'Business as usual' for Bologna's return, though Brexit vexes Britons

Bologna Children’s Book Fair got off to a “vibrant” start yesterday, with publishers feeling positive and reporting full schedules for their rights teams, despite Brexit complications and the absence of some international publishers.  

Hachette Children’s Group c.e.o. Hilary Murray-Hill told The Bookseller that she was delighted to be back at the fair in person. “It feels really vibrant already,” she said.

She credited the fair organisers with doing a "stupendous job, considering the circumstances”. Hachette was committed to attending the fair and taking its full stand and rights team, as well as publishers, editors and art directors. Though the rights team’s schedules filled up more slowly than usual in the run-up to Bologna, several contacts deciding to come in at the last minute has meant that they are now as busy as in previous years. “It’s business as usual for us,” said Murray-Hill. 

Erin Murgatroyd, senior rights manager at Nosy Crow, described being back at the fair in person as incredible. She expanded: “Frankfurt was amazing but obviously, the atmosphere was so different. We were one of only three British publishers to exhibit with a stand. Coming back here, it just feels like book fairs are returning. Everyone seems so happy to be here [and] to see books in real life.” Walker Books’ international sales director Caroline Muir echoed this. The return, she said, was “like a breath of fresh air”. It was “really lovely to be able to reconnect with so many of the publishers that we work with”, she added.  

Walker is at the fair with a revamped stand but did not take a full team. Similarly, Nosy Crow has a slightly smaller team to accommodate for the “lack of presence from some territories”. This was exacerbated by the fact that managing director Kate Wilson tested positive for Covid after flying out to the fair and is currently self-isolating. However, her team has reshuffled meetings to plug the gap and an upbeat Murgatroyd said: “Books were lucky that they prevailed and they survived in a pandemic, when people were nervous about the market. They seem to always prevail in crises. It just feels good to be home.” 

Bloomsbury took a “careful” approach to the fair this year, according to group rights director Stephanie Purcell. It took a smaller team and mounted a simpler stand than it usually does but so far the events have exceeded expectations, she said. “All the customers have come, we’ve got full schedules and everyone’s here to buy–all the publishers internationally are really keen to acquire.”  

Though they lamented the absence of publishers from the US and Asia, all the publishers who spoke to The Bookseller said they were continuing to meet virtually with people in those territories, as well as other contacts who could not attend in person. 

Complications arising as a result of the UK no longer being part of the EU was a common complaint among publishers. As Muir put it: “The biggest challenge for us is to do with Brexit and the paperwork that’s required to import the things that you need for the stand.” 

But by and large, the mood was very positive. Purcell said: “Just being at the fair makes such a difference compared to a virtual book fair. It’s really brought back to us how being here and touching the book makes such a huge difference.” Murray-Hill agreed: “Virtual selling has definitely got a place… but there is a general underlying consensus that meeting in person is really, really important.”