Cecilia Brainard's Travel Report of Frankfurt Book Fair 2023 #FBM24

 

l-r: Hope Sabanpan-Yu (Cebuano Studies Center), Senja Pozar (literary agent), Cecilia Brainard, Prashant Pathak (PublishersvWithout Borders)

Travel Report of Frankfurt Book Fair 2024 (Oct 15-21)

By Cecilia Manguerra Brainard 

Tues. October 15, 2024 – I arrived Frankfurt at 10:45 am and by 3 pm was at the Philippine National stand to join the other delegates attending the 5 pm Opening Ceremony of the 76^th Frankfurt Buchmesse with Italy as Guest of Honor. (The Philippines will be the Guest of Honor in 2025.)

Entrance was strict, with an invitation pass and ID required to get in. The 2 and ½ hour event had three or four terrific speeches. Most touched on the importance of books during these dangerous times of threatening autocracy.

There was a bit of drama when 2 people stood up, one yelled at the Italian speaker, and 4 people walked out. Apparently this was politically-motivated. Last year's outburst was reportedly worse.

 

l-r: Consul Mary Luck Hicarte, Cecilia Brainard, Consul Mina Ganzon

l-r: Anthony Balisi (Director NBDB), Consul Hicarte holding Linda Ty-Casper's book about her husband Leonard Ralph Casper; Cecilia 

 

Wed. 16, 2024 – Day 1 of the Frankfurt Book Fair

After checking in at the National Stand, I met Consultant Barbel Becker. Not too long after, at 10 am , I had a meeting with German literary consultant Petra Hardt. Barbel Becker joined and I enjoyed listening to them bat around ideas on how to market my books in Europe. Petra Hardt noted she would share ideas with my literary agent Senja Pozar. 

l-r: Cecilia Brainard, Barbel Becker, Petra Hardt 

On the first day, there were a lot of greetings among the delegates who knew one another; there were a lot of introductions as well. I touched base with Charisse Aquino Tugade, Tuni Balisi, Kristian Cordero, Hope Sabanpan-Yu, Ester Tapia, Mara Coson, Ned Parfan, Sarge and Mookie Lacuesta, and so many others.

 

l-r: Karina Bolasco, Ambeth Ocampo, Hope Sabanpan-Yu, Cecilia Brainard 

 

l-r: Hope Sabanpan-Yu, Mara Coson, Cecilia Brainard, Ester Tapia

l-r: Charisse Aquino Tugade (Executive Director of NBDB).and Cecilia Brainard 

I met Patricia Evangelista (author of Some People Need Killing), who is a Theresian alumna like me, and who politely declined when I invited her to write a blurb for an upcoming food book I’m working on –“I’m the wrong person to ask,” she said. “I don’t cook. I don’t even know how to boil an egg."

4 pm – I attended the talk at Asia Stage, that included panelists Prashant Pathak, Mara Coson, and Segundo Mathias Jr, with Dean Ang as moderator.

I also attended a talk by Ambeth Ocampo and Butch Dalisay about Jose Rizal, moderated by Sarge Lacuesta.

 

There was a 5 p.m. Happy Hour at the Comics Business Center, and dinner with a group of delegates at Hanako in Skyline, l-r: Nida Ramirez, Ani Almario, Karina Bolasco, Neni Sta Romana Cruz, Jaya Jacobo, Cecilia Brainard, Kristian Cordero, Fr. Wilmer Tria.

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Thurs, Oct. 17, 2024 – Day 2

All this time Frankfurt was chilly at around 61-54 degrees F, but it was colder that Thursday. I know because I had to figure out how to stay warm in my kimono top, a problem solved by a tan-colored stretchy top worn underneath the Filipina top.) The Philippine Press Conference was held at 10 am. There was more bonding with other delegates and associates. 

The Philippines had a great presentation, in particular I appreciated Karina Bolasco’s talk and the short video on the Philippine 2025 theme of: The Imagination Peoples the Air. Photo below was taken at the press conference (it is not the official NBDB photo)

I was personally touched when, after the press conference, Angelica Abaya van Doorn found me and introduced herself, saying she traveled from Switzerland (?) to attend the book fair, and she held out a copy of a book I edited, Growing Up Filipino so I could sign it.

Later that morning, Andrea Pasion-Flores gave me a copy of Kannika Claudine Pena’s novel All the Lonely People (Milflores). I know Kannika because two of her stories are part of the anthologies (Growing Up Filipino 1 and 3), which I collected and edited. I was happy to receive her novel and look forward to reading it.

L-r; Cecilia Brainard, Ned Parfan, Butch Dalisay, Beng Dalisay, photo courtesy of NBDB 

The Philippine Reception was at 5 pm and the Philippine National Stand was packed. I met my literary agent, Senja Pozar for the first time. She, Barbel, and Barbel’s sister greeted one another. I introduced Mara Coson, Ned Parfan, Hope Sabanpan Yu and others to Senja. Prashant Pathak, of Publishers Without Borders also stopped by, and later, he and Senja took off for the Publishers Without Borders reception.

l-r: Cecilia Brainard, Senja Pozar, Zala Stanonik, Mara Coson 

 

Above photo courtesy of NBDB 

 

l-r: Ned Parfan, Senja Pozar, Zala Stanonik, Cecilia Brainard, Mara Coson

Fri, Oct 18, 2024 – Day 3

Events were moving so fast; energy so high.

At 9:30 am I was at the Slovenian Stand 94.1 C38) for a meeting with Petra Hardt, Senja Pozar, and Dimitris Tsoukatos (publisher of Lemvos Editions who acquired Greek translation rights of Magdalena). Zala Stanonik, publisher of Pivec was also there.

