Bologna Children's Book Fair 2024 expands international reach for Oratia authors and illustrators

What an outstanding four days it has been at the Bologna Children's Book Fair 2024. 

Oratia Books again joined colleagues from around Aotearoa on the New Zealand collective stand in Hall 25 of this major meeting ground for children's books — alongside over 1500 other exhibitors from around the world.

Bologna, the bustling capital of Italy's prosperous Emilia-Romagna region, turned on great weather for all but one day, accompanied by its superlative food and wine for business dinners late into the evenings.

The Bologna fairgrounds were packed, especially on Tuesday 9th, and the Aotearoa NZ stand led by PANZ member services manager Katherine Shanks was a busy scene of enquiries and encounters. 

The Aotearoa New Zealand stand, ably managed by PANZ's Katherine Shanks (at work at bottom right)

Stand set-up and social meetings occupied the weekend, with the fair proper running from Monday to Thursday.

Our experience confirmed the Bologna Children's Book Fair (BCBF) analysis, that the fair and the children's book trade are back to levels not seen since the Covid-19 pandemic. 

There were 31,735 professional visitors across the four days, an increase of 10% on last year (this video gives a snapshot of the busy, global traffic on the opening morning).

For Oratia Books I completed about 40 meetings during the fair days (helped by organisational whizz Juliet Dreaver), with most of our major partners, agents and suppliers covered plus some exciting new discoveries. 

It was also a thrill to walk the halls with Maria Leonardi, the Rome-based publishing expert who is now helping Oratia with its international rights activity. 

With Maria Leonardi – a great publishing friend and, like me, a dual Italian and New Zealand citizen

Slovenia was this year's guest of honour, showcasing on its children's authors and also (following the fair's traditional focus on illustration) with a major exhibition of art in the main lobby. 

There is no substitute for meeting face-to-face to make and renew business relationships, and no better way to present books (a 3D, tactile product in which content is but one factor) than around a table. 

It's gratifying to see how with fair attendance each year, our authors, illustrators and creative team gain more recognition internationally, and sales potential expands.

Clockwise from top left: celebrating the success of Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird’s New Bum series with our US partners, Patty Sullivan (left) and Betina Cochran of Dover Publications; with querido amigo and our Latin American agent Pablo de la Vega; catching up with Latvian illustrator Elīna Braslina and US-Spanish author and translator Lawrence Schimel, creators of our board books Bedtime, Not Playme and Early One Morning; and meeting one of the courageous Ukrainian contingent, Olha Pisotska (centre) of Ranok Publishing, alongside New Zealand’s Juliet Dreaver. 

Now to the weeks of following up with exchange of materials and ideas, and the months of exchanges and negotiations that will be approaching conclusion by the time of the next big event on the publishing fair calendar, the Frankfurt Book Fair in October. 

Arrivederci Bologna, until next year

— Peter Dowling, Publisher

Oratia makes commitment to diversity and inclusion through new policy

Oratia Media is starting off 2021 by making a firm commitment to representing diversity in its publishing, personnel and vision.

That is embodied in this policy statement.

ORATIA MEDIA

Diversity Policy

OUR VISION

To be a diverse and inclusive publisher with no barriers to entry for anyone regardless of their background or identity.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Oratia will respect:

·      the central role of the Treaty of Waitangi, respecting Māori as tangata whenua

·      the role of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa

·      the diverse cultures of Aotearoa New Zealand

·      the principle of equal access and opportunity for people of all cultures, ages, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and religions

This initiative follows our participation in a series of Diversity and Publishing workshops organised by the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) between September and December 2020. 

Diversity specialist Anton Blank of Oranui led those workshops and helped participants to develop policy and tools that will help book publishers to give equal access and value to all sectors of society in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Anton Blank of Oranui, which focuses on generating debate about diversity and giving people skills to deal with a diverse range of population groups

Along with Anton, and Alex Collins and Mish Wickremesekera of Lift Education, Carolyn Lagahetau and Peter Dowling of Oratia sit on PANZ's diversity subcommittee. 

Together they have developed policy and training for PANZ, and this is now extending to members.

