Frankfurt Book Fair 2024: A Feeling of Optimism

The opportunity for facetime with international partners, as always, has proved of value to publishers big and small, even when deals aren't made at the fair itself. "It's a chance to have people from a hundred different countries show up to your booth, talk to you about your books, and see if there's a potential partner there," said Josh Hayes, VP of sales at Boom! Studios, recently acquired by Random House, but still operating its own booth at the show this year. "We continue to see a lot of traction on everything, from a licensing standpoint."
Sometimes, that facetime is unexpected.

To wit: David Campbell, publisher of Everyman's Library in the U.K., arrived on Wednesday and, finding himself free for lunch, went to the fish and chips stand on the fairground, where he found himself at the same table as six people from the Akademnasher Publishing House in Uzbekistan. "Are you the David Campbell of Everyman?" one asked. "But you are my hero!" Shortly thereafter, a deal was struck for an Everyman title, and Campbell has a trip planned for Tashkent.

The fair also provided publishers with moments to reflect on their role in the international marketplace while sitting, quite literally, in the middle of it. HarperCollins was preparing to host party at its booth on Thursday evening to celebrate its international business, which was launched following the acquisition of Harlequin in 2014.