 

l-r: Petra Hardt, Dimitris Tsoukatos, Cecilia Brainard, Senja Pozar, Zala Stanonik

l-r: Petra Hardt, Dimistris Tsoukatos

After that meeting, I brought Dimitris to the Philippine Stand where he met NBDB Maria Christina Pangan. They discussed the Translation Subsidy for foreign publishers of Philippine books.

At 11 am I had a meeting with LitProm’s Marcella Melien, and she presented me with a copy of their catalogue, Moderne Literatur Aus Den Philippinen 2024, which includes my novel The Newspaper Widow. Marcella explained the stringent vetting process that a title undergoes to be included in their catalogue, and emphasized their catalogue includes only 20 titles.

At 1 pm I had a meeting with Robert Morgan publisher of Canada's Bookland Press. He expressed interest in translating my novel Magdalena into French.  He has since arranged with my agent the acquisition of translation rights in French of my novel, and he added, "I believe this would be the  first book from the Philippines published in Canada in French."

At around 2 pm – The Harald Krichel Team photography took formal pictures of me and Renato Tranquilino for Wikipedia Germany. There were some light moments with these men. 

3 pm – I had a meeting with Dr. Menorca Chaturverdi who wanted to learn more about getting her poetry published in book form.

 

At some point UK-based writer Gene Alcantara also visited with me.

4 pm – I attended the Asia Stage talk on Young and Indie Publishers in Asia with Michael Balili, Nic Yeo, Yasmin Arquiza, Prashant Pathak, moderated by Sarge Lacuesta.

And in case I wasn’t busy enough, there was the Philippine Embassy reception on board a tram at 7 pm, where Neni Sta Romana Cruz and I dared dance to the twist and other oldies music on a moving tram. Photo courtesy of Neni shows l-r: Neni, Karina Bolasco, Cecilia. 

Sat Oct 19, 2024 – Day 4 – the FBM was now open to the general public and the place teemed with another crowd -- younger,  more giddy. Some of the publishers and agents who attended the first 3 trade days had fled the fair.

A cold day. Since I did not have formal meetings, I visited the Philippine Academic Stand, and talked to Arvin Sia, Gina Soriano, and Edna Santos. I also visited the Comics Stand, and had an informative talk with Aria and Faye Chelabian. 

Photos below show Komiket Paolo Herra, Aria and Faye Chelabian, Arvin, Cecilia, Edna, and Gina.  

 

That day I also had several meetings with Hope Sabanpan-Yu to discuss starting up an Indie Press in Cebu. We also met with Anthony Balisi to inquire about funding possibilities.

Sun Oct 20 – Day 5

11 am meeting with Yasmin Arquiza of Pawikan Press, Hope Sabanpan-Yu to discuss further the proposed Indie Press in Cebu. 

 

L-r: Yasmin Arquiza, Cecilia Brainard, Hope Sabanpan-Yu 

L-r: Mina Ganzon, Kris Porio, Mary Luck Hicarte, Hope, Yasmin

1 pm – I was part of a panel discussion Can Fiction Change the World, with Eliza Victoria, Khavn de la Cruz, RM Topacio Aplaon, moderated by Kristian Cordero. Kristian was late for around 10 minutes, but Eliza stepped in as moderator, and all went well.

 l-r: Eliza Victoria, Khavn de la Cruz, Cecilia Brainard, RM Topacio Aplaon

L-r: Khavn de la Cruz, Eliza Victoria, RK Topacio Aplaon, Dominator Buhain, Cecilia Brainard, Kristian Cordero, Guest

3 pm – Delegates gathered for the Handover ceremony from Italy to the Philippines. This happened in the beautiful Italian pavilion, with little shiny lights on the ceiling, like stars. The  talks, music, and performances were great. Our Madrigals singers enchanted the Italians in the audience with their rendition of "Volare." I could see the Italians singing along and smiling.

Photo below shows the Philippine delegates and those at the Handover event.  Next year, the number of delegates will double because the Philippines is Guest of Honor for 2025 (GOH25).

 

Afterwards, I had a farewell dinner with Hope Sabanpan-Yu and Julius Relampagos (University of San Carlos Press).

 

L-r: Hope, Julius, Cecilia 

Mon, Oct 21- Day 6

9: 45 am I checked out, got an Uber and was at the FRA airport to catch a 1:35 flight out of Frankfurt.

And thus ended the FBM24, though not really because the memories, contacts, and business spinoffs remain.

Read also: https://cbrainard.blogspot.com/2024/10/frankfurt-book-fair-2024-philippine.html

 All photos are mine unless indicated.

MORE photos below:

 

l-r: Cecilia Brainard, Hope Sabanpan-Yu, Ester Tapia, Neni Sta. Romana Cruz

  

Lively moment with l-r: Yasmin Arquiza of Pawikan, Beng Dalisay, Cecilia Brainard, and Demi Dalisay

 

Another lively moment with l-r: Sarge Lacuesta, Cecilia Brainard, Mara Coson (Exploding Galaxies) and Mookie Lacuesta

l-r: Mookie Lacuesta, Sarge Lacuesta, Cecilia Brainard, Mara Coson, Anthony Balisi

 

l-r: Ester Tapia, Charisse Aquino Tugade, Cecilia Brainard, Hope Sabanpan-Yu

 

The Visayan group, L-r: Kris Porio from Komiket, Jerrold Madridano, Susanne Rexrodt-Madridiano, Hope Sabanpan-Yu , Julius Relampagos; Front row, l-r: Cecilia Brainard, Guest

Here are more FBM photos so folks can feel free to grab them.

Hope and Cecilia with Resil Mojares' book.

Tags: FMB Frankfurt book Fair 2024 Frankfurt Buchmesse