Thinking Literature in Translation brought together publishers and cultural professionals specialising in children’s and young adult literature to examine the specific dynamics of this segment within European translation markets.
The panel Publishing and Marketing Children’s and YA Literature in Translation explored current trends in children’s and YA publishing across Europe and discussed how these trends had differed from those shaping adult literary markets. The speakers examined how publishers had selected foreign titles for their catalogues, what factors had contributed to the success of children’s and YA books in translation, and how funding structures had influenced publishing decisions.
The discussion also addressed how marketing strategies for children’s and YA literature had differed from those targeting adult readers, with particular attention to the role of authors and illustrators in promotion, audience engagement, and international outreach. Broader reflections touched on long-term trends, funding opportunities, and the challenges of promoting translated children’s and YA books across linguistic and cultural contexts.
Speakers:
— Biljana Crvenkovska, Chudna Shuma Publishing House (North Macedonia)
— Ivan Fedechko, The Old Lion (Ukraine)
— Zornitsa Hristova, Tochitza (Bulgaria)
Moderator:
— Desislava Alexieva (Bulgaria)
Video: Ivan Nikolov
The conference was organised by the Next Page Foundation in partnership with the Cultural Center of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, the Department of English and American Studies at Sofia University, and the Bulgarian Book Association. It formed part of ThinkPub — Thinking Publishing, a project co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union and the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria.
