The second edition of the Sofia International Literary Fellowship will take place from December 9 to December 12 and it will gather over 30 literary professionals from all over the world. The program fosters collaborations and provides unique opportunities for publishing professionals from over 20 countries to get acquainted with the Bulgarian book market during the biggest and most significant local book fair and the Sofia International Literary Festival.

Publishers, rights managers, editors, owners and founders of independent publishing houses or publishing groups will be warmly welcomed in Sofia for three days full of opportunities to share insights for their experience in the field during panel discussions, networking activities and B2B sessions in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The program is organized with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria and in partnership with the Bulgarian Book Association and the National Book Centre of Bulgaria.

OUR PROGRAM

Camilla Hagen

Owner and Founder
Akoya Publishing, England

Camilla Hagen is the founder and publisher of Akoya Publishing, weaving together her love for literature with a long-time business acumen, spanning 20 years. She believes that literature and storytelling are powerful tools to increase empathy, raise awareness, and with that, shape a kinder world; something the world needs now more than ever.

Akoya is an independent publishing house, based in London, which celebrates courageous and visionary literature in translation. Akoya is grounded in the belief that literature is one of the most powerful ways of bridging cultural gaps. We embrace literary works of fiction, narrative nonfiction and poetry that delve into themes of existentialism, morality, human nature, identity and societal structures. We are a home for our authors and translators, not just their books.

Elena Barrio

Editor
Acantilado, Spain

Elena Barrio holds a BA in English and Spanish Philology from UAB and a master’s in Publishing from UPF-BSM. She has over ten years of experience in the publishing industry. Elena is currently working for the independent publishing house Quaderns Crema, which includes the literary imprints Acantilado (in Spanish) and Quaderns Crema (in Catalan).

Founded in 1979 with the Catalan imprint Quaderns Crema and later joined by Acantilado, our publishing house has built a catalogue that fosters dialogue across genres, languages, and eras. Since 2014, under the direction of Sandra Ollo, we continue to cultivate a rich literary space. We publish distinguished authors of fiction, poetry, and narrative essays spanning philosophy, music, literature, history, and more. Our commitment is to excellence and diversity of voices. We work to share these works worldwide, extending their reach beyond Spanish and Catalan.

Nestoras Poulakos

Owner and Founder
Vakxikon Publications, Greece

Nestoras Poulakos is a publisher & co-founder of Vakxikon Publications in Greece, one of the largest literary fiction publishing houses in the country. He has been the general secretary of the Association of Book Publishers. He’s a member of the Disciplinary Board of PEN Greece. He’s a member of International Alliance of Independent Publishers. In 2019 he was a Fellow of the Federation of European Publishers, and in 2024 a Fellow of the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Vakxikon Publications hold a leading position in the Greek and Cypriot Market, both for their publishing activity and for their overall work in the fields of cultural news. They annually release and distribute more than 100 books of Greek and foreign literature, essays and children’s books, which are nominated and awarded with national prizes of Greece and Cyprus. They participate with their own stands in the annual Book Fairs of Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as in the professional meetings of the most important international book fairs. According to the latest state survey (2024), Vakxikon Publications are included among the 20 largest publishing houses in Greece (first in the publication of literature).

Maria Xilouri

Head of Rights
Metaichmio Publishing, Greece

Maria Xilouri studied Psychology in Athens, with a Masters in Media Psychology. After a few years in advertising as a copywriter, she joined Metaichmio in 2013, where she is currently the head of rights; she is also an award-winning writer and translator.

Founded in 1993, Metaichmio is among the leading Greek publishers of adult and children’s fiction and non-fiction, Greek and translated; the adult list features celebrated authors across genres, from literary fiction to feelgood fiction and from history to popular science – among them Thomas Mann, Malcolm Lowry, Alice Munro, Annie Ernaux, Paul Auster, Hanya Yanagihara, Douglas Stuart, Jo Nesbo, Ian Rankin, Tana French, Jason Rekulak, Bonnie Garmus, Clare Pooley, Bill Bryson, Robert Macfarlane, Patrick Radden Keefe, Irene Vallejo.

