Publishers Weekly - 04.11.2019

6 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ■ NOVEMBER 4, 2019

BOOKS IN SPANISH

(We Are Booktubers) contest that brings together a thousand

young people who are dedicated to promoting reading. In the

popular science category, Brigitte Baptiste and Alejandra León-

Castellá will talk about the achievements of women scientists,

with a premise of inclusion and equality.

Octavio Paz, Mexican Nobel Prize in Literature winner

and Mexican ambassador to India, wrote, “Every civilization

is a vision of time. Institutions, works of art, techniques, and

philosophies: everything we do or dream is a fabric of time.”

For Paz, India was first and foremost a civilization, “a living

museum,” in which “the most modern modernity,” as he

called it, coincided with ancient cultural vestiges. With its

unequaled mosaic of colors, aromas, and flavors, with its

multiple cultures and linguistic richness, India promises to

surprise those who this year have the opportunity to visit FIL

and allow their lives to be open books. ■

Cristóbal Pera, publishing director at

Vintage Español, says that although

the house will not have a booth at FIL,

he has a full agenda. “With the growth

of the rights center at FIL, it has

become imperative that I attend from a

buy/sell rights perspective,” he notes.

Half of his schedule is meetings with

agents, the other half with publishers,

and Pera will also be looking at the

books in Spanish that India will bring

to FIL. He always finds time to connect

with colleagues from Spain and Latin

America but says that what he enjoys the most about the event “is that ocean of readers that fill the halls. You can barely walk the

fair. This is what I find most invigorating. It’s seeing the excitement of readers that I love most about FIL.”

Edward Benitez, executive editor, and Lulu Martinez, marketing manager, from HarperCollins Español will be at FIL this

year as well. HC Español will not have a separate booth at the fair, but its titles will be showcased at the HarperCollins Mexico

booth. Benitez has been attending FIL for more than 20 years and it’s still one of his favorite fairs. “I love it,” he says. “It’s the

best book fair in the world because it’s open to the public. There is music, movies, theater, it’s a cultural festival.”

Benitez is an FIL veteran, but Martinez will be attending the fair for the first time. She is not only going to explore FIL but

will be comparing notes with her colleagues from HarperCollins Mexico. Martinez is also looking at book covers, booth designs,

and events being held at FIL. Benitez provided some helpful tips to Martinez: “Wear low-heel shoes, bring snacks and water, and

be careful after 5 p.m.” His warning about 5 p.m. refers to the time the doors open to the public, when the sea of book readers

fills the halls of the largest convention hosted in Mexico. —Leylha Ahuile

U.S.

PUBLISHERS

AT

FIL

PW caught up with a couple of U.S. publishers who will be attending the Guadalajara

International Book Fair this year to discuss what their plans are for the event.

© michael lionstar

Cristóbal

Pera

Edward

Benitez

The University of Guadalajara celebrated World Book Day earlier this year with a book fair that included an international bookstore forum of

writers and booksellers (above l.), introduced by FIL director Marisol Schulz, discussing ideas and challenges in the industry, along with the

Carlos Fuentes Bookstore (above r.).

© fil guadalajara_josué nando © fil guadalajara_josué nando

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