We are firmly committed to books and workplaces that represent people of all backgrounds, and aim to carry that through into our future publishing, starting from respect for the Treaty of Waitangi. 

 

Queen's Birthday Honours recognise authors and publishers

Hearty congratulations to the recipients of the Queen's Birthday Honours announced today.

Author Tessa Duder, who has published two books with Oratia, receives the fourth-highest honour in recognition of her services to literature.

Tessa is made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Tessa Duder

Click through for more info on Tessa's books The Story of Sir Peter Blake and Out on the Water.

It's also fabulous to see independent publisher David Ling honours as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to the publishing industry.

David has devoted his working life to publishing quality work from New Zealand authors, and successfully directed David Ling Publishing and his Duck Creek Press children's imprint over several decades.

David Ling

His website can be seen here.

Among other literary figures honoured were editor Don Long, novelist Elizabeth Knox and poet Cilla McQueen.

International Publishers Association gives glowing report to PANZ International Conference

The Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) was honoured to welcome top-notch international speakers at our biennial conference at the end of June.

Headlining the event was Hugo Setzer, current Vice-President of the International Publishers Association (Hugo is standing to become President at the IPA's General Assembly in October).

Hugo's report on the conference has appeared in the latest IPA newsletter – with some keen insights on how New Zealand fits into the global publishing scene (read the report here).

Hugo Setzer delivering the opening keynote at the PANZ Conference: Why Publishing Matters

As the current PANZ President, it was a great pleasure for me to host Hugo in Auckland and to strengthen bonds between PANZ and our international body. 

Bologna Book Fair in New Zealand Books, New Zealand in Books Ireland

New Zealand books, authors and publishers on the international stage feature in two publications out now.

Peter's report on the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) presence at this year's Bologna Children's Book Fair is in the latest edition of New Zealand Books Pukapuka Aotearoa.

Click here to go to the New Zealand Books website and find out about getting your copy of this valuable publication.

Meanwhile, the Irish book trade magazine Books Ireland features New Zealand in its latest edition, billing this on its cover as 'New Zealand: So far, so close'.

The coverage stems from PANZ's hosting of current Publishing Ireland President Ivan O'Brien on a visit to New Zealand last year, supported by Creative New Zealand's Te Manu Ka Tau programme.

Ivan reports in the magazine on his ongoing exchanges with New Zealand the similarities and differences between his market and ours.

Also featured in Books Ireland's March/April 2018 edition are Anton Blank's analysis of contemporary Māori writing, an article on Māori publishing and a visit to Time Out Books in Auckland all feature.

For more visit the Books Ireland website.

Coming home to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2018

The Piazza Maggiore in central Bologna

It was a thrill for me to represent Oratia at the four-day Bologna Children’s Book Fair last week. 

Although it was our first time there, it was a little like a homecoming: my wife and co-director Alessandra Zecchini hails from the next-door province of Modena.

At the opening ceremony on Monday 26 March

The world’s premium event for children’s books takes place in the Bologna Fiere, just outside the historic centre of this city that hosts Europe’s oldest university and a rich gastronomic tradition. As fairgoers enthuse, it’s impossible to eat badly in Bologna.

The PANZ stand, with our assistant Giulia Bondioli ready for business

Oratia joined the Publishers Association of New Zealand stand along with literary agent Frances Plumpton and five other publishers (Black Chook Books, Gecko Press, Millwood Press, OneTree House and Upstart Press). We also represented David Ling’s Publishing superb children’s imprint, Duck Creek Press. 

Opening day: from left Frances Plumpton, Peter, Kathryn Enchmarch (Black Chook Press) and Sophie Siers (Millwood Press)

The stand may have been small, but its location in a busy aisle of the fair’s Hall 25 ensured a prominent showing of New Zealand picture books, junior and young adult fiction and non-fiction, as well as a special display of works by Joy Cowley (who was shortlisted for the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award). 

The Hans Christian Award Finalists list; Japan's Eiko Kadono took the authors award ahead of a strong list including Joy Cowley

All present had a steady train of meetings with publishers and agents from many countries, and a good number of walk-ons the stand. Copies of our Bologna brochure, featuring new titles and our children’s backlist, and of the Duck Creek Press catalogue, lasted just till the final afternoon on Thursday 29 March. 

