Icelandic Authors and their Works Successful at the Göteburg Book Fair 2018
The writers Áslaug Jónsdóttir, Jón Kalmann Stefánsson, and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir took part this year and discussed their books, ideas, topics and themes.
The Icelandic Literature Centre participated in the Göteborg Book Fair 2018, as it has done in the past years, and planned events with the Icelandic writers in collaboration with the organisers of the Book Fair. Authors Jón Kalman Stefánsson, Áslaug Jónsdóttir, and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir took part this year and their contribution was well received.
Yrsa took part in a lively Q&A with journalist Lotta Olsson on the CrimeTime stage and discussed the success of the crime novel in a peaceful country such as Iceland. She stated that she suspected that the books about Huldar and Freyja will not surpass five installments, like the series on the female detective Þóra. Yrsa's latest book will be published in April 2019 by Harper Collins Nordic, making it her sixth book to be published in Swedish.
Jón Kalman appeared at several events at the Book Fair. He spoke to the translator John Swedenmark about the poet Jón Stefánsson, who later became the novelist Jón Kalman Stefánsson, about poetry as premises for prose and the novel, and the importance of translating poetry. Furthermore, Jón Kalman talked to the Swedish publisher Svante Weyler about his career in general and his latest novel, Saga Ástu. In conversation with Stefan Eklund, the editor of Borås Tidning, Jón Kalman delved into questions on life and the quest for love and acceptance. Most of Jón Kalman's works have been published by Weyler Förlag and are very popular in Sweden.
Áslaug appeared with three other Nordic illustrators in discussion with the reporter Gunilla Kindstrand on distinctive features and characteristics of Scandinavian imagery. Áslaug also talked to the publisher Mona Henning from Dar Al-Muna about the Arabic translations of the Monster series and their value in other cultures outside the Nordic area. Áslaug's books are published in Swedish by Opal.
All the authors' events were well attended and at the end of each one guests used the opportunity to get signed copies of the books.
In addition to organizing the author participation in the Fair's programme, The Icelandic Literature Center keeps a stand in collaboration and with support from Promote Iceland. The stand promotes and sells Icelandic books under the management of the Icelandic Publishers' Association, that strives to have an extensive offer of Icelandic books in Swedish translations as they are very popular with guests. During the four days of the Fair there is a constant stream of people who come out of interest in Icelandic literature, authors, language, and the country and nation in general. The stand was designed by Haf studio.
The Göteborg Book Fair is the largest book fair in the Nordic Countries and it is attended by around 100.000 guests each year.