Fiction's the News from the London Book Fair
This story originally appeared in Children's Bookshelf on Mar. 16, 2006 Sign up now!
by Julia Eccleshare, Children's Bookshelf -- Publishers Weekly, 3/16/2006
 At the fair: Jane Winterbotham, publishing director, Walker Books; author Anthony Horowitz; Walker sales and marketing director Henrik Wesolowski. |
Additionally, for most U.K. publishers, LBF offers an opportunity to present directly—and early—to a wide range of U.K. customers. LBF attracted booksellers, book fairs, book clubs and literary scouts, and many publishers used it to promote their authors.
The designated children's area of the floor was better situated in LBF's new home than in previous years, according to Susan Katz, publisher of HarperCollins Children's Books, which sent a full complement of staff fron the U.S. In general, however, attendees said that the larger American children's houses were largely absent, including Penguin, though of course its British counterpart had a large presence.
Walker set the tone with a first-day breakfast launch for Anthony Horowitz on the luxury yacht moored alongside LBF. While celebrating the launch of Evil Star, the second in his Power of Five series, the launch was primarily to show a clip from the $40 million film of Stormbreaker, to be released in July. Horowitz himself spotted his perfect Alex Rider in Alex Pettyfer, then playing Tom in a TV version of Tom Brown's Schooldays. There's also a starry supporting cast including Bill Nighy, Ewan McGregor and Stephen Fry. Now a brand name with its own trademark, Alex Rider titles have already sold more than nine million copies worldwide; judging by clips of the film, and the stylish merchandising to accompany it, that looks like a figure that will rise dramatically.
HarperCollins celebrated the bestselling Louise Rennison. "Louise was the author of the day," said Sally Gritten, managing director of HarperCollins Children's Books. "LBF was a great opportunity for Louise to meet a bunch of foreign publishers and foreign press," Gritten said, "as well as book buyers who might not have met her otherwise."
Simon and Schuster chose the LBF as an opportunity to follow up on a dinner held in Dr. Samuel Johnson's house earlier in the month to introduce new author Linda Buckley-Archer to the trade. Buckley-Archer, whose forthcoming debut novel Gideon the Cutpurse was a hot purchase from Caradoc King just before Bologna last year, was supported on the stand by a pistol-wielding highwayman.
On the Eve of the Fair
"Publishers at LBF were looking to be 'first to know' about exciting new fiction projects," Dow said. "They are hoping not to miss out on a key title which could be their next bestseller." Pre-LBF deals showed the continuing strong interest in fiction; they included Harper Collins U.K. and U.S. signing an English-language rights deal for Skulduggery Pleasant, the first of three books with screenwriter Derek Landy. "We made a pre-emptive offer just before the fair," said Gritten. "Everyone knew this was a book we really wanted to have."
Walker signed a three-book deal for Triskellion by Mark Billingham and Peter Cocks, from Sarah Lutyens of Lutyens Rubenstein. TV scriptwriting partners Billingham and Cocks have written a supernatural thriller to be published in 2008. "We have great hopes of what we can achieve for them," said Gill Evans of Walker.
Following its publishing of Madonna, Puffin acquired the first children's book by singer Kylie Minogue. After signing worldwide rights to Kylie, Showgirl Princess, a backstage look at the life of a superstar, Puffin was inundated by phone calls and e-mails from around the world expressing interest in the title.
Two new novels, Eye of the Moon by Dianne Hofmeyr and Imperial Spy by Mark Robson, were the focus of worldwide interest for Simon & Schuster. "We secured a number of international deals for Imperial Spy, a medieval fantasy thriller, and there are many clamoring to get their hands on Eye of the Moon," said Alexandra Maramenides, children's rights director of Simon & Schuster. "There has been a flurry of activity around the fair and just the number of publishers in London during the week of LBF has been very good for business."
Newcomer Catnip chose LBF to launch its first catalogue and The Riddle of the Poisoned Monk by Sarah Matthias, its first original fiction title. "LBF seemed the natural place for these launches," said Catnip publishing director Andrea Reece.
Templar, best known for its bestselling string of "ology" titles, were busy showing its forthcoming Pirateology. "With the success of Pirates of the Caribbean we know the pirate market is very crowded," said Templar managing director Mandy Woodman. "But we do think this book is very special." Templar was also showing The Dragon's Eye, its first novel.
Macmillan had early proofs of two forthcoming novels—F.E. Higgins's The Black Book of Secrets and Alex Williams's debut novel, The Talent Thief, both of which were attracting interest. "We saw publishers from smaller Eastern European countries who wanted to see what the forthcoming big books are," said Macmillan managing director Emma Hopkin. "We wouldn't see all of them in Bologna. LBF was also an opportunity to show early materials, which will make us more focused when we are at Bologna."
The presence of publishers who might not be at Bologna was also a plus for Klaus Flugge of Andersen Press, who had an independent stand for the first time. "LBF has a different mix from Bologna," he said. "It is especially useful for selling an author like Melvin Burgess, who will need an adult publisher in some countries."
Currently for children's publishers, LBF looks strongest as a focus for fiction, with the added bonus of bringing publishers to London which extends opportunities for developing working relationships. With plans for Bologna to move to late April, the general view is that the children's market can easily accommodate and make use of two fairs that overlap but specialize in different areas. Most agreed with Francesa Dow that "LBF was about fiction rather than picture books. Bologna remains the place for picture books," though Puffin continued its success with Lauren Child's Charlie and Lola books, notching up Swedish publisher Raben & Sjogren as its 10th co-edition partner, and HarperCollins confirmed strong foreign interest in Oliver Jeffers's new picture book, The Incredible Book Eating Boy.
A cautionary note was sounded by Sally Gritten. "I predict more and more people will come to LBF. If you get all the major publishers in London and then just the children's publishers at Bologna, the role of Bologna may not look so good. LBF certainly looks like a viable alternative."
