NEWS&VIEWSBologna Book Fair Special News from the Flemish Literature Fund

Carll Cneut Continues to reinvent himself › find out more on page 2

What does the literature fund do for foreign publishers? › more details on page 3

‘A great deal has happened since we last took Frankfurt by storm’

‘All storytellers know they must avoid harmony if they want to keep things interesting. People are far more intrigued by action and reaction than by harmony. Harmony won’t have us sitting on the edges of our seats.My basic idea for the Netherlands and Flanders as Guest of Honour is the wave, a simple, familiar image, but at the same time rich and sparkling. There’s a great deal more significance to a wave than just a bit of foam. Flanders and the Netherlands are the first countries to take their place as European Guest of Honour for the second time, having first shared that honour in 1993.

Top Flemish author Bart Moeyaert’s mind is already in October 2016, when Flanders and the Netherlands will be guests of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Together with his team he is developing an impressive programme, highlighting not only our literature but all of Dutch-speaking culture. Over to Moeyaert to lift the tip of the veil and reveal a glimpse of his concept.

With that first time in mind, the wave metaphor stayed with me when it occurred to me that the Netherlands and Flanders share not only a language but also the North Sea. A great deal has happened since we last stormed in together.

We might hope that the world has seen the changes in Flanders and the Netherlands since 1993, but we have to ask ourselves whether the world has really taken a proper look. If there’s no need to adjust what you know, you generally don’t. Hence the wave. A wave takes a long time to come into being. It

sweeps along whatever is living, necessary and indispensible – this is a case of directed forces

- but once the wave is in motion, it continues to build strength. I know it then breaks, but I also know for certain that we won’t dwell on the breaking of the wave when it reaches the beach. No, before you know it we will have forgotten the breaking. Instead we will see the tidemark as a beacon. What we remember are the treasures left behind, the discoveries which make beachcombers happy. A tidemark sounds like an end, but it’s really the beginning.’

one of the frankfurt 2016 postCards WhiCh Will be popping up regularly from noW on. © kaatje vermeire

Four Dutch-language titles nominated for Deutscher Jugend-literaturpreis

—Bart Moeyaert, artistic director for Frankfurt 2016 No less than four German translations of Dutch-language children’s books are nominated for the prestigious Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis. Our children’s and youth literature seems to be more than ready to be Frankfurt Book Fair’s guest of honour in 2016! The nominees are ‘Coco of het kleine zwarte jurkje’ (Coco or the Little Black Dress) by Annemarie van Haeringen, translated by Marianne Holberg and published by Freies Geistesleben, ‘Dertien rennende hertjes’ (Thirteen Running Deer) by Edward van de Vendel and Mattias De Leeuw, translated by Rolf Erdorf and published by Gerstenberg; ‘Rosie en Moussa. De brief van papa’ (Rosie and Moussa. The Letter from Dad) by Michael De Cock and Judith Vanistendael, translated by Rolf Erdorf and published by Beltz & Gelberg and ‘Het raadsel van alles wat leeft’ (The Riddle of All Living Things) by Jan Paul Schutten and Floor Rieder, translated by Verena Kiefer and published by Gerstenberg.

postCards announCe guest of honour frankfurt 2016

During the Bologna Book Fair, you can get hold of beautiful postcards with artwork by Sieb Posthuma, Pieter Gaudesaboos and Kaatje Vermeire. These are part of a series to announce that Flanders and the Nether-lands will be guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2016. What’s more, illustrator Kaatje Vermeire is one of the major guests at the Internationales Literaturfestival in Berlin, that takes place in September.

One wave elicits another.

2 3

What does the FLF do for foreign publishers?Carll Cneut continues to excel and reinvent himself The Flemish Literature Fund (FLF) promotes Flemish literature abroad. That means drawing attention to Flemish authors

and their work from as large a foreign audience as possible through translations, trips abroad, stays at writers’ residences and presentations. But what exactly can the FLF do for foreign publishers?

Things are moving fast for Carll Cneut, one of Flanders’ most successful illustrators. The first print run of his latest picture book ‘De Gouden Kooi’ (The Golden Cage) sold out in a month and publishers abroad are also struggling to keep up with demand. His solo exhibition in the Belgian city of Ghent, ‘In My Head’, has also been a massive hit.

… our team

The FLF team travels to the most important international book fairs and literary festivals to meet publishers. The FLF has specialists in every genre to advise foreign publishers on Flemish literature: from the classics to the latest novels, picture books for children and young people, poetry collections, non-fiction, drama and graphic novels.