Vincent Didelot

Owner and Founder
Editions Faustine, France

Passionate about travel and discovery, Vincent Didelot founded Editions Faustine to introduce French-speaking readers to the diversity of European literature.

A young publishing house, Editions Faustine specializes in publishing classic novels. The literary trip began with Croatia with the publication of August Senoa. Authors such as Miroslav Krleza and Janko Polic Kamov will soon be featured in the publisher’s catalog. The exploration of Bulgarian literature will begin soon with the publication of Vera Mutafchieva’s novel, I, Anne Comnene.

Stella Sabin

Co-director
Peirene Press, England

Stella Sabin has been with Peirene Press since 2018 and took over as co-publisher with her colleague James Tookey in 2022. Together, they have rebranded and expanded the publishing house.

Peirene Press is an independent publisher, dedicated to bringing exceptional international literature to English-speaking audiences. Founded in 2008 with a mission to enrich the UK literary landscape, they focus on high-quality translations of contemporary works of fiction from around the world. Their titles are regularly listed for significant UK literary and translation prizes, including the International Booker Prize and the Dublin Literary Award, which they won in 2023.

Eva Cossee

Owner and Founder
Cossee, The Netherlands

Eva Cossée co-founded Cossee Publishers in 2001. It is an independent literary publishing house with Dutch and translated writers like J.M. Coetzee, David Grossman, Bernhard Schlink, classical writers like Hans Fallada and Jiri Weil and non-fiction writers like Michael Ignatieff and Nathan Thrall. She also publishes poetry and essays.

Beside the publishing house Eva Cossée founded Cossee Literary Agency where she sells Dutch and international writers worldwide. At CLA we represent the best of Dutch literary fiction from several independent publishing houses in Amsterdam, and we also handle world rights for amongst others  Jennifer Nansumbuga Makumbi from Uganda, Atef Abu Saif from Palestine and William Kentridge from South-Africa.

Benjamin Burguete

Editor
Grasset & Fasquelle, France

Born in 1995 in the Basque Country, Benjamin Burguete studied philosophy at the Sorbonne and art history at the École du Louvre in Paris and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. He speaks Basque, French, Spanish, Italian, and English. After living in Buenos Aires and Naples, he began his career at the literary agency BAM before joining the publishing house Le Bruit du Monde. For the past three years, he has been working as an editor in the foreign literature department at Éditions Grasset. Passionate about contemporary fiction and translation, he is particularly interested in discovering distinctive international voices and bringing them to French readers.

Founded in 1907 by Bernard Grasset, Éditions Grasset is one of France’s most prestigious publishing houses. It has published many of the country’s most celebrated authors, including Marcel Proust, Marcel Pagnol and Raymond Radiguet. Today, Grasset continues to combine literary tradition with a commitment to contemporary voices from around the world, publishing French authors such as Virginie Despentes, Sorj Chalandon, Olivier Guez, and Laurent Binet. Its catalogue spans fiction, non-fiction, and essays, reflecting the house’s dedication to both literary excellence and intellectual curiosity. Grasset also publishes acclaimed international authors in translation, including Han Kang, Colm Tóibín, Joan Didion, Joshua Cohen, Fernanda Melchor, Natasha Brown, Anne Boyer, Garth Greenwell, Solvej Balle, and Gabriela Cabezón Cámara.

Ola Wallin

Owner and Founder
Ersatz, Sweden

Ola Wallin is a publisher, translator, and co-founder of the Swedish publishing house Ersatz. Since 1994, he has worked to introduce significant European authors to Swedish readers, with a particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe. Wallin has translated and edited numerous works from Russian, German, and French.

Ersatz was founded in 1994 by Ola Wallin and Anna Bengtsson in Stockholm. The publishing house publishes contemporary and classic literature with high linguistic and design standards. Its list includes novels, essays, and nonfiction from across Europe, often by authors with a strong historical and political awareness. Among the writers published by Ersatz are Svetlana Alexievich, Christian Kracht, Georgi Gospodinov, Ludmila Ulitskaya, Victoria Amelina, and Serhij Zhadan, to name a few. Ersatz has built a solid network of translators and designers and is known for its meticulous editorial and graphic quality. The publisher’s books have been recognized with several Swedish and international literary awards.

