Sharjah International Book Fair: a meeting ground for world books

There's no doubting the rise of the United Arab Emirates as a crossroads for books, ideas and writing. 

Looking to and from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce, site of the Publishers Conference

And the emirate of Sharjah is at the forefront of efforts to encourage more reading, translation and cultural exchange with the Arab-speaking world.

The emirate has devoted significant resources to its annual Sharjah International Book Fair, and invited over 400 publishers to a three-day conference ahead of the fair's opening last Wednesday 30 October. 

Faisal Al Nabouda of the Sharjah Book Authority opens the conference

The Sharjah Book Authority put together a fascinating few days for this first-timer to the Middle East. The first day had a global focus, and I was pleased to be part of the opening seminar looking at trends in the world publishing scene. 

The session, moderated by IBIIDI Books managing director and Book Depository co-founder Emad Eldeen Elakehal, brought in esteemed Sourcebooks founder Dominique Raccah, Ghana Publishers Association president Elliot Agyare and Austin Macauley international publishing director Jade Robertson for a lively discussion of key influences including digital, audio, indigenous languages and globalisation.

Mahmoud Lutfi, brother of IPA 2019 Prix Voltaire recipient Khaled Lutfi, imprisoned in Egypt for his publishing work 

Day two provided insights into the Arabic markets for books and freedom to publish issues globally, with day three shedding light on the challenges and opportunities of book publishing and libraries across Africa.

Bodour Al Qasimi, International Publishers Association vice president and founder of UAE publishing house Kalimat, closing the Publishers Conference

Business meetings and networking events throughout the conference enabled exchanges with publishers from the Middle East, Africa and around the world. 

Signing rights contracts for some of Oratia's children's books with Nancy Liu, director of overseas marketing, People & Tangel Publishing, Beijing

I was able to explore rights and distribution openings in meetings with colleagues from a couple of dozen countries — representing Oratia, Massey University Press and Te Papa Press lists, as well as investigating for the Kiwi book industry on behalf of the Publishers Association of NZ. 

Business meetings with publishers from the region (clockwise from top left): from Mozambique, Sandra Tamele (Editora Trinta Zero Nove); from Jordan, Rami Abu Slayyeh (Jabal Amman); from Bangladesh, Lutfur Rahman Chowdhury (Sandesh)

Invited publishers were also treated to a dinner at Sharjah Book City, an ambitious complex that houses the regional hubs of international book companies. 

Salim Omar Salim of the Sharjah Book Authority with Tony Mulliken of Midas PR, welcoming guests to Sharjah Book City

Sheik Sultan III bin Muhammad, the ruler of Sharjah, opened the fair proper in a lavish ceremony on the Wednesday morning, speaking of the cultural advances that Emirati society has made over the past 40 years. 

"The book is now installed in the culture of every family and home," the Sheikh said, expressing his desire to restore the nation to its traditional role as a source of culture and humanitarianism.


Coverage of the fair and conference from local newspapers the Khaleej Times and Gulf Today

The fair was a buzz of activity, prefacing a busy nine days that will draw some 1 million visitors to browse and buy books. 


Wonderful hospitality at the busy fair opening from the Sharjah Ministry of Culture

There's also a full schedule of author and illustrator appearances, and it was fantastic to attend the opening address to the fair by Turkish author and Nobel Literature Prize laureate Orhan Pamuk. 



I left Sharjah with a much clearer idea of how books fit in to the Arab world, and fresh confidence that New Zealand publishing can become a part of that world.

My sincere thanks to the Sharjah Book Authority and the hard-working team at Midas PR, who made this memorable exchange possible for international publishers.

Below: around the aisles on day one of the Sharjah International Book Fair

I Broke My Butt! cracks up North America

I Broke My Butt!, the US edition of Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird's new book, is out now from Dover Publications. 

Click here for the page on the Dover website.

The hilarious new book is the much-anticipated sequel to the international hit I Need a New Bum!, which our friends at Dover published in 2014 as I Need a New Butt!

They also have two other of Dawn and Ross' picture books available for sale in the USA and Canada — Doctor Grundy's Undies and Seagull Sid. 

New sequel backs up the cracking success of I Need a New Bum!

I’ve Broken my Bum!

Dawn McMillan; Illustrated by Ross Kinnaird

Zany sequel to international bestseller out in NZ in October ahead of North American release 

When Scottish Granny’s reading of I Need a New Bum! became a social media smash last September, the New Zealand bestseller turned into an international hit as well — with the US version selling out and Scholastic UK rushing an edition out before Christmas. 