… our translators

Translators from Dutch enable our literature to travel the world and are an important link between the FLF team and foreign publishers.

… on a seleCtion of high quality

titles

For every big trade book fair or festival the FLF selects a few titles for special attention. Generally there is a fact sheet available, and often also a sample translation, which we commission from a professional translator, sometimes in collaboration with the original publisher.

… through a variety of printed

material

For Bologna, London and Frankfurt book fairs, the FLF produces News & Views, an online and paper newsletter with news on recent translations and prizes, following Flemish authors and FLF projects.

… on our Website and faCebook

Check out the Flemish Literature Fund’s Facebook page or our website for news and views on literature from Flanders, and for the latest information on FLF projects and subsidies: www.flemishliterature.be

For years Carll Cneut has been one of Flanders’ leading illustrators. A recent highlight was his pictures for Peter Verhelst’s ‘Het geheim van de keel van de nachtegaal’ (The Secret of the Nightingale’s Throat), which won several awards and has since been translated into more than ten languages. However, Cneut continues to excel and reinvent himself, succeeding again in his latest book ‘De Gouden Kooi’. The story, written by Anna Castagnoli and translated by Saskia de Coster, is about an emperor’s daughter who collects

In September, in preparation for being Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2016, the Flemish Literature Fund and the Dutch Foundation for Literature welcomed nine German publishers for a five day immersion in Dutch literature for children and young people. Arena Verlag, Bohem Press, Carl Hanser, Cecilie Dressler, Gerstenberg,

=This year Bart Moeyaert was nominated for the fifth time as the Flemish candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. If he wins this ‘Nobel Prize for children’s literature’, he will become the first ever Belgian laureate. Fifth time lucky?

=Illustrator Sebastiaan Van Doninck (Puss in Boots, with Siska Goeminne) ran away with the Picturale prize at home, a biennial prize awarded to established artists in the illustration world who regularly produce innovative work.

=In France Edward van de Vendel and Anton Van Hertbruggen’s magnificent ‘Het hondje dat Nino niet had’ (The Dog Nino Didn’t Have, French title ‘Le chien que Nino n’avait pas’) won the Prix Sorcières, awarded by the French associations for librarians and for children’s bookshops. Van Hertbruggen’s debut is published in France by Didier Jeunesse, in a translation by Marie Hooghe-Stassen. The rights have already been sold for English (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers), German (Bohem Press), Danish (Turbine), Brazilian Portuguese (Pulo do Gato) and Chinese (Hai Yan).

=An English sample translation of ‘We All Want Heaven’ (Allemaal willen we de hemel) by Els Beerten has been selected by Rights People UK to be included in the ‘Found in Translation’ anthology, which highlights six international books that deserve to be translated into English.

=‘Paard met laarzen’ (Horse in Boots) is Jef Aerts’ third novel for children and will be published by Querido at the end of April. This heart-warming adventure story of a girl and her horse in boots is bound to enthrall children ages 10 and up.

=‘Wat zit er in die kist?’ (What’s in the Chest?) by Pieter Gaudesaboos is already translated in Italian (Sinnos), and will shortly also be available in French (La Pastèque).

In briefmeeting

The literary world is a world of people, where meetings are the focal point. The FLF team therefore works with a close network of publishers, in which mutual trust is very important.

grants

The FLF offers various subsidies to foreign publishers wishing to translate and publish literature from Flanders into another language. There are different regulations for each scheme, but one of the most important general criteria is translation quality. A translation makes or breaks a book, which is why the FLF only supports translations by accredited translators from Dutch or after a positive evaluation of a non-accredited translator by our team of translation specialists.

… for translated fiCtion and

nonfiCtion

=Foreign publishers can apply for grants for a maximum of four books by the same author. =The subsidy will amount to up to 60% of the translation costs for the first two books, up to 50% of the translation costs for the third book, and up to 40% of the translation costs for the fourth book by the same author. =In the case of classics, the subsidy will amount to up to 100% of the translation costs for the first two books, up to 75% of the translation costs for the third book, and up to 60% of the translation costs for the fourth book by the same author. =The maximum amount of a translation grant is €8,000.… for illustrated books

=Foreign publishers can apply for grants for a maximum of four books by the same illustra-tor.

information

The FLF is ready to answer all questions about the Flemish literature world, and to give foreign publishers advice on which titles to translate.

