Bologna, Books and Publishing

Networking Event at Palazzo Re Enzo - Bologna - Italy Meets the World

The Mayor of Bologna - Matteo Lepore - Opening the Event

60th Anniversary Awards and Party at Palazzo Re Enzo, Bologna, Italy

My networking family for the week - Harriet Hirshman - DeadInk Books, Katy McEwen - Pantera Press, Stuart Debar - SRL Publishing

The ever-popular Bologna Children's Book Fair, BookPlus and Book Licensing Trade Fair in Italy, has to be a huge highlight on an author's, publisher's and illustrators' calendar, for any year.  This year, it was highlighted on my calendar, but not for the sake of all the wonderful things one could learn and benefit from other professionals in this business, but because I was actually invited as a guest to attend their 60th Anniversary, which was truly an honour.

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*BCBF Party
* #BCBF2023 | Inside BCBF (bolognachildrensbookfair.com)

To celebrate 20 years is outstanding, but to make it to 60 years is a huge milestone for any international event – one that has not only grown in spirit and focus on their dedication to children and education, but also on their role in the publishing industry - to present to the world their best Italian foot, on the international stage.

Greek Pavillion - Incredible Artists!

​For me to be invited me – both as an author and publishing house, allowed me an opportunity that I never anticipated, would occur.  The last few years has spelt much hardship for many people across the world, especially for publishing and sole trader businesses – it has been no different, for me.  Attending this year’s event, also meant putting aside the hesitations of CoVid, the financial strains of what that brought to the industry and saying goodbye to health concerns.  

Market of Honour, Greece - Opening Celebrations

​The sponsored opportunity took off the compounding pressure, experienced over the last couple of years; I could just focus on the event and seminars offered before me - learning new ways, new ideas in book and publishing management; understanding recent figures, data and how they might affect the industry; talking with so many wonderfully, talented-creative artists – having the privilege of seeing their portfolios; and linking up with clever book technicians, who blew me away at every blink, of the eye.

ELK Publishing - BBPlus | BolognaBookPlus Hosted Publishers Lounge - Hall 29 Mall 1

It was a week of touching base with new ideas, meeting new people, believing in positive outcomes for everyone and coming away with lots of useful information, to implement into one’s business.
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With only one week on offer, it was a jam-packed event, pavilion and city - with so many things to see and do, and so many people doing their hardest to suck the marrow from the bone, to come away with a stronger understanding of books, publishing and yes – Bologna.  

Literary Translation Forum - Scouting for Books in Translation