• The ECC Questionnaire

Bologna Questionnaire | March 26, 2014

The 51st Bologna Children’s Book Fair will be held on Monday, March 24 through Thursday, March 27. As children’s publishers from around the world are preparing to travel to Italy, we caught up with Lori Benton, VP & group publisher at Scholastic, to learn more about the fair. She’s been to Bologna at least fifteen times over the course of her career.

For those of us who aren’t familiar with what happens at Bologna, can you describe the setting?

As the only International Rights Fair that is focused solely on children’s books, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair is very much like a family reunion. Once a year we all come together to share our publishing lists and to get an overview of what’s going on in the global marketplace. When you first enter the fair, you immediately feel the buzz. Every year, one country is selected as a guest of honor and is showcased in a large gallery. This year’s guest of honor is Brazil and I’m looking forward to seeing their exhibit. 

                  

Is it at all similar to BEA or any of the book expos we might have attended here in the US?

At BEA it’s easy to walk the halls and browse the booths. Bologna is a rights fair, so the stands are organized differently and are appointment-driven. Most attendees fill their schedules with thirty-minute appointments from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. every day. It’s a bit like speed-dating, but with books! You really see how our business transcends borders, and you also form friendships with colleagues and counterparts from around the world. It’s exhausting and energizing at the same time!

 

What do these 30 minute meetings with different publishers look like?

Most of my appointments are to buy, but there is a bit of selling that happens also. The meetings have to be very focused, since you have such a short period of time. Most conversations start with a quick overview about what’s going on in the market. Then we look through their catalog together. They give me a topline of what they’re working on, skipping over things that won’t fit our list and focusing on the things I’m interested in. If they are savvy, they’ve already targeted titles that will fit our list. And you’re always hoping to discover something new and surprising. 

 

Do you commit to buy right there at the stand?

If something gets really hot, it can get bought right away, but it’s more common for follow-up to happen after the fair is over. When I come home, the samples start arriving: either manuscripts in my inbox or finished copies in the mail.   

  

Have you ever experienced the fair from the opposite perspective?

I had the opportunity to sell with our foreign rights team last year, and it was loads of fun and very informative. We even got into a very exciting auction situation for Spirit Animals, one of our big multiplatform properties. And this year, I’m especially excited about our Maggie Stiefvater publishing, including new jacket treatments for the Shiver trilogy. 

What are you looking for most this year?

I am always looking for good storytelling, new formats, emerging technologies, and inspiration.