Bologna is a place where publishers and lovers of children’s books meet every year. Last year, Macadamia was represented by Kamila only. This time, however, the whole team was there. Oh, what a lovely visit that was! Not too long, but very intense, filled with meetings (both scheduled and more spontaneous), and after the official part – with long walks, real Italian gelato, and pasta prepared in front of our very eyes :)

Bolonia 1

 

Conversations with our clients only confirmed that publishers all over the world are still looking for interesting YA novels with a hook, mainly contemporary and fantasy, but that Middle Grade novels are also doing well.

In various newspapers, prepared especially for the Fair, we found a lot of mentions about titles from our dear clients (which always makes us incredibly happy and proud!). Among them is „The Dollmaker of Krakow” (Delacorte Press, a Random House imprint), represented by The Bent Agency, taking place in Poland in the beginning of World War II, and compared to a true classic, „The Book Thief”. Everybody awaits a new novel by Kevin Brooks, „Born Scared” (Bloomsbury) which is said to be as powerful as his novels from over a decade, such as “Candy” and “Lucas”. And due to a growing interest in graphic novels, David Fickling Books will publish „The Adventures of John Blake” by Philip Pullman in a new, graphic novel version.

 Pullman (David Fickling)Countless (Bloomsbury) + Dollmaker of Krakow (Bent)Born Scared (Egmont UK) - Bookseller editor's choice

We came back to Warsaw in time for fast repacking and… off to London we go!

The London Book Fair, taking place in the spacious, sunny Olympia hall for the second time, are much bigger and diversified than Bologna – we had meetings with publishers and agents representing fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, books for young people, comic books… How to summarize the fair in one sentence? EVERYBODY’S LOOKING FOR BESTSELLERS ;) There is a big chance that one of such hits will soon be one of the titles from Bonnier, „How to Fall in Love with a Man Who Lives in the Bush” (yes, yes – a chick-lit about a woman who falls in love with a young and handsome… homeless guy). Many publishers from different parts of the world expressed strong interest in it, and so did the long-awaited debut by Kate Tempest, „The Bricks That Built the Houses” – an amazing, crafted novel about deceit, lies, difficult relations and true love (Bloomsbury). We must also mention the fact that José Eduardo Agualusa (represented by The Literary Agency Mertin) has been shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize!

We also found some time to relax in the afternoons – drinking wine at the fair’s cocktail bar or admiring the gorgeous interior of Leighton House Museum where one of the parties took place. And despite the fact that we came back to Warsaw really tired after our little marathon, we are already preparing for next year!

Londyn