How Do You Get People Interested in Your Books?

By Hannah Johnson

In today’s editorial, Chad Post argues that when it comes to publishing translations in the USA, publishers should not first ask how they can pay for the production costs, but rather how they can get people interested in these translated titles.

So how do you get people interested in the books you publish? What has worked the best in the past, and what will work in the future? I remember stumbling upon a copy of Smilla’s Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg (translated from Danish) in a used bookstore, and I’ve been a great advocate of that book ever since. Publishers, can you somehow facilitate that kind of chance encounter that creates such loyal readers?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

About the Author

Hannah Johnson

Hannah Johnson is the publisher of international book industry magazine Publishing Perspectives, which provides daily information and news about book markets around the world. In addition to building partnerships with international cultural and trade organizations, she works with the Frankfurt Book Fair to organize and support a number of its overseas initiatives. Hannah has also worked as the managing editor for an online media company, The Hooch Life, focused on craft distillers and cocktail experts. Prior to that, she worked as a project manager for the Frankfurt Book Fair’s New York office, managing various business and marketing activities.