Our books abroad
“Can’t you make arrangements to promote our local books abroad?” I
asked a leading book publisher in Colombo.
“We are trying our best to sell and promote our books abroad,
especially in the UK and USA, but we have not got the right kind of
contact line as well as the basic guidelines to do so.” It was the
prompt response, about which I must confess I was not happy. So I tried
to trace some known trends in the book market.
“I feel some Indian publishers have gained grounds here. They even go
to the extent of meeting our local book publishers to promote their
books. Don’t you think they are a bit ahead of us?”
“Agree,” said the publisher and added, “but this is only possible for
our English books.”
“But I don’t see that the local publisher is interested even in that
sort of publishing venture.”
“Perhaps we have not worked it out.”
“Leave aside the Sinhala and Tamil writers. How many English books
are published a year?”
Sad reality
The figures came out in time. Not many English novels are published a
year. No encouragement is shown either for original Sinhala and Tamil
works translated into English. Only four local publishers: Sarasavi,
Vijitha Yapa, Godage and Dayawansa Jayakodi, a few author publishers and
NGOs have been slightly interested in bringing out creative works in
English; this includes English poetry collections. I may have missed
some names. However our attitude towards the publishing industry should
change.
When I had a chat with the Samaywardhana publishing manager Dinusha
Weeraman, she pointed out that perhaps with a bit of luck an English
book could be promoted at an international book fair, which falls every
September.
Then we went on to have a discussion the availability of English as
well as Sinhala books online. But this is a phenomenon that may need
more clarity and information. Can’t books be promoted over online
process was my basic question despite my ignorance of its technological
know how. The world admittedly has changed rapidly because of
Information Technology.
Promoting publications
And also, can’t our publishers get together and devise a method to
promote their publications abroad? I am sure there are quite a number of
local parents living in the English speaking countries such as
Australia, England, America, Canada and New Zealand. Perhaps they buy
books for them and their children when they visit the homeland. But this
attitude could be changed duly if the necessary information flows are
made available to them.
I was staying briefly in Dollis Hill, UK, some years ago, when I
found a certain grocery shopkeeper who had some cheap novels written in
Sinhala and Tamil for sale. In the course of the discussion I had with
the shopkeeper, I came to know that books sell if some proper method is
devised.
Now let us enter our book scene as an internal subject. Most
publishers openly say that it is difficult to print more than 1000
copies if it happens to be a novel. In the case of short stories it
should be around 500, and for poetry, whether in English or Sinhala, the
number comes down below 500. The printing system called ‘Duplo’ is used
in this short publication which is nothing but an unattractive cheap
system of printing a limited number of occasional copies.
Poets’ tragedy
As a poet is normally a person who does not grumble over these
trivialities and the main intention is the availability of his/her
collection in print. The agreement comes readily. At a launching even
h/she has the opportunity of selling a few copies and some will be given
as complimentary copies. The fact that this poet or poetess has
published a collection of poems comes to be known over some media
channels. If the event happens to be politicized the chances of
promoting a few more copies would be easy.
Even the Book Development Board of the Educational Ministry has not
done any service as regards the promotion of books locally. They only
declare that a certain amount of money is set aside for new publishing
ventures where cultural links become the hallmark. I am made to know
that the National Library Services Board book development project too is
curtailed due to the lack of funds.
During the past, this body which promoted the book development
locally set aside a particular amount of money for author publishing
projects. Now that too is over. In this bleak situation can one discuss
the good effects of the book scene irrespective of the language and
other factors?
The publishers triggered off with one of their lofty book promotion
schemes via an annual award called Swarnapustaka Sammana. But I am not
sure whether it was schemed properly as there was no transparency,
either in the selection or in the actual promotional event. I am not
trying to blame publishers at home. But all I want to stress is that the
right climate has come for the local publisher to have a better
promoting system via a discourse.
School libraries
Meanwhile to sum up these comments, I am reminded of a matter which a
certain primary school teacher raised the other day.
“Sir, if the school library system could be fueled in the right
manner, the writers and publishers will have a good time.”
I wonder how valid this judgment is. Have we built a reading and
discussion tradition at the school level? Despite the various annual
literary seminars how many parents buy extra reading material for their
children? How many teachers spend on extra reading material for their
children? Or for their own sake, at least?
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