Katalin Vas

Head of Publishing
Móra Publishing House, Hungary

Katalin Vas joined Móra in 2014. In the last 11 years there she gained a deep professional sight and understanding of the Hungarian and international children book market and she enthusiastically searches for new treasures in the form of books. Katalin aims for a better, deeper understanding of the publishing industry all around the world, builds meaningful connections and helps books and stories travel across borders, languages and in any directions. Katalin loves connecting people, projects, ideas, being included in creation of meaningful, also socially valuable projects, especially if she can see them giving value and fun to kids. 

Móra publishes over 300 titles annually, producing more than 1 million copies each year. Its portfolio includes classical Hungarian and world literature, such as The Paul Street Boys, Pippi Longstocking, Lisa and Lottie, The Little Prince, Winnie-the-Pooh, Momo, and The Neverending Story. The publisher also proudly curates the works of renowned Hungarian authors such as Éva Janikovszky, Ágnes Bálint, Ervin Lázár, István Fekete, Veronika Marék, Gábor Nógrádi, Mária Szepes, and Magda Szabó. Additionally, Móra is the Hungarian publisher of international authors including Richard Scarry, Erich Kästner, and Astrid Lindgren. Móra’s portfolio also includes licensed products and comic books featuring beloved characters. In addition to publishing high-quality children’s literature and nonfiction, Móra considers teaching and educational activities an essential part of its mission. Over the years, Móra Publishing House has increasingly taken on the curation of literary oeuvres that include works for adults. In 2021, its management decided to establish a dedicated publishing house for adult literature, Trend Publishing, to ensure these works receive the prominence they deserve.

Nadège Agullo

Co-founder
Agullo Editions, France

After studying publishing law in Bordeaux and gaining experience at Grasset and Stock, Nadège spent ten years in London working as a foreign rights manager across Europe. She co-founded Mirobole Éditions in 2011, and in 2015, she launched Agullo Éditions alongside Sébastien Wespiser and Estelle Sean.

Agullo Éditions is a French independent publishing house specializing in foreign literature, with the motto “Abolishing borders” and a strong European identity. As a self-declared Maison de l’Europe, Agullo gives voice to authors from diverse countries who share their stories, cultures, emotions, hopes, and above all, their humanity. Each title reflects a desire to explore the Other and to question the world we live in, often through politically engaged narratives understood in the broad sense of the social fabric and collective life. Since 2021, Agullo has focused exclusively on a 100% European catalogue and has decided to no longer publish literature originally written in English. The house also places particular emphasis on its translators, who are prominently highlighted on its website.

Marwan Adwan

Owner
Mamdouh Adwan, Syria

Marwan Adwan is a Manager at Mamdouh Adwan Publishing House. Previously, Marwan was a Manager, Information Technology at Madar International School and also held positions at Al Sada Publishing, Al Baraka Bank Syria, Syria International Islamic Bank, IPRMEL.
 
The publishing house, founded in Damascus in (2006), was established in honor of the late Syrian writer Mamdouh Adwan (1941-2004), who wrote more than ninety publications in poetry, drama, novel and different translations. Our publishing house came as a realization of his dream to establish a publishing house that provides a platform for new writers. Hence, the publishing house is first and foremost dedicated to publishing distinct literary and intellectual books of new writers and translators whose works would enrich the Arab library. We had the honor to introduce new writers who became widely famous in the world of culture. Drawing on its awareness of the importance of revitalizing the cultural life and raising awareness on the different forms of cultural achievements and their huge impact on the formation of intellectual awareness in Arab societies; the publishing house is keen to publish important Arab literary works which are no longer available in the markets, and to provide accurate translations and revised versions for books of international writers.

Nane Manukyan

Head of Global Partnerships
Newmag Publishing, Armenia

Nane Manukyan is the Head of Global Partnerships at Newmag Publishing, overseeing rights acquisitions, international author visits, and global programs. She began her career as a journalist and strategic communications specialist, working in the news department of “Armenia” TV from 2019 to 2023. Nane holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Communications and a master’s in Political Science and International Relations from the American University of Armenia, and also studied political science at the University of Iceland. She joined Newmag’s communications team in 2020, later serving as project manager from 2023 to 2024 before taking her current leadership role. She helps introduce international authors and programs to Armenian readers, contributing to the local literary scene.
 
