This week it’s Bologna again, another fair, and for me, one of the most beautiful.
The atmosphere is hard to explain without falling into clichés, but we’ll try: a mix of constant anticipation and absolute focus. Agents, publishers, scouts, illustrators… all with the feeling that something important could be happening at any table. And the truth is, it usually is: that reunion with editors from all over the world, the same ones we email every day and get to see two or three times a year. That alone makes it worthwhile.
Our goal this year is clear: to open new doors for our authors and strengthen the ones we’ve already begun to unlock in recent months. We come with stories we know can cross borders, with voices that deserve to be heard in other languages, and with projects ready to find their place in new markets.
Over these days, we’ll meet with our clients, who will present their latest titles, with international publishers, we’ll explore trends, listen to what the market is looking for and, above all, defend every manuscript we represent for what it is: a unique opportunity. Because at a fair like this, having great stories is not enough; you need to know how to tell them, position them, and make them shine at exactly the right moment.
The fair works almost like a chessboard in constant motion. Schedules have been fully booked for weeks, but there’s always room for the unexpected: a meeting that wasn’t planned in an unusual place, a recommendation that arrives at just the right time, a conversation that lasts longer than expected because something clicks. And those last-minute surprises.
The fair is also a kind of barometer. Here you can sense where the industry is heading, which themes are beginning to emerge, which formats are gaining ground, and which stories still hold that magnetic power that transcends cultures.
We leave with ideas that are not yet fully formed, potential deals in early stages and, above all, the feeling that the invisible work we do throughout the year starts to take shape here.
When we’re back, we’ll tell you everything. Because there’s news coming. Quite a lot of it. And none of it small. So stay tuned for our upcoming newsletters. And we’re attaching the catalogues again for those who haven’t had time to look through them yet. They’re well worth your attention: our selection is meticulous, and there’s something for everyone.
SB Catalogue YA & Children —Download
Highlights — Download
New Book News — Download
