First Edition of the French-American Book Market
Books & Ideas
BIEF
By Books & Ideas Department
Villa Albertine and BIEF (the French International Book Office), with the participation of The French Publishers’ Agency and the support of the French Consulate presented their very first French American Book Market in New York, a two-day series of professional exchanges bringing together French and American publishers.
On June 28 and 29 more than 40 French publishers came to New York City to present their best fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, and children’s titles, and discuss best practices with more than 80 American publishers.This celebration of Franco-American publishing brought together more than 120 French and American publishers in a convivial and inspiring atmosphere.
The professional event began with two round-table discussions on highly topical subjects, bringing together French and American speakers, enabling participants to gain a better understanding of the book industry in both countries.
The first roundtable was devoted to the audiobook market in France and the United States. It examined its evolution, subscription management, and issues surrounding artificial intelligence. Presentations were given by three industry experts: Michelle Cobb, executive director of the Audio Publishers Association, Noa Rosen, Local Language Acquisition Editor, RB Media. and Eric Marbeau, Digital Sales Director, Madrigall Group.
The second roundtable explored market trends in France and the US through a discussion between four speakers: Heidi Warneke (Director of Foreign Rights, Grasset), Flore Gurrey (Publisher, Les Arènes), Daniel Simon (Founder and Editor, Seven Stories) and Fred Appel (Publisher, Princeton University Press).
The following day was devoted to meetings between French rights managers and American publishers. These meetings revived, or initiated, exchanges between publishers in both countries, with the aim of encouraging translations from French to English. This enabled American publishers to discover the richness and diversity of French editorial production, and French rights managers to better understand the expectations of their interlocutors.
Spirits have been enriched, horizons broadened, and new friendships forged between book lovers. As we look forward to the next edition, we can only rejoice at the Franco-American literary prospects that lie ahead at Villa Albertine!
In partnership with
Bureau International de l’Edition Française (BIEF)
Le Bureau International de l’Edition Française (BIEF) works to assist French publishers with international development: assisting with the creation of “French” stands at book fairs, organization of professional meetings in France and abroad, in person or on-line, catalog editing, baseline studies on world markets… Its subsidiary French Publishers’ Agency in New York offers English-language rights serves.
Institut français
The Institut français is responsible for France’s international cultural program. Supervised by both the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and by the Ministry of Culture, it promotes French culture abroad through cultural exchange initiatives. Operating in a space where the arts, intellectual exchange, cultural and social innovation, and linguistic partnerships interact and intersect, it is also responsible for promoting the French language and the sharing of works, artists, and ideas all over the world. The Institut français is one of Villa Albertine’s main French partners.
