit into one of my suits, that's out. So, I stopped for an ice cream instead.