Founded in 2018, Newmag is one of Armenia’s leading publishing houses, releasing around 50–60 new titles each year. It began by translating internationally acclaimed non-fiction and has since expanded to include Armenian and international fiction, as well as a dedicated children’s literature series. Newmag’s catalog features works translated from more than ten languages, with many titles becoming national bestsellers. Beyond publishing, Newmag supports community libraries, organizes literary festivals, and participates in major international book fairs, standing out for its modern design and commitment to high-quality literature for readers of all ages.

Anna Rucińska

Editorial Director
Spółdzielnia Wydawnicza Czytelnik, Poland

Anna Rucińska has over twenty years of experience in the book industry, including editorial work, marketing and literary project management. She graduated in Polish Studies from the University of Warsaw. She is responsible for the publishing programme and oversees projects from the initial concept to the finished book. She regularly collaborates with authors, translators, editors, cultural institutions and literary agents. She has been awarded the Honorary Badge “Meritorious for Polish Culture.”

Czytelnik Publishing House was established in the autumn of 1944 and is the oldest continuously operating publishing house in postwar Poland. Our publishing profile focuses on high-quality fiction (Polish and international), poetry, essays, cultural history, journalism, and diaries. Czytelnik is the Polish publisher of such distinguished authors as Alberto Angela, Thomas Bernhard, Osamu Dazai, Péter Esterházy, Yasunari Kawabata, Sándor Márai, Ryszard Kapuściński, György Spiró, Adam Zamoyski. It is known for its high editorial standards.

Ana Đokić-Pongrasic

Director
KREATIVNA MREŽA, Croatia

Ana Đokić from Croatia is a writer, editor and organizer of national and international book festivals. Her preference, both as an author and editor, are picture books (not necessarily for little children). She established the literary  award for the best picture book in Croatia SHEEP IN THE BOX. Ana likes to connect artists from different countries and is very eager to see if some Bulgarian writers, illustrators and editors would be interested to create some new, mutual projects.

KREATIVNA MREŽA is a nonprofit association of artists, registered for publishing, art festivals and exhibitions. From 2018. Creative network published more than 80 titles, mostly from Croatian authors (and one Bulgarian  – LUPO & TUMBA from Petya Kokudeva). Every year, our literary festivals (PAZI, KNJIGA! / PLOVI, PLOVI… KNJIGA! / KNJIGE U CIPELAMA) see 2000 to 3000 children and their teachers.

Thiago Bio

Editor
Aleph Publishing Group, Brazil

Thiago Bio holds a degree in both journalism and languages. He leads the acquisition of new titles alongside his team and also works in book editing at the Aleph Publishing Group in Brazil. Some recent titles he has acquired rights to are Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law and The Devils trilogies, Robert Jackson Bennett’s “The Tainted Cup”, and Arkady Martine’s Teixcalaan series. He speaks Portuguese, English, and French fluently.

With more than 40 years of expertise in the Brazilian market, the Aleph Publishing Group is known for its innovative approach to book publishing and stands out as one of the major players in the national literary market for the science fiction and fantasy genres under the Aleph imprint. The Group also publishes non-fiction titles as well as children’s literature.

Veronika Chaloupkova

Editor and Agent
Argo, The Czech Republic

Veronika Chaloupková studied Theatre Studies and Italian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University. She first worked as a literary agent at the Dilia agency. For the past nine years, she has been working as a Foreign Rights Manager and Editor at the prestigious publishing house Argo.
 
Argo Publishers is one of the leading Czech publishing houses, known for its strong literary profile and commitment to high-quality fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and children’s books. Founded in 1992, Argo has introduced Czech readers to major international voices while also championing contemporary Czech literature. Argo is widely respected for its editorial standards, innovative book design, and its broad, diverse catalogue. Over the past 8 years, Argo has been actively developing its foreign rights list. Its authors are regularly shortlisted for the most prestigious Czech literary awards.

