By Iqbal Hussain
Internationally in Europe, English literature is overtaking translated book sales, leaving international publishers in a precarious position. The focus on English as a language to be taught throughout Europe has meant that often people want English versions ahead of their native tongues.
This has left publishing houses across Europe trying to release books before, or at the same time, as cheaper English versions. Countries struggling include, but are not limited to, the Netherlands and Germany, as discussed at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
This has led to publishers stopping their work with authors, with the largest impact being on UK authors. The reason is simply that European publishers are trying to promote homegrown talent and becoming more particular when choosing what books they publish from UK and US authors. Due to the competitive market, publishers are trying to cash in on the most desirable options only.
The noticeable stand-out genres then include, as always, romance and fantasy, with an increase in horror making waves across the continent. Romance, in particular, was the topic of choice at the Frankfurt Book Fair due to the ever-growing demand for contemporary romance and teen rom-coms.
In addition to discussions over language, there were some other takeaways from this year’s fair. The trend-setting Japanese and Korean fiction genre goes from strength to strength as sales continue to hold across the last year after its recent boom. With some genre crossovers, this genre could also pique the interest of a horror-curious crowd.
For science-fiction fans, there was a lot of focus on new books entering the market, with UK publishers showcasing our local talent for the world of Frankfurt.
One concerning factor that came out, however, was that a lot of publishers are focusing on their current pool of successful writers and fighting less for the next big book. On the one hand, this means popular writers are getting recognition for their work and popularity. On the other hand, it means that we are losing out on potential new successes.
With publishers being more particular in their choice of both local and established authors, this may lead to a trend that could ripple across the world into other markets. Only time will tell, and as 2024 ends, readers and publishers are in for an interesting 2025.