A good thing, then, that Thames author Dawn McMillan had a sequel already on the go. 

After North Shore illustrator Ross Kinnaird added his quirky touch, the new book about a new bum is ready to rock bookstores worldwide — with NZ publication on Wednesday 9 October. 

 

I’ve Broken my Bum!  follows the popular character from the first book as he deals with a bum that breaks into pieces when he comes off his bike, then gets stuck to the tray he’s using to make the repairs. 

Kids will love his exploits as he discovers the fun to be had with a tray stuck to your bum. 

Dover Publications will publish the book as I Broke my Butt! in the US and Canada,next week, with Scholastic readying its UK edition for January 2020. 

Meanwhile, new editions of I Need a New Bum! are on the way in Korean and Italian.

 

Dawn McMillan is the much-loved author of numerous children’s books including I Need a New Bum! , Doctor Grundy’s Undies and Home Child, also released in 2019. She lives in Waiomu, north of Thames. Ross Kinnaird is an international illustrator and designer whose books have been published in many countries, many of them in collaboration with Dawn. He lives close to the water on Auckland’s North Shore.

Publication: 9 October 2019  |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-64-3 |  RRP $19.99

Paperback, 235 x 215 mm, 32 pages colour

He whakarewatanga rawe kei Te Papa-i-oea

Whakarongo ki ō Tūpuna/Listen to your Ancestors has just been launched today in an uplifting event at the beautiful Wharerata homestead on the Massey University campus, Te Papa-i-oea/Palmerson North. 

Fittingly for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori/Maori Language Week, most of the event was in te Reo, with translation into te Reo Pākeha (English) — much like the book itself. 

Te Hamua Nikora (left) shares his wit and oratory at  the launch

MC and media personality Te Hamua Nikora (Ngāti Porou) had the audience alternately reflecting and cracking up as he praised author Darryn Joseph and encouraged those attending to buy multiple copies. 

"This book contains real mauri (spirit) and may it be a blessing to all who read it. 

"And today there's a chance to take some of that mauri home!" he added. 

Darryn Joseph speaks about the genesis and realisation of his book

Darryn paid tribute to illustrator Munro Te Whata and editor Carolyn Lagahetau for imbuing Whakarongo ki ō Tūpuna with that mauri and to Oratia Books "for giving te Reo a space to fly." 

Darryn (left) and Cynthia White read in Māori and English respectively

He and Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Cynthia White jointly read the book to the approximately 100 guests attending, including a group from Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School who provided a beautiful waiata a ringa/action song.

The tribute to teachers was appropriate, given the book's dedication:
Tūturu, whakamaharatia, whakamīharotia,

whananuia ō tātou kaiako ahorangi!

Mōhio koe ki tō ake tino!

Let’s remember and celebrate our amazing teachers!

You know your own favourite!

Queuing for their copies

Tuhinga o mua o te roopu Oratia, ngā manaakitanga ki a koe e Darryn, ki Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, me ngā kaihoko pukapuaka a Bruce McKenzie Booksellers. 

Our appreciation to Darryn and Munro and whānau, to Massey University for hosting the launch, and to Corey from Bruce McKenzie Booksellers for selling copies on the day. 

An author kept busy dedicating copies to the many who attended

Whakarongo ki ō Tūpuna is available through good booksellers everywhere, and if you're in Palmerston North, get along to Bruce McKenzie Booksellers for your copy.

Celebrating Māori Language Week with a new picture book in te Reo

One night in June 2016, Massey University language lecturer Darryn Joseph sat in a hospital room minding a teacher who had become a dear friend and mentor to him. 

Darryn wrote her a poem of appreciation, kissed her hand and said goodbye; the next day she passed away. 

That poem is contained in Whakarongo ki ō Tūpuna/Listen to your Ancestors, a picture book in te Reo Māori with English translation, publishing today during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori/Māori Language Week.

The story follows a beloved teacher giving her pupils and grand-daughter guidance by directing them to follow the examples of Māori gods and ancestors.

“Every teacher teaches you something, but a few special teachers leave lasting impressions that stay with you for life,” says Darryn.

The book is illustrated by emerging artist Munro Te Whata, who has vividly brought to life settings in a school, the outdoors and a rest home in a colourful style.