Jitka Hanusova

CEEBM Coordinator
Book World Prague, The Czech Republic

Jitka is a CEEBM coordinator, translator from Finnish, editor, photographer, writer. Over the years, she has gained extensive experience in cultural management, organizing literary events, cultural journalism, and PR. As a Literary Editor at Albatros Media from 2016 to 2024, she was responsible for project management, licensing new titles, copywriting etc., focusing primarily on Scandinavian literature. She cooperates closely with Czechlit and she is a Literary Consultant in the European project CELA (Connecting Emerging Literary Artists). Since 2022, she has been producing a monthly podcast called “Krotitelé slov” – interviews with translators.

CEEBM is intended to serve as a showcase of the Central and East European book business. With over 400 total meetings scheduled across the event in 2025, CEEBM creates an intensive networking environment. We welcome 150+ international guests representing 30 language territories, making it the premier gathering for Central and Eastern European book professionals.
CEEBM Fellowship is a professional program for exchanging knowledge, experience, and contacts within the book industry in Central and Eastern Europe. The Fellowship is designed for international publishers, rights managers, and literary agents focusing mainly on Central and East European literature. Along with the main CEEBM program, Fellowship participants will have the opportunity to take part in special roundtable discussions and other voluntary activities.

Alessi Schreiber

Managing Director
Ischire, Italy

Alessi Schreiber is the General Manager of Ischìre, a cooperative publishing house specializing in works in translation into Italian. With over 15 years of experience in the publishing industry, he has founded several editorial projects across Europe, including publishing houses, a literary agency’s foreign rights office, and consulting ventures. His background spans editorial management, international rights negotiation, and literary translation from Spanish, English, German, and Portuguese. He has represented Italian publishing at major international book fairs worldwide and currently oversees strategic projects aimed at enhancing cross-cultural literary exchange within the Mediterranean region.

Ischìre is a cooperative publishing house specializing primarily in publishing works in translation into Italian. Our core mission is to act as a bridge between different literary cultures, with particular attention to voices and works from linguistic and cultural contexts that are less represented in the Italian publishing landscape. We focus on high-quality international literature, creative nonfiction, and Mediterranean noir, combining cultural ambition with strategic access to international funding programs. Our editorial approach positions us as a distinctive presence in contemporary Italian publishing.

Sofija Zivkovic

Owner
No Rules, Serbia

Sofija Živković graduated in Serbian language and literature from the Faculty of philology, Belgrade, Serbia. She has been working in the publishing sector for many years and now she runs two small and independent publishing companies – No Rules, situated in Belgrade, and Norules publishing situated in Sharjah, UAE. Some of her authors were awarded or shortlisted for prestigious literary awards in Serbia. She also writes and published 4 books (at various publishers).

No Rules was founded in 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia publishing mainly non-mainstream literature from Serbia and from all the world. We have books translated from Chinese, Arabic, German, French, Italian, English. We avoid global bestsellers and gladly discover new unique and unusual voices – both classics and modern ones.

Andrea del Carmen
Garza Ponce de león

Owner
Editorial Cayuco, Mexico

Andrea Garza Ponce de León is a specialist in neurolinguistics and psychopedagogy with extensive experience in early language and reading development. She promotes reading as a tool for thought and social transformation. Her work has been featured in international reading mediation programs and book fairs across the Americas and Europe. The National Library of Mexico (UNAM) has recognized her editorial work for its quality and innovation. She believes reading is a bridge between words, childhood, and community.

Editorial Cayuco is an independent Mexican publishing house dedicated to children’s literature, promoting reading and language development through an inclusive and aesthetic lens. It creates books where text and image dialogue to spark empathy, imagination, and critical thinking. Its catalogue encourages shared reading within families and communities. Cayuco takes part in national and international book fairs, spreading a model of active reading mediation. More than publishing books, Cayuco builds reading experiences that transform.

Francesca Villa

Foreign Rights Manager
Mondadori Libri, Italy

Francesca Villa joined Sperling & Kupfer in 2001. Since 2007, she has been responsible for foreign rights sales and has regularly attended the major national and international book fairs. In 2012, she also began overseeing the promotion of film rights. Following Sperling’s integration into the Mondadori Group in 2020, she has been in charge of representing both foreign and film rights for the imprints Sperling & Kupfer, Piemme, and Mondadori Electa. 

