Brazilian Writers at the London Book Fair

30 Apr, 2013

VERSION IN ENGLISH/ VERSÃO EM PORTUGUÊS LOGO ABAIXO
Translation by Harriet Batey

Culturart was at the International Book Fair in April this year. Over three days, books from all over the world were on show, including some Brazilian titles. As the fair focuses particularly on the editorial industry, it enables authors and editors to discuss sales, trading rights and sales beyond content distribution.
In the middle of the numerous aisles within the huge exhibition centre we found the Brazilian Section, where we could see four shelves displaying more than 50 books, and had the opportunity to chat with two Brazilian authors who both live in London.

A children’s author and volunteer at Abrir (educational organisation which supports teachers and parents in London) spoke about the reception of her two books and the difficulty which still exists in finding support. Sylvia Roesch spoke about her experience of being at the International Book Fair and about her children’s books, which all are themed around ecology. “I saw an amazing bug in the backyard”(“ Vi um bicho genial no fundo do quintal”) and “The mystery of the scratched table” (“O mistério da mesa arranhada”) have had an amazing reception, first having been launched in São Paulo state, to be in schools this year and next, perhaps being adopted by municipal schools in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.
She told us as well that she does readings in schools both here and in Brazil, including bilingual schools which we know need financial and institutional support such as (Breacc, Meu pequeno Jesus, Clube dos brasileiros) and also in London libraries, where she delivers readings along with a translator. “The kids really enjoy it. They want to learn more, including the creative part; how to write a book, where did the idea of the parrot character come from and how I created the story. The reception has been great”, says the author.

She confesses that she doesn’t know how the choices for the Brazilian Section were made, and because of this she put her books in another section “in the hope that an editor will come and want to buy the book rights and publish it in other countries. This fair is not a book sale, it is to sell publishing rights and not for sales; so I was a little disappointed. However, a little later I found a really interesting group inside the fair, which gave me advice on how to publish my book independently. Everybody was really enthusiastic. I spoke with Amazon, they print according to demand, that’s to say they print, distribute and sell all the books. The author recieves 60% an they keep 40%. It’s another options for authors”.

Bibiano Rocha, a mineiro, told how important it was to take part in the fair and special being the only author present. The author of “Zé Fucim”, launched in 2009, said that he relates the fight for survival in a foreign country to a fight for justice, which is carried out by the brave little mongrel dog Zé Fucim – the main character of his children’s book. When asked “Why Zé Fucim?”, the mineiro said “it is both a name and an acronym which stands for “United Forces Against Global Injustice” (“Forças Unidas contra as Injustiças do Mundo”), where the noble values of loyalty, love and companionship are redeemed”.

Bibiano’s chosen storyline in his second book shows the strength of mobilisation and the importance of respect and freedom. The book is already found in various Brazilian schools; recently he visited the Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School in London, to help support Brazilian culture. For more information on the book, visit his website www.zefucim.com.br

HOW CAN YOU SIGN UP?
For all authors interested in taking part in next year’s fair (2014). The website for the Chamber for Brazilian Literature (CBL, www.cbl.org.br), the organisation responsible for Brazilian editors at the fair, will state when to apply and explain how to send books. You don’t pay for the space but share shipping costs.
For more information, contact brazilianpublishers3@cbl.org.br
Learn more about the books and authors included in this article:
www.zefucim.com
www.sylviaroesch.com

ESCRITORES BRASILEIROS @ THE BOOK FAIR LONDON

O Culturart esteve presente na Feira Internacional “The Book Fair London” no mês de Abril. Foram 3 dias de exibição de livros de várias partes do mundo, inclusive brasileiros. O foco do evento é a indústria editoral, e possibilita aos autores e editoras discutirem a venda, a negociação de direitos, além da distribuição de conteúdo.
Com a câmera na mão, em meio a tantos corredores no enorme galpão, encontramos a Brazilian Section, onde pudemos ver quatro prateleiras com mais de 50 livros expostos, e conversar com dois autores brasileiros, ambos residentes em Londres.

A escritora de livro infantil e voluntária na ABRIR (Organização Educacional que apoia professores e pais em Londres) Sylvia Roech falou da recepção de seus dois livros e da dificuldade que existe para se conseguir apoio na publicação.
Sylvia contou-nos acerca da experiência de estar na Feira Internacional Book Fair e falou que seus livros infantis, ambos de tema ecológico (“Vi um bicho genial no fundo do quintal” & “O mistério da mesa arranhada”) têm tido uma ótima recepção, sendo que o primeiro foi adotado no estado de SP para estar nas escolas e, o segundo, com possibilidade de ser adotado na escola municipal de Belo Horizonte, MG.
A autora atentou ao fato de que tanto no Brasil quanto aqui, ela faz um trabalho de leituras nas escolas, inclusive nas escolinhas bilíngues, que necessitam de constante apoio financeiro e institucional (como o Breacc, Meu pequeno Jesus, Clube dos brasileiros), e também nas bibliotecas em Londres, onde faz a leitura acompanhada por uma tradutora. “As crianças gostam, querem saber, inclusive, sobre a parte criativa, como se faz um livro, de onde tive a idéia do papagaio e como criei a história. A recepção é muito boa” diz a autora.

Sylvia confessa ainda que não sabe como foi feita a escolha dos autores na Brazilian Section, e, por isso, colocou seus livros em outra banca paga “na esperança de que alguma editora viesse e quisesse comprar os direitos e publicar em outros países”. Mas de acordo com ela, a feira tinha como intenção a venda de direitos autorais e não a compra por parte de editoras, o que lhe deixou “desapontada”. Porém, ela encontrou um grupo muito interessante, dando dicas aos autores de como publicar seu livro de forma independente. “Todos ficaram muito entusiasmados. Falei com a Amazon e eles imprimem de acordo com a demanda, quer dizer, eles imprimem e distribuem, e da venda do livro, o autor recebe 60% e eles ficam com 40%. É uma outra opção para o autor.”explica Sylvia.