Whakarongo ki ō Tūpuna teaches the values represented by Māori gods and ancestors, and provides a much-needed tool for reading in te Reo. But at its heart this is a story of love and respect, harking back to the friendship that inspired its writing. 

Darryn Joseph

The authors

Darryn Joseph (Ngāti Maniapoto) is a senior lecturer in Māori language at Massey University, Palmerston North, and the author of more than 23 books, mainly for Māori immersion education. Darryn is a trustee of Storylines and was a judge for the 2018 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Munro Te Whata (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou) is a dynamic young animator, artist and writer who has illustrated several books. He lives in Auckland. 

Munro Te Whata (left) with the book's editor, Carolyn Lagahetau

Publication: 10 September 2019  |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-62-9 |  RRP $24.99

Paperback, 270 x 21o mm, 32 pages colour

Going West delivers again

Many facets of Oratia Media's publishing were on show in the Going West Writers Festival in Titirangi this past weekend. 

Sir Bob Harvey kicked off the Saturday morning proceedings, talking about the book he published with Oratia in June — Sea Edge: Where the Waitematā Meets Auckland. 

Sir Bob (right) in discussion with Elisabeth Vaneveld and Gregory O'Brien

On the Sunday, our author Malcolm Paterson shared his insights into Auckland's past through the three Sharing Our Stories children's books he's published with us, and was joined by author Owen Gill, whose book Turning Point Auckland we undertook as a commissioned project at the start of the year. 

Malcolm Paterson (talking, second from right) joined Owen Gill (right) and author Patrick Reynolds (second from left) in conversation with Going West artistic director Mark Easterbrook

Then Oratia's publisher Peter Dowling took part in lively discussion of publishing realities in New Zealand, alongside Bridget Williams (Bridget Williams Books) and Harriet Allan (Penguin Random House NZ). 

Congratulations to Going West for a friendly, stimulating weekend!

Authoritative companion to Māori weaving returns in smart new edition

Tāniko weaving is one of the supreme expressions of Māori art. 

Weaving and dyeing the fibres of native flax creates elaborate patterns that are used to adorn clothing, with distinctive styles that have evolved in different parts of the country over centuries of creativity.

Te Whatu Tāniko presents the history and social context for weaving, as well as clear, practical guidelines for making tāniko. 

The book’s many clear and concise graphs and drawings can guide beginners or practising weavers to create a range of beautiful patterns. 

In print in various forms since 1952, Te Whatu Tāniko is now in a redesigned edition with a new preface by Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith of the University of Waikato, the daughter of the author. 

She writes: 'Tāniko work has its own beauty when woven with pride and exhibiting masterly control of the artform. It is as relevant now as it was when this book was first published.’ 

Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith

Sir Hirini sees this as signalling of passing the mantle of this artform, in decline when he first wrote the book, back to the female practitioners who are helping it to thrive today.

This new book will be welcomed by all who practise and appreciate this distinctive artform.

The author

Sir Hirini Moko Mead (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tūhourangi)is a pre-eminent Māori writer, commentator and scholar. In the course of a distinguished academic career he authored numerous books on Māori art (including Te Toi Whakairo: The Art of Maori Carving, with Oratia Books) and developed the first Department of Māori Studies in the country at Victoria University. He was knighted in 2009 for services to Māori and education. He lives in Wellington.

Sir Hirini (Sidney) Moko Mead

Publication: 15 August 2019  |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-61-2 |  RRP $45.00

Paperback, 250 x 185 mm, 136 pages b&w

Supporting accessible publishing for the print disabled

Oratia Media has signed up to the Charter for Accessible Publishing, promoted by the Accessible Books Consortium. 

This international consortium promotes the production of e-books and other digital publications in accessible formats such as braille, audio or large print for people who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled. 

Signatories to the charter implement steps towards making accessible publishing part of their working systems, and Oratia is underway with developing and implementing its accessibility policy.

The Accessible Books Consortium is a public-private partnership led by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It includes organisations that represent people with print disabilities such as the World Blind Union (WBU); libraries for the blind; standards bodies; authors, publishers and collective management organization.

Its goal is to increase the number of books worldwide in accessible formats - such as braille, audio, e-text, large print – and to make them available to people who are blind, have low vision or are otherwise print disabled.

At Oratia we are starting process change to ensure that our book files will be fully accessible for conversion by registered organisations working for the print disabled, moving into the EPUB3 work environment. 

More information on the consortium is available here.