Piemme, Sperling & Kupfer, and Mondadori Electa are three major imprints belonging to the Italian leading publisher Arnoldo Mondadori Editore (Mondadori Group). The Piemme adult list holds a prominent position in the Italian market (it published The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and The Name of God Is Mercy by Pope Francis) and includes upmarket fiction, historical novels, thrillers, crime novels, as well as essays, memoirs, and religious titles. Sperling & Kupfer, a commercial imprint that publishes major American authors such as Stephen King, Danielle Steel and Nicholas Sparks as well as best-selling Italian writers like Sveva Casati Modignani, appeals to a wide readership. It focuses on women’s fiction and new adult novels (including romance and dark romance), along with biographies, popular science, and self-help books. Mondadori Electa publishes a wide range of illustrated works, including prestigious photo books (such as those by Steve McCurry), monographs, travel books, practical guides, and cookbooks.

Luciënne van der Leije

Rights Manager
Singel, The Netherlands

With over twenty years in publishing, Luciënne works as a Rights Manager specializing in translation and film rights across children’s books, young adult fiction, literary fiction, and non-fiction. She is passionate about finding stories that travel — books that connect with readers across cultures and languages — and building lasting partnerships to help them reach new audiences. She combines a keen editorial instinct with a global network of publishing and film professionals to bring our authors’ work to new markets. Whether at book fairs or film festivals, she is always on the lookout for the next story ready to cross borders and spark imaginations. 

Singel Publishers is one of the most prominent publishing companies of the Low Countries. It consists of the following houses: Nijgh & Van Ditmar, Querido, De Arbeiderspers, Athenaeum- Polak & Van Gennep, De Geus, Volt, Blauw Gras, Quokka and Love Books, boasting a combined history of five hundred years in the book trade. A wide variety of titles is published by Singel, ranging from literary fiction and non- fiction to commercial fiction, poetry, graphic novels, and cookbooks. Singel Publishers also is the publisher of many classic and contemporary children’s books authors and illustrators. Many award- winning authors in translation have been published by Singel, such as Paulo Coelho, Annie Ernaux, Michel Houellebecq, Karl Ove Knausgard, Henning Mankell, Shaun Tan, Nicola Yoon and Han Kang Also Singel represents the work of famous Dutch authors and illustrators such as Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer, Anna Woltz, Guus Kuijer, Bart Moeyaert, Annet Schaap, Pieter Waterdrinker, Anna Enquist, Hella S. Haasse, Arnon Grunberg and Jaap Robben.

Burcu Ünsal

Rights Manager
Tudem, Turkey

Burcu Ünsal began her journey in children’s publishing in 2011 as an editor at Redhouse Publishing, where she discovered her passion for picture books. For eight years, she had the privilege of working with talented authors and illustrators whose works have traveled around the world and made children wonder and laugh. Burcu then joined Kalem Literary Agency, representing authors and illustrators in foreign rights and copyright sales. Since 2024, she has been working as a Rights Executive at Silva Literary Agency, part of Tudem Publishing Group, sharing stories that spark the joy of reading for children on every continent.

Established in 1984, Tudem Publishing Group is one of Turkey’s leading publishing houses, celebrating 41 years with a catalogue of over 2,000 titles. Its diverse imprints span literary and educational publishing, offering high-quality fiction, picture books, and learning materials for readers of all ages. Committed to nurturing creative talent, Tudem has organized its annual Tudem Literature Awards since 2003. Silva Literary Agency is a division of Tudem Publishing Group, proudly representing a distinguished list of children’s book authors—from picture books to graphic novels, middle grade to young adult fiction. Our authors’ works have been translated into 24 languages, received international recognition such as the Premio Rodari Award, and featured in prestigious collections including the IBBY Honour List.

Hripsime Madoyan

Head of Publishing Department
Antares, Armenia

Hripsime Madoyan is the Head of the Publishing Department at Antares. She oversees the entire publishing process—collaborating with foreign partners, selecting titles, and working closely with translators, designers, and local authors. She is also a translator, with more than ten published titles to her name.

