TRANSLATION: Top Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Book Fair
We’re in book fair season and it’s as exhilarating and exhausting a time for literary translators as it is for authors, illustrators, and other publishing professionals. Every year, there are special events and networking opportunities for translators at the Literary Translation Centre at LBF, and at the Translators’ Cafe at Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
But what are these fairs actually like to attend, and what tips do children’s book translators have for book-fair newbies? I caught up with literary translators Sophie Lewis, Mia Spangenberg and Josephine Murray after LBF, and with Cynthia Wildridge who’s getting ready for Bologna.
Ruth: What were the highlights for you at LBF?
Sophie: The Poetry Translation Centre's 45-minute discussion on bridge translation was genuinely exploratory and productive, even though it could easily have run for at least another half hour. It was great to see and be part of an occasion that wasn't just interesting but actually fed the decision-making and discourse around the PTC and all sorts of other translation collaboration conditions.
I enjoyed walking past the Authors' Tent and finding Jamie Smart, creator of Bunny vs Monkey, speaking (while drawing live on a big screen) alongside his publisher about comic strip audiences and many other things. It was the first time I thought there were things my daughter might actually enjoy about LBF. There was also a genuine and serious focus on children as readers and how to work with and for them.
The rest of my highlights were unscheduled encounters, at least twice in the queues outside the English PEN and LTC rooms - I found wonderful and unexpected people there.
Josephine: The talks at the Literary Translation Centre (LTC). I attended a panel discussion about specialist networks, with representatives from different networks. I belong to a few specialist networks, such as ETN (Emerging Translators Network), but the discussion really inspired me to participate a bit more actively, and got me thinking about what more can be done within these networks, and what more I could offer as a member. Things like mentoring, and face-to-face translation workshops. It also inspired me to think about working with fellow translators to set up a new specialist network.
It was great to hang around LTC because I bumped into other translators with whom I'm in contact online. LBF is an opportunity to meet people in real life. Just informal chats about portfolio careers, tips about LBF and continuing conversations which previously started online. For me it's a bit like a film set, seeing these great translation celebrities I know from online events in real life. I get a bit over-excited! Ooh, there's Daniel Hahn, and Ros Schwartz!
As a graduate of the UEA MA Literary Translation, and someone who attends talks at the BCLT (British Centre for Literary Translation), there were plenty of familiar faces; Duncan Large and Anna Goode who work at BCLT, lecturers, translators who ran workshops during my course, BCLT translators in residence and other graduates.
LBF provided an opportunity to have a face-to-face meeting with the children's editor I've been working with at HarperCollins. Having a meeting arranged prior to the event gave me more confidence to approach other French language publishers.
Mia: The best thing about LBF was the people - it was wonderful to see and connect with colleagues, some of whom I had only ever seen online. And it was just as wonderful to meet with some of the editors I've worked or will work with. They were encouraging and enthusiastic and reminded me that they are people, too.
I definitely suggest going to a book fair and having a few meetings planned. That way you don't go in feeling like you don't know anyone or that everyone else is busy except you. However, it's also nice to have chance encounters so don't feel shy about tapping someone on the shoulder and saying hello. The open seating area in front of the LTC this year was very conducive for that.
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| London Book Fair, Olympia |
Ruth: Was there anything you found difficult or frustrating?
Sophie: Of course it's a recognition of value that the Literary Translation Centre (LTC) was moved into a room of its own. Among other things, I'm aware that this means counting attendance will provide much stronger data about its programme's popularity. Of course it also meant the speakers were audible.
However, this room was policed with such zeal that people felt unable to move in and out. This meant that many people missed out on attending talks they otherwise might have been able to. It felt unnecessarily and counter-productively exclusive.
Catherine Taylor pointed out on insta that the big banner for the illustrators' space was spelled 'illustrator's', For a book fair, they should spend more on proofreading, including for the 'side' professions.
I hate the greenwashing involved in these huge trade fairs. A poster on the back of the loo door tells me Reed will be carbon neutral by 2050. The timeline is far too long and carbon neutrality is a dodgy concept already, so this is a pathetic claim by a company that still can't be bothered to provide free drinking water. I begrudge them my dollar.
Josephine: The lack of seating! It's so annoying having to sit on the floor. I also wish that LBF would run children's literature and illustration events, as happened in 2022 when I last attended.
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| London Book Fair, Olympia |
Ruth: What would you recommend to (children's/YA) translators attending next year?
Josephine: Eat outside Olympia. I came out of LBF, walked about 5 minutes down Kensington High Street and there was a Tesco express and several chain and independent cafes. No queues, cheaper than LBF and I got a seat.
Take every opportunity to talk to people. I met a fellow French to English translator while queuing for the loo. I also encountered a small publisher looking for a French to English translator for a project whilst queuing for coffee. Take business cards!
Have a good look at the floorplan on arrival and you'll spot things you didn't previously know about. That's how I discovered a great exhibition about a project which mentors children's book illustrators.
Consider attending over two days. It's less tiring and you can really pace yourself and get more out of it than blitzing in one day.
Sophie: This year I brought my own lunch, which meant less queueing and less expense. I will do that again.
I always get lost in there. That's just how it works. You can't make the signs big enough for me. This time there were two entrances to different parts of the IRC so you couldn't even meet 'at the IRC entrance'. That kind of change could do with better flagging.
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| Flyer for two CEATL events at the Translators' Cafe, Bologna Book Fair 2025 |
Ruth: Cynthia, you’re off to Bologna Children's Book Fair in April. What are you doing to prepare? What are you looking forward to most?
Cythia: What I'm looking forward to:
* Attending educational seminars/opportunities.
* Seeing the incredible art that is absolutely everywhere!
* Attending the SCBWI cocktail party!
* Having the opportunity for a 5-minute PB pitch.
* Attending translator events / Translators’ Café.
* Hoping to meet some of the translators whose names I know from our dynamic forum, whom I have yet to meet in person.
* Reconnecting with fellow creatives and meeting new friends and potential collaborators.
* Hoping to meet (in person) some of the SCBWI British Isles members I "met" in last year's Book Launch Boot Camp.
* Being inspired!
* Walking the streets of centuries-old cities, breathing in the history and beauty of every stone and the expanse of marble.
* The food!
* Exchanging with and meeting others from the far corners of our world.
* Learning, and growing as an author, translator, and individual.
How I’m preparing:
* Reading as much as I can about the background of those whose presentations I plan to attend.
* Giving thought to a pitch presentation, ensuring it's the best I can make it.
* Researching the BCBF website to select which of the opportunities I'd like to attend, those I don't want to miss, and researching exhibitors, books, etc.
* Making travel arrangements!
* Looking at last year's BCBF recap to envision what I can anticipate this year (I have only attended once before, in 2018).
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| A panel of speakers at the Translators' Cafe, Bologna Book Fair 2024 |
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| Beautiful sunny Bologna |
Mia Spangenberg is an award-winning translator from Finnish, Swedish, and German into English. Her published translations include works by Finlandia-prize winning authors Mari Manninen and Pirkko Saisio and acclaimed children’s book author and illustrator Marika Maijala. Her translation of Maijala’s latest picture book, A Magician’s Flower, is a tale of friendship and courage and will be published by Elsewhere Editions in July 2025.
Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp is an award-winning British literary translator working from Arabic, Russian and German into English. Her published translations include fiction, nonfiction and children’s books from Germany, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine, Russia, Switzerland and Syria.
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