Members of the MSc in International Publishing Management recently attended the Frankfurt Book Fair. Shaofang Tian reports on her visit:

Before, when I mentioned the name Romy Schneider, I would think of the movie Princess Sissi. But now, I will also think of the related novel. This change has happened since I started my studies in Stirling. It is very good that I had the chance to go to the movie’s home country to attend a book fair.

On 14 October, I arrived in Frankfurt to attend the 60th Frankfurt Book Fair with my classmates. The Frankfurt Book Fair is a meeting place for the publishing industry’s experts, like publishers, booksellers, agents, film producers or authors. Each year in October, they all come together and create something new. This time, China is the Guest of Honour, so I am very proud of it.

Because the Guest of Honour delegation involved more than 800 people, including 500 representatives from the publishing industry, I met many compatriots at the Fair. I spoke with them and receive some useful information. I attended two seminars about digital development in China. The High-Level Education Press contracted with Cambridge University Press to establish a digital database. It’s completely a good piece of news.

I also visited other countries’ stands. In London Book Fair in May, I met the publishing companies Random House, HarperCollins, and Hachette which were mentioned at class, and this time I met them again. I took a photo of “Penguin” – it’s not an animal! I talked with a publisher from America about tie-in books. When they heard that I have worked for five years in the movie industry, they were very happy because they want to exploit their business in China. We exchanged the contacts and hope to communicate further.

Besides books, there were performances of Chinese culture, like the Beijing Opera. I also watched a Germanic movie with my classmates.

This trip is an unforgettable experience to me. I hope I will attend Frankfurt Book Fair again in the future.