Oratia Books and Duck Crek Press titles on the NZ stand

Oratia Book's 12 Huia Birds on display along with other nominees for the BOP Bologna Prize for Best Childrens Publisher of the Year. OneTree House won the Oceania Award for 2018.

Fair regulars remarked that the fair was busier than in previous years — no surprise given that the exhibitor total of 1390 was up by 8.6% from the previous year. That activity speaks to the good times for children’s and young adult books worldwide, with growing sales and profile despite slowing birth rates in many Western countries. 

Including visiting publishers, authors and illustrators, over 100 countries were represented — with China, as this year’s country of honour, putting up an especially strong showing. 

Peter Dowling with Elena Pasoli, Director of the Bologna Children's Book Fair

The Kiwi presence was well noted, with Fair Director Elena Pasoli telling me it was “a great source of pride to have New Zealand at the fair.” Creative New Zealand not only enabled the stand, but also supported a presentation by Taupo-based illustrator-author Donovan Bixley, and Publishers Association hosting of Sarah Mullen, director of the UK’s Bournville BookFest for children’s books. 

Donovan Bixley with Sarah Mullen of the Bournville BookFest

Links made at Bologna are set to lead to more international distribution, editions and opportunities for our fab children’s writers. Alla prossima, allora!

– Peter Dowling

Reporting from the Guadalajara International Book Fair 2017

Here is our report from the Guadalajara International Book Fair, one of the world's major book and publishing events. 

Peter led the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) stand at the event, the first time NZ books and writing have been among the official exhibitors at the fair in Mexico's second city. 

The report is from this week's PANZ News, and a photo album can be seen at

https://www.facebook.com/pg/oratiabooks/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1617820034908081

Frankfurt balances the book

This year’s Frankfurt Book Fair was upbeat. Books are really in business, with an ebbing of hype about digital erosion and a brisk trade in rights and projects for many at the fair.

The New Zealand stand

On the New Zealand stand in Hall 6.0 there was a real buzz, and lots of fruitful discussion. The collegial feeling among the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) exhibitors, supported by Creative New Zealand, makes working in this busy fair so much more productive.

Poster listing countries in Hall 6.0

It goes without saying that Frankfurt is hectic, with 7,300 exhibitors from 102 countries spread across six multi-levelled halls. Having France as country of honour this year was a big deal.

There’s normally a percentage of appointments that turn into no shows — just getting around the many halls in the Frankfurter Messe can lead to big delays — but not this year.

We had around 50 meetings for Oratia, with rights interest strong for a number of new children’s and non-fiction books. 

Armando de Santiago (Guadalajara Book Fair), Catriona Ferguson,
and Frankfurt Book Fair organisers Hanife Içten and Grace Moss 

Distribution and coedition interest was strong for the two publishers I represented there, Massey University Press and Te Papa Press.

The fair enabled PANZ director Catriona Ferguson and me to network with fellow publishers associations (among them Ireland, Canada, Australia and Brazil) and other book fairs (especially Taipei and Guadalajara).

The main concern shared among publishers, distributors and agents was the challenges faced by book retailing. Rising commercial rents and bleeding of sales to online booksellers, many of whom avoid local taxes, are challenging a lot of our retail partners — making initiatives like NZ’s upcoming Bookshop Day on 28 October all the more important.

Still there is a palpable confidence in publishing just now, as Publishers Weekly reported in its round-up on Frankfurt – noting that overall visitor numbers were up on the past two years.

Meeting up at Frankfurt, clockwise from top left: Herwig Bitsche (NordSūd Verlag, Zurich) and Monika Osberghaus (Klett, Leipzig) with their German children's book award finalists; me with our Spanish publisher Carlos Arnanz of Ediciones Salamanca and translator Francisco Molina; selfie with Malaysian Book Publishers Association Honorary Secretary  Sheik Faisal and Lei Lim of Oyez Books; and in the company of our esteemed Italian agent Guido Lagormasino.