London Book Fair director Jacks Thomas opens the 2019 International Excellence Awards. Image: Porter Anderson
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
‘An Inherently International Industry’
Organizers of the London Book Fair International Excellence Awards today (February 10) say that the 29 nations represented in the shortlist being announced today is a record.
And these awards—in which the UK’s Publishers Association annually serves as partner—may be of particular significance this year, based as they are in a United Kingdom that less than two weeks ago, on January 31, began transitioning out of the European Union. Many in the UK book business look anything but comfortable about Brexit’s long-coming reality. You see this, of course, in such efforts as the European “Friendship Tour” mounted recently by author’s Ken Follett, Jojo Moyes, Lee Child, and Kate Mosse.
According to the Publishers Association, the British book industry has in the past depended on international exports for more than half its sales revenue. Another way to put this is to say that for decades, the UK industry has developed as one that publishes far, far more books than its own population can buy or read. Not for nothing is the association’s “Export Toolkit” the largest feature on its homepage at the moment. The situation is serious. The emphasis is absolutely justified.
Thus it is that any form of outreach beyond the sceptered isles takes on very logically heightened meaning this year, and many elements of London Book Fair (March 10 to 12) can be expected to reflect this.
Since the awards began, publishing figures, programs, and companies in at least 50 international markets have been highlighted by the awards program.
This year, the markets of Colombia, Croatia, Mozambique, Uganda, and Yemen are shortlisted for the first time. Major markets with multiple shortlistings include the United States (five shortlisted nominations); India (three); Egypt (three); Canada (two); Germany (two); and New Zealand (two).
In the Bookstore of the Year category, annually supported by a sponsorship from Gardners, there are retailers from Estonia, New Zealand, and Yemen represented.
And Ahmed Al Ameri’s Sharjah Book Authority—overseeing the emirate Sharjah’s year as London Book Fair’s Market Focus at the fair, announced last April—is sponsoring the Rights Professional of the Year award, with nominees including Finland’s Tuomas Sorjamaa of Ferly, Israel’s Stephanie Barrouillet of SB Rights Agency, and Mexico’s Gabriel Nieto of Planeta.
There are, in fact, two specific Market Focus Sharjah awards included, one for an adult trade award and one in children’s, YA, and educational publishing.
Jacks Thomas
And in her prepared statement for news media on the release of the shortlist, the fair’s director Jacks Thomas is quoted speaking about the “global book industry,” the “global village,” “global excellence,” and impact “across the globe.” Clearly, the perfectly understandable concern coursing through the UK’s industry is acute at this point—how could it be otherwise?—and that makes this a time for the internationalist stance of this fair and its awards program to be spotlighted.
“This record number of countries shortlisted for the seventh London Book Fair International Excellence Awards,” Thomas says, “really does shout that the global book industry continues to thrive through innovation, inspiration, and sheer hard work across the globe. The awards capture the passion that underpins the commitment of those working in this global village to share the power of books.
“The geographic range entering cements these awards as the pivotal event celebrating global excellence in the publishing industry. It’s wonderful to give all shortlistees the international platform at the Book Fair to showcase their success. We look forward to welcoming this great line-up in March and wish everyone the best of luck.”
Stephen Lotinga
Thomas is backed up by Publishers Association CEO Stephen Lotinga, whose comment refers to publishing as “an inherently international industry.”
He’s quoted, saying, “It’s a real pleasure to see the variety and quality of the shortlists this year.
“Publishing is an inherently international industry and these awards celebrate those around the world who champion reading and learning. Congratulations to all those shortlisted and we very much look forward to celebrating these awards at The London Book Fair in March.”
Reflective of its world-leading stress on diversity and inclusivity, the Publishers Association is the sponsor of the Inclusivity in Publishing Award, too.
International Excellence Awards Shortlist 2020
At the 2019 International Excellence Awards, the London Book Fair looks back at members of the industry lost during the year. Image: Porter Anderson
The Academic and Professional Publisher Award
- Brookings Institution Press (USA)
- Princeton University Press (USA)
The Audiobook Publisher of the Year
- Karadi Tales (India)
- Penguin Random House (USA)
The Bookstore of the Year Award, sponsored by Gardners
- Rahva Raamat AS (Estonia)
- Unity Books (New Zealand)
- Yemen Bookstore (Yemen)
The Educational Initiatives Award
- Book Aid International (UK / Kenya)
- Karadi Path Education Company (India)
- World Literacy Foundation (UK / Uganda and Colombia)
The Educational Learning Resources Award, supported by The China Publishing & Media Journal
- Apicula Verlag, GMbH (Germany)
- Caramel Tree (Canada)
- Karadi Path Education Company (India)
The Library of the Year Award
- City of Johannesburg Libraries (South Africa)
- Maadi Public Library (Egypt)
- Shanghai Library (China)
The Literary Translation Initiative Award
- Gecko Press (New Zealand)
- SM Traducoes (Mozambique)
- Yiddish Book Centre (USA)
The Literary Agent Award
- Elina Ahlback – Elina Ahlback Literary Agency LTd (Finland)
- Maria Lynch – Casanovas & Lynch Literary Agency (Spain)
- Yasmina Jraissati – RAYA The Agency for Arabic Literature (France)
The Literary Festival Award
- Festival of World Literature (Croatia)
- Frankfurt liest ein Buch (Germany)
- Macassar international Writers’ Festival (Indonesia)
The Rights Professional Award, sponsored by Sharjah Book Authority
- Gabriel Nieto, Planeta (Mexico)
- Stephanie Barrouillet, SB Rights Agency (Israel)
- Tuomas Sorjamaa, Ferly (Finland)
The Market Focus Sharjah Adult Trade Award
- Arab Scientific Publishers (Egypt)
- Dar Al Adab (Lebanon)
- Kalimat (UAE)
The Market Focus Sharjah Children’s, Young Adult and Education Award
- ABC Publishers (Jordan)
- ABC Publishers (Jordan)
- Kalimat (A Kalimat Group Company) (UAE)
Eligible for entries from all countries, including the UK
Accessible Books Consortium International Excellence Award: Publisher
- Ediciones Godot (Argentina)
- House of Anansi Press (Canada)
- Macmillan Learning (USA)
Accessible Books Consortium International Excellence Award: Initiative
- EIFL – Electronic Information for Libraries (Lithuania)
- Fondazione LIA (Italy)
- Kalimat Foundation for Children Empowerment (UAE)
Inclusivity in Publishing Award, supported by the Publishers Association
- Bonnier
- Hachette
- Springer Nature
Eligible for entries from the UK only
The winners of the 2020 International Excellence Awards will be named in the annual invitation-only program on March 10 at 6 p.m. at Olympia London. In addition to these awards, the event is to include the Simon Master’s Chairman Award, the Association for Publishing Education Student Awards, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
More from Publishing Perspectives on the London Book Fair is here, more from us on the International Excellence Awards is here, and more on publishing and book awards is here.