Frankfurt: A book signing event was held Saturday at the 77th Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany for four Taiwanese authors, drawing international readers eager to explore Taiwanese literature. The event took place at the Taiwan pavilion and featured crime novelist Katniss Hsiao, fiction writer Kevin Chen, BL (Boys' Love) writer Shi Wu, and manga artist Nownow.
According to Focus Taiwan, one of the attendees, a prominent figure in the Thai publishing industry, expressed his admiration for Shi Wu's work, having read all her novels. Teerapat Charoensuk, secretary general of the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT) and founder of Palo Publishing company, described her books as "very charming," with fantasy and paranormal themes depicting relationships between humans and the supernatural.
Karin Betz, a German translator of Katniss Hsiao's crime novel "Before We Were Monsters," highlighted the potential of literature as "strong soft power," suggesting that it opens pathways for readers to develop an interest in Taiwan. Through vivid descriptions of Taiwanese scenes, like the streets of Taipei or local cuisine, readers can gain insights into Taiwan in a manner that is more engaging than traditional guidebooks.
Betz noted that Taiwan remains "an unknown island to most Germans," with a scarcity of German translations of Taiwanese literature. She expressed her commitment to changing this by focusing on translating Taiwanese works in the coming years. Meanwhile, fiction writer Kevin Chen shared with CNA the challenges faced by authors in today's book market, where pushing sales has become increasingly difficult.
Chen expressed the emotional impact of meeting readers at such events, stating that sincere acknowledgment from readers serves as motivation, akin to taking a vitamin.
According to the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, approximately 85 percent of newly published books in Germany in 2024 were in German, with only 15 percent being translated titles. Of those translated, around 70 percent were originally in English, while a mere 3 percent were in an Asian language.
The 77th Frankfurt Book Fair, held from October 15-19 in Germany, showcases over 1,000 authors and publishers from 92 countries, according to organizers.