We consider their socio-economic position very important, and attempt to help them as far as possible in performing their important task as ambassadors for literature in Dutch abroad. There is a Translators’ House in Antwerp, where two translators stay every month to work on translations of Dutch books, as well as to meet people, from colleagues at the FLF to authors, publishers and academics, to the concierge and the baker around the corner.

… our Culture

Several times a year the FLF organises a publishers tour: over five days we immerse ten or so publishers from all over the world in a particular genre of Flemish literature, offering a varied cultural programme. They not only meet many authors, publishers and other book people, but also get to know Flemish culture and life in Flanders from the inside. flf grants managers travel to book fairs to talk to publishers of all genres.

in every book Carll Cneut Creates a Wondrous World, WhiCh deserves to be disCovered at home and abroad.

the translators’ house in antWerp, a plaCe to Work on translations from dutCh in peaCe and quiet.

birds. Her servants are sent all over the world to look for the most amazing specimens. If they do not return with the right bird, it’s off with their heads. When the girl longs for a speaking bird which cannot be found, one servant comes up with a way of outwitting her. The French, Italian, German and Chinese rights to this masterful book have now been sold and there’s an option for the Spanish and Danish rights. in my head Thanks to ‘In My Head’, the first solo exhibition by and about

Carll Cneut, on show in Ghent until May, the illustrator has now reached a wide Flemish audience. It is a large-scale exhibition which not only opens the doors to his studio and working process but also offers his readers an insight into his personal life and his mind, something previously unheard of for a picture book illustrator in Flanders. This has been an enormous success: so far more than 25,000 people have visited the exhibition, which has been labelled ‘unmissable’ and listed among top exhibitions.

German publishers out and about in Flanders and the Netherlands

Mixtvision, Oetinger, Rowohlt and Seemann-Henschel were present. Against the backdrop of a pleasant cultural programme they met authors, illustrators and publishers, who had the chance to promote their work and publications. The results are already visible in the catalogues of the German participants. opening event at the dfl offiCes.

=The subsidy amounts to up to 100% of the translation costs and up to 15% of the production costs for the first two books. =For the third and the fourth book by the same illustrator, the grant will amount to up to 100% of the translation costs and up to 10% of the production costs. =The maximum amount of a grant for illustrated books is €2,800. … for poetry

=Foreign publishers can apply for subsidies for a maximum of four books by the same author. =The subsidy will amount to up to 100% of the translation costs for the first two books, up to 75% of the translation costs for the third book, and up to 60% of the translation costs for the fourth book by the same author. =Publishers can apply for financial assistance to cover up to 25% of the production costs,

to a maximum of €1,400. … for promotion abroad

=Foreign organisations that invite Flemish authors (writers, translators, illustrators and comic artists) to events abroad, closely linked to their literary activity, can apply for a travel grant that covers or contributes to the author’s travel expenses.=The maximum sum that can be awarded is €500.

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ColophonEditing Els Aerts, Elise Vanoosthuyse, Lien Devos Translation Anna Asbury Design Korneel Detailleur

visit usPlease come and visit us at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (Hall 29, D33-38): we’re part of the collective Flemish stand, coordinated by the Flemish Publishers Association with the support of Flanders Investment and Trade.

grants managersLien Devos—Youth Literature—lien@vfl.beElise Vanoosthuyse—Picture Books—elise@vfl.be

Flemish Literature FundGeneraal van Merlenstraat 302600 Antwerp (Belgium)T 0032 3 270 31 61www.flemishliterature.be

© Flemish Literature Fund—March 2015

illustrated books Anton Van Hertbruggen and Edward van de Vendel Het hondje dat Nino niet had (De Eenhoorn) Carll Cneut and Anna Castagnoli De gouden kooi (De Eenhoorn) Carll Cneut and Peter Verhelst Het geheim van de keel van de nachtegaal (De Eenhoorn) Carll Cneut and Carl Norac O monster, eet me niet op! (De Eenhoorn) Guido Van Genechten Klein wit visje (Clavis) Guido Van Genechten Kleine Kangoeroe (Clavis) Guido Van Genechten Rikki (Clavis) Jan De Kinder Rood (De Eenhoorn) Judith Vanistendael and Michael De Cock Rosie en Moussa. De brief van papa (Querido) Kaatje Vermeire and Leen van den Berg

reCent translations publishedWith flf support

Edward van de Vendel & Anton Van HertbruggenDer Hund, den Nino nicht hatte (Het hondje dat Nino niet had) translated into German by Rolf Erdorf (Bohem Press)

