Bologna Book Fair 2 / 波隆納插畫展 2

插畫展除了讓各國推銷繪本，另一個重點就是讓各國的出版商談版權，所以把攤位設計得很舒適是做生意的要訣。

In the book fair, each country can promote their picture books. Also, publishers can sell book rights to their counterparts from other countries. Thus, it is very important to provide a comfy reading environment. 

台灣展館似乎去年也是長這樣。

The Taiwan booth seemed to look the same as last year. 

這些弟弟妹妹們在做什麼呢？

What were these young people doing? 

有些出版商歡迎插畫家和他們面談。

Some publishers welcomed illustrators to sit down and show their portfolios. 

其實我對於直接秀作品給出版社很沒有勇氣，因為我準備太不足，看到別人都帶著大畫夾來，而我卻用超市塑膠袋裝我的小書，真的覺得很羞愧。凱特琳娜為我帶來之前的作品，她說一定要拿這一本給出版商看，我看大家排隊，也硬著頭皮一起排。很多人都不是第一次來，我前面有些人馬上就被拒絕，我看了都很不忍。

I lacked courage in showing my works to the publishers. Compared with others with big black cases, I was so unprepared, especially when I put my booklets in the Morrisons' plastic bag. Caterina brought from Rome one of my previous works. She said I had to show it to the editors. Seeing others in queue, I mustered all my courage to line up as well. A lot of artists didn't come for the first time. I could tell how cruel the world is upon seeing some people being turned down soon after they sat down. 

我和左邊的女士談，她對我還蠻好的，她說這本小書的確不錯，但他們不出版無字的書，請我和另一家法國出版社談。

I talked to the lady on the left. She was rather nice. She said the booklet is a good job, but they do not publish textless books. She wrote down the name of another French publisher and asked me to talk to them. 

其實當天我有點小感冒，我也忘了這本小書到底在說什麼，覺得很心虛，談完之後很想逃，所以想當天就作罷。

I had a minor cold that day. Besides, I felt very guilty about not remembering much the booklet. I felt like running away, so I kind of gave up that day. 

晚上和同學們聊時，發現她們都好積極，我對自己非常失望，心想第二天一定要做點什麼。

When I exchanged my experience with Wen Dee and Tatiana in the evening, I  found them to be super active. I was terribly disappointed with myself, keeping telling myself that I had to do something the following day. 

我們第一天傍晚去超市買膠帶，無論如何都要在展場留下痕跡。

We bought tape in a supermarket on the evening of the first day, determined to leave some traces in the fair. 

雖然說來很不好意思，連這個都是為了過機場安檢裝液體和膠狀物用的袋子。

I was ashamed to say that the plastic bag was used for putting liquid and gel in the airport. 

我還是閃躲著和出版商說話的機會，但是遇到小桃和特蕾莎，看她們充滿鬥志，我只好再去排隊。

I still avoided talking to publishers, but Momo and Tereza were so full of stamina. I couldn't help but queuing up again. 

來找機會的不只是年輕人，也有上了年紀的插畫家。這是一家德國廠商，他們不喜歡有花樣的小書，所以和我說，設定閱讀的年齡層很重要，而他們的出版品也不是走禮品路線，但她們覺得凱特帶來的作品真的很特別。

The interviewees were more than young students. There were also many veteran illustrators. This is a German publisher. They are not into my kind of gifty booklets. They told me that my works are mainly for my own travel experience. I should think about the age group of my potential readers. However, they do find my love book mentioned above very unique. 

再談一家，但這家風格和我的更不同，很快就被拒絕了。

I talked to one more publisher, but the style of their books is so different from mine that I was turned down right away. 

之後凱特琳娜很積極地要幫我找昨天法國出版商推薦的同行，我居然連札記本也不翻，只記得部份的名字，當然找不到，要離開波隆納前一天晚上才發現自己沒有記完全，內心真是充滿悔恨，尤其是聽到同學們得到機會，我就更覺得自己很不積極，明明很想要，卻又很懦弱，真的很糟糕。

Later Caterina offered to look for the French publisher recommended by the lady the day before. Though I remembered only part of the name, I didn't even check my journal. Of course I ended up not finding it. When I thumbed through the page on the night before leaving Bologna, I was so full of regret. Especially when I knew that my classmates got positive responses from the publishers, I was quite angry with myself for not seizing the opportunities I wanted so much. 

這次除了高水準的葡萄牙館外，韓國館很令人驚豔，一如韓劇，韓國人在繪本出版業展現強大的野心，書本數目驚人，品質也很不賴，有一區完全是做傳統故事的繪本，他們對於歷史很強調。

Apart from high-quality Portuguese exhibition, Korean booth was surprisingly beautiful. Like Korean TV drama, Koreans showed great ambitions in the picture book industry. The number of books was overwhelming. The quality was also guaranteed. One section was totally dedicated to the illustrations of traditional folktales. Koreans really put an emphasis on their history. 

每本繪本都附上貼心的英文大意或翻譯。

Synopsis or translation in English was attached to every picture book. 

韓國人真的很會行銷。

Koreans are very good at marketing. 

另一個我要推薦的是小而美的立陶宛館，書本陳列清新，還有印刷精美的免費明信片。

Another booth I'd like to recommend is the small but beautiful Lithuania. The display of books was very neat, and there were well-printed postcards for free. 

互動的電腦軟體供讀者觀看英文版本。展館小姐非常親切，不會因為我們是路人就不理我們，據說韓國館的服務人員只對出版廠商比較友善。

The interactive computer provided the reader for the English version of the picture books. The ladies were very friendly. They didn't ignore us just because we were nobody. I had insider news that Koreans were more friendly with the publishers. 

我還和插畫家（畫面最左手放下巴的女士）莉娜小聊，因為她的書是本館主打，她人超好的，我因為有些沮喪便問她有沒有想放棄畫圖的時候，她說從來沒有，只有越畫越想畫，我還問她出版書是不是很不容易，她說還好，那是因為她資質甚高啊！回家讀了一下她的簡介，她出生藝術世家，真的是很令人羨慕啊！

I even had a chat with the illustrator Lina Dudaite (on the left of the photo with her hand on the chin). Her books were promoted in the booth. She is super nice. I was kind of frustrated, so I asked her if there was a point when she felt like giving up drawing. She said never. The more she draws, the more she wants to do it. I also asked if it is difficult to have books published. She said it isn't that hard for her. I think it's because she is really talented. I read her bio after going home, and she was born in a family of artists. I hardly envy anyone, but I find her talent enviable... 

小方和阿楷一定會很愛的巴士系列！

Von and Kai would love the buses! 

蘇俄館的掛飾，蘇俄的繪本非常狂放，我看了好喜歡。

The decorations of the Russian booth. I love the wild lines and colors in Russian picture books. 

要離開之前又到某家義大利出版社晃了一下，身後有位女士很興奮和她的出版社友人在談話，凱特琳娜翻譯他們的談話內容給我聽，原來開心的是位插畫家，她的書版權賣得很好，連日本人也很喜歡，真是令人豔羨！

Before leaving, we took a look at an Italian publisher. A lady behind me talked with her publisher colleague in excitement. Caterina translated their conversation for me. It was an illustrator who had a very successful day. Her book rights were sold and even the Japanese loved her book(s). How enviable... 

果然波隆納之旅是我這一年中對我影響最大的一件事，短短的幾天裡我學到很多，雖然我要回去工作了，可是我一定還會再來的！

As I thought, the trip to Bologna is the most influential event in this year. I learned so much within a few days. Though I am going back to work soon, I am sure that I'll come again to Bologna Book Fair!