London Book Fair: What's in Your Briefcase?

Here's a preview of the hot titles the big six will be selling at the London Book Fair. Among the highlights are two books about Joseph Heller, whose Catch-22 was published 50 years ago; Gwyneth Paltrow's cookbook; a new book from Augusten Burroughs; and memoirs from Diane Keaton, Rob Lowe, Randy Pausch's widow, a Microsoft cofounder, the world's oldest living Holocaust survivor, a close friend of Michael Jackson, and God.

London Bounces Back

In 2010, a cloud hung over the publishing world—literally. When a tongue-twisting Icelandic volcano blew its top last April, halting air travel, stranding travelers, and ruining the best-made plans of the 2010 London Book Fair. But this year's London Book Fair is back on track.

'Cooking the Books' Wins Gourmand Award

At last week’s Paris Cookbook Fair, the annual Gourmand Awards feted cookbooks from around the world. The awards cover a vast array of categories, from books by chefs to first books to photography and design. We’re proud to note Cooking the Books took home the award for best book trade magazine, a prize that has gone to France’s Livres Hebdo and Germany’s Buchreport in years past.

Abu Dhabi Fair Begins March 15

Prominent business and artistic publishing professionals from all over the world will be headed to Abu Dhabi's International Book Fair 2011, its 21st year. The professional program kicks off Tuesday, March 15, at the National Exhibition Centre with a welcome and orientation to the fair hosted by Monika Krauss, Kitab's general manager, and moving on to “19 Rules for Doing Business in the Arab World” and "Matchmaking for Arab and Non-Arab Exhibitors." Five more days follow with sessions on translation rights, academic publishing, website design, children's books, illustrating, blogging, the basics of e-books, and piracy.

Jerusalem International Book Fair 2011: Pitching Books, Making Connections

It was a whirlwind week for the 45 Jerusalem editorial and agent fellows attending the 25th Jerusalem International Book Fair, most of whom were visiting Israel for the first time. The week was filled with trips--Masada, the Dead Sea, holy sites in Jerusalem's Old City, Yad Vashem Holocaust museum--and for the first time, a half day trip to Tel Aviv that included a visit to Dinnered Zmora Bitan, one of Israel's largest publishing houses.

Jerusalem International Book Fair 2011: Awards, Lectures and Deals

The 15th Jerusalem International Book Fair began Sunday with a thoughtful speech by Ian McEwan, winner of this year's Jerusalem Book Prize. During the opening ceremonies, Israel's Culture and Sports minister announced a new translation fund to be used to translate at least 10 Hebrew books each year.

Taipei 2011: Positive Vibes

At the end of day three at TIBE (Taipei International Book Fair), many overseas exhibitors are preparing to head home, armed with new contacts and a better understanding of the Asian market.

Taipei 2011: Overseas Exhibitors Get Good Reception

"Interesting," "exciting," and "productive" are just some of the adjectives used by exhibitors to describe the 2011 Taipei International Book Fair (TIBE). The mood is relaxed, although substantial wheeling and dealing has been taking place in Hall 1, where the overseas publishers are located.

Taipei 2011: Where Happiness Reigns

The choice of Bhutan as the honored guest at the 2011 Taipei International Book Fair (TIBE), running from February 9 to 14, is both unexpected and groundbreaking. "Bhutan may be an insignificant market in the publishing world but this small nation of 700,000 people that measures its national wealth based on gross national happiness instead of gross domestic product has a lot to teach us," says Jung-wen Wang, Taipei Book Fair Foundation chairman and founder/managing director of Yuan-Liou Publishing. "In these stressful times of unequal income distribution and relentless wealth creation, we need to refocus on quality of life and happiness. And since happiness and contentment can be found in books and the act of reading, our choice of Bhutan is both timely and appropriate."

Jerusalem Fair Announces Fellows

Nine editors and four agents from the U.S. and Canada have been named Jerusalem International Book Fair Fellows and will participate in programs and seminars at the 25th biennial Jerusalem International Book Fair, which takes place February 20 to 25. A group of 33 editors and 12 agents from 17 countries will participate in the international exchange of ideas with colleagues (many of them alumni fellows) and fair exhibitors, and learn about the Israeli publishing scene.

International Book Fairs, 2011

Book Fair Notes: Italy at BEA; Abu Dhabi set for Mid-March

The Italian Trade Commission officially announced Italy’s participation as the global market focus at next year’s BookExpo America. Separately, the 21st Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) will be held March 15-20 in 2011.

Korea's Celebration Of Books

In the November 8 PW, I reported from a publishing conference in Paju Book City, South Korea, and was left feeling that its unusual nature was worth further description as a possible model for other countries. The Paju Publishing Culture and Information Industrial Complex is unique.

Moscow's Non/Fiction Draws International Crowd

Moscow's 12th annual Non/Fiction Fair, running from December 1 to 5, has stayed true to its founding idea of providing Muscovites and international attendees with high-quality literary fiction and nonfiction titles. There are more than 290 exhibitors from 19 countries and 300 events scheduled for the five-day cultural event that features France as the honored guest. The number of visitors braving the frigid weather and making their way to Moscow's renowned Central House of Artists where the fair is held is expected to exceed 30,000.

U.S. Commerce Department Invites American Publishers to Taipei

The U.S. Commerce Department is again offering publishers the opportunity to exhibit at the Taipei International Book Fair, which takes place February 9-14, 2011. The Commerce Department helps American publishers match their titles to foreign publishers and distributors interested in purchasing U.S. rights and titles in Taiwan.

Family Business at the 29th Sharjah International Book Fair

The 29th annual Sharjah International Book Fair drew some 750 publishers and showcased 200,000 book titles—including one by Sharjah's ruler, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed al-Qassimi, a prolific author, who was on hand to sign copies of the English translation of his memoir.

IFRRO Lands in Boston

For the first time in 26 years, the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations (IFRRO) held its annual meeting in the U.S., with more than 250 delegates from 50 nations convening in Boston, October 25–28, to discuss international licensing, rights, best practices, and copyright issues.

Koreans Explore Digital Options

This year's Paju Book City publishing conference, held last week at this city of 250 publishers 30 minutes from Seoul, in South Korea, focused on content convergence.

Graphic Novels, Panel Discussions and Deals at the Sharjah Book Fair

Kuo-yu Liang, v-p sales and marketing at DBD, the trade book distribution unit of Diamond Comics Distributors, is at the Sharjah Book Fair as part of an effort to bring comics, graphic novels, and manga to the Middle East, and was excited about the possibilities. A panel discussion focused on the need to encourage reading, while Orion bought a children's book for the U.K. market.