Two “Gringas” in Guadalajara: Exploration, Revelations & Rediscovery at the Spanish-Speaking World’s Largest Book Fair
*From Special Guest Contributor Merin McDivitt
When Allison Olson, DropCap co-founder and rights agent, let me know that she planned to attend this November’s Guadalajara Book Fair, I was thrilled.
I met Allison in my home state of Minnesota months earlier, and as an aspiring nonfiction writer and editor, she kindly agreed to let me pick her brain.
Our outstanding rights agent, Allison, at FIL 2023. This year, the European Union was the “Invitee of Honor,” meaning there was an even larger presence than usual of European publishers and authors.
DropCap Rights Agent Allison shared so many pieces of wisdom gleaned from decades in publishing, but her number one piece of advice?
Go to Guadalajara!
For a Latin America-based professional like me, there was no better place to connect in-person with the complex, diverse world of publishing.
Allison reconnected with old friends and met a new generation of talent at the “Salón de Derechos,” the Rights Center.
Allison herself hadn’t been to the “FIL” (short for “Feria Internacional del Libro) in over a decade, so neither of us were prepared for the spectacular celebration of books this year — their creators, their continued relevance, and the many hardworking individuals that make them possible — that met us from Day 1 in this bustling, modern Mexican city.
One of the many “newsworthy” moments throughout the fair — Spanish-language newspaper El País’s headline reads: “Readers, the protagonists of the 2023 Guadalajara International Book Fair.”
We were warmly welcomed by folks from Planeta, Penguin Random House, and Editorial Revueltas, alongside DropCap partners like Nirvana and Picarona, giving us the opportunity to meet with industry icons and budding leaders alike.
Allison was reminded of her love for this one-of-a-kind fair and the importance of meeting this newer generation of talented publishers in-person. I, meanwhile, giddily arrived at several revelations:
Three surprising things I learned at the Guadalajara Book Fair:
For all that supposed trend-watchers and thought-leaders proclaim that “No one reads books anymore,” the publishing industry in Latin America, Europe, the U.S. and beyond isn’t merely alive — it’s genuinely thriving. I almost teared up when I saw hundreds of schoolchildren, teenagers, even entire families eagerly queuing to explore the fair with excitement, multiple books under their arms. The FIL closed its doors this Sunday with 857,315 attendees over its week-long run: a history-making record for the fair!
It has never been more crucial for publishers, writers, editors, and agents to pay attention to the Spanish-speaking world. There is a vast, growing public of voracious readers enthusiastic about education and foreign books in translation.
The U.S. and European public has become increasingly connected to Latin America, traveling here in greater numbers each year and seeking out books in both English and Spanish. The Spanish-speaking markets in North America have also boomed, yet I had hoped to see a larger U.S. presence. After all, it’s led by visionaries like Allison and long-time organizer David Unger, who recognize and promote the importance of the region, and Mexico in particular, to publishers.
Guadalajara brings together not only publishers from Latin American and Spain, but India, the Middle East, and many other regions.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Allison and I will both be back for the 2024 Guadalajara Book Fair.
Not only does this sprawling fair bring together many of the world’s greatest publishers and writers — it’s also colorful and lively, the most culturally-rich event of the literary community’s year!
I hope to see even more enthusiastic Americans in Guadalajara by the time next November arrives.
