Click to play videoNew Delhi: India is the Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair this year. And India is very much in the spotlight at the book fair that began on Wednesday.
"Frankfurt is a great venue and with attention on India, excellent platform for publishers to exhibit what they've been working on," says Rupa & Co Publisher Kapish Mehra
Since it is a trade fair, publishers have high expectations, as the emphasis will be on book deals and the sale of rights.
"Not just US/UK, which is a big target but also agents from Korea, Japan, Italy, Spain, etc.," says Harper Collins India CEO P M Sukumar.
Over the last five to six years, global interest has moved beyond just India exotica. So what are the kinds of books publishers are actually taking to showcase at Frankfurt?
"If you have children's books here, nutrition here, Ramayana here, architecture here, a very good indication of foreign buyer's mind - very specific, knows what he wants, knows what is available more than just exotic India," says Kapish Mehra.
Publishers make their choices by trying to gauge the international palate. So, while exotic India is always a good sell, they're also trying to showcase contemporary Indian fiction and non-fiction.
"We try to carry and expose books where we think have a wider initial appeal definitely," says P M Sukumar
It may be a little premature to say that it is the time for India to solidly take center-stage on the global publishing front, but the buzz is definitely around in this year's Frankfurt Book Fair.
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