Leen van den Berg & Kaatje Vermeire

Uma pergunta tão delicada (De vraag

van olifant) translated into Portuguese by

Cristiano Zwiesele do Amaral

(Pulo do Gato)

Marita de SterckZakwitajace dziewczeta (Bloei)translated into Polish by Lukasz Zebrowski (WAB Publishing House)

Leo TimmersFoxi úr

(Meneer René)translated into Hungarian by Tibor Bérczes

(General Press)

Jan De Leeuw(Vijftien wilde zomers)translated into Japanese by Yumi Nishimura(Iwanami Shoten)

Bart Moeyaert (De Melkweg) translated into Complex Chinese by Minya Lin (Global Kids Books)

Jan De KinderTomatenrot, oder Mobben macht traurig (Rood, of waarom pesten niet grappig is)translated into German by Monika Götze (Atlantis)

Guido van GenechtenKlein wit vissie (Klein wit visje) translated into Afrikaans by Caren van Houwelingen (Protea Boekhuis)

Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem & Pat

van BeirsGrevens datter

(Jonkvrouw)translated into Norwegian by

Hedda Vormeland (Mangschou)

Stefan Boonen & Tom Schoon-

oogheKiyiya Vuran

Kiz (De vindel-ing van Wam-

merswald)translated

into Turkish by Burak Sengir (Hayykitap)

Indian children read Flemish picture booksIn autumn 2015 Hindi and English translations of ‘Rood’ (Red) by Jan De Kinder, ‘O monster, eet me niet op!’ (Monster don’t eat me!) by Carll Cneut and Carl Norac, and ‘Kleine Kangoeroe’ (Little Kangaroo) by Guido Van Genechten are to be published by A&A Book Trust. This Indian not-for-profit organisation aims to make ‘the most beautiful picture books in the world’ available to all Indian children. The organisation was principally set up to build access to books and information for children and young people in the far flung villages of Uttarakhand in the North of India. Since 2009 A&A Book Trust has published eight translations of Flemish picture books with the support of the FLF, by renowned illustrators such as Guido Van

De vraag van olifant (De Eenhoorn) Leo Timmers Meneer René (Querido) Mattias De Leeuw and Edward van de Vendel Dertien rennende hertjes (De Eenhoorn) Pieter Gaudesaboos Wat zit er in die kist? (Lannoo) Sebastiaan Van Doninck and Siska Goeminne Kat met hoofdletter K (Lannoo) Stefan Boonen and Tom Schoonooghe De vindeling van Wammerswald (Manteau)novels Bart Moeyaert De melkweg (Querido) Jan De Leeuw Vijftien wilde zomers (Davidsfonds) Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem and Pat van Beirs Jonkvrouw (Manteau) Jef Aerts Paard met laarzen (Querido) Marita de Sterck Bloei (Manteau)

978-3-7152-0679-0

Jan De Kinder Tomaten- rot oderMobben macht traurig

Jan

De

Kin

der

T

om

ate

nro

t Es beginnt ganz nebenbei. Tom wird rot. Alle lachen über ihn. Doch aus dem Auslachen wird mehr. Tom wird immer stiller, und der fiese Paul immer lauter. Das ist nicht mehr lustig.

Mobben macht traurig, und es braucht Mut, sich dagegen zu wehren.

Die Kinder dieser Geschichte schaffen das.

www.atlantis-verlag.ch

themathemathemathema

Genechten, Kristien Aertssen, Carll Cneut and An Candaele. Arundhati Deosthale and her husband Arvind Kumar are the driving forces behind this beautiful project to promote reading. Deosthale is a journalist, editor and translator of more than 80 children’s books from different countries into English and Hindi. Deosthale: ‘Rikki in particular has been incredibly popular here. The feedback from children on this book is incredible. For instance Rahul Arya, a grade 4 student, says, ‘Rikki is so brainy, but I want to tell him it’s okay buddy to have a droopy ear!’ and Divya, a grade 3 student, says, ‘I love the pictures. This is the best book in the whole world.’ It is our fondest dream to get author and illustrator Guido Van Genechten over. I have seen him in action before.’

titles in this issue

FlandersState of the Art

‘rikki’ by guido van geneChten is a favourite among a great many indian readers and listeners.