Since acquiring World Editions in 2023, Christine Swedowsky, like many small publishers, has found the economics of the industry a challenge.
But she's also gotten creative, releasing about a dozen new titles through her distributor, Consortium and, now, striking on a way to create a new revenue stream for the publisher, which is focused on publishing books in translation.
This fall, Swedowsky will introduce Read the World A to Z, a series of translated novels by authors from one country for every letter of the alphabet. To get the series off the ground, Swedowsky received financial support from the Ian Michalski Foundation.
To create the series, Swedowksy is mining her backlist as well as signing new authors to fill voids in the alphabet. She notes that while English translations of books from such countries as France, Korea, or Columbia are readily available, there’s far less access to books from countries such as Yemen or Uruguay. Swedowsky is also on the hunt for titles to fill the gaps for Qatar, Russia or Rwanda, Vietnam or Venezuela, Wales, Yemen, and Zambia.
All titles published as part of the series are written by contemporary, influential authors and reflect the social and cultural dimensions of their country of origin, Swedowsky said.
The first three novels in the series feature authors from Argentina (All That Dies in April by Mariana Travacio, translated by Will Morningstar and Samantha Schnee); Belgium (The Woman Who Fed the Dogs by Kristien Hemmerechts, translated by Paul Vincent); and China (Cocoon by Zhang Yueran, translated by Jeremy Tiang). They will be released October 6.
To support the new series, Swedowksy has created new vehicles for sales and promotion, part of what she calls her “launch team.” An important element of that effort is a subscription box that will have special discounts as well as swag. The box will be sold through a new direct-to-consumer program that includes improving the World Editions website. Launch team members will also be eligible to take part in a book club that will feature interviews with translators and authors.
Swedowsky said the series was well received at Winter Institute and by such stores as Literati, Interabang, Brazos, Seminary Coop, Boulders Bookstore, Left Bank Books, Brookline Booksmith and Powell's.
"Too many times I have people who want books from various countries, but I can't always find them easily—Read the World A to Z can help ease that,” said Kel Russel, lead bookseller at Main Street Books and Second Flight Books in Lafayette, Ind.
Swedowksy said the Read the World series fits in with the current trend of people looking for collectible books. Moving forward, World Editions’ annual list will include six Read the World titles, released in two batches: three in spring and three in fall.