Antares is one of the leading publishers in Armenia. Our aim is to bring the masterpieces of world literature to our readers. Translating from more than 35 languages and annually publishing over 150 titles by foreign and Armenian authors—classics, contemporary works, and children’s literature—we can proudly say that today we are the porte-parole of many great voices of the literary world.
Our mission is to enrich our culture, introduce new ideas, and open new horizons. Our motto is literature without borders.

Jоsе Manuel Labordet Alvarez

Owner
Caleidoscopio de libros, Spain 

Jose Manuel Labordet Alvarez studied philosophy, but started the publishing project out of a latent love for literature and especially for minority cultures. He longs to get to know literature and worlds that are not accessible to us except through risky cultural projects.

Caleidoscopio de libros was created with the aim of publishing forgotten classics of world literature. Works that could have become part of the literary imagination, but for various reasons did not make it. The works will always be chosen on the basis of their literary quality and presented in editions that are as neat and careful as possible, in order to provide a literary experience that helps to root these great authors in the Spanish-speaking literary subjectivity

Marco Vidal González

Owner and Founder
La Tortuga Búlgara, Spain

Marco Vidal González is a graduate in Slavic Philology from the University of Granada. He specialized in Bulgarian at the University of Veliko Tarnovo and Sofia University. In 2023 he received the Bulgarian Peroto Award for his contribution to poetry translations in Spanish. He has translated Bulgarian poets like Amelia Licheva, Alexander Shurbanov and Kiril Vassilev. From 2024 to 2027 he will be part of the Connection Emerging Literary Artists (CELA) program as a prose translator from Bulgarian into Spanish.

The objective of the publishing house is to give voice in Spanish to the so-called minority languages and their rich literatures. We have special interest in contemporary Bulgarian poetry, although we also publish current Spanish poets, as well as fiction. We mainly publish Slavic and Easter European literatures.

Nazlican Saltan

Sales and Acquisitions Editor
Doğan Publishing, Turkey

Naz Saltan is the Sales and Acquisitions Editor at Doğan Publishing, where she oversees the acquisition of foreign titles for translation into Turkish and manages the sale of Turkish authors’ rights to international markets. With over a decade of experience in publishing, she began her career as an intern at Kalem Agency and later worked as a Foreign Rights Manager and Editor at various publishing houses. For the past five years, she has been part of Doğan Publishing’s rights team. 

Doğan Publishing is one of Turkey’s leading publishing groups, offering a diverse catalog that spans fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature. With seven imprints, the company publishes both acclaimed Turkish authors and international bestsellers, including Rick Riordan, C.S. Lewis, Sarah J. Maas, Elif Şafak, and Haruki Murakami. Committed to delivering high-quality content to readers, Doğan Publishing combines global literary trends with local cultural richness.

Seval Merve Sarıhan

Foreign Rights Coordinator
Epsilon Publishing Group, Turkey

Seval Merve Sarıhan received her BA from Bogazici University in Istanbul, completing a double major in Turkish Language and Literature and Western Languages and Literatures. She earned her MA in Comparative Literature from King’s College London. She began her career in publishing as a translator and editor and currently works as the Foreign Rights Coordinator at Epsilon Publishing Group. In addition to her rights work, she continues to translate fiction and children’s books. A native Turkish speaker, she is fluent in English and French, and proficient in Spanish.

Epsilon Publishing Group is one of Turkey’s leading trade publishers, comprising three companies and nine imprints. Since 1993, it has published more than 4,500 titles and licenses over 120 books into 35+ languages worldwide, including works by Nobel, Pulitzer, National Book Award, Newbery, and Andersen Award–winning authors. Alongside its renowned international list, EPG is committed to discovering and championing new Turkish voices, supported by initiatives such as the Kafka First Book Award. EPG actively engages in global book fairs and fellowship programs to promote Turkish literature internationally.

Sevgi Ülker

Foreign Rights Manager
Alfa Publishing Group, Turkey

Sevgi Ülker is an International Relations graduate with nearly four years of experience in the publishing industry. She began her career in the foreign rights department of Alfa Publishing Group, where she continues to this day. Throughout her education and various experiences, she has had the opportunity to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, strengthening her teamwork skills and global perspective. Her volunteering has further shaped a disciplined, passionate, and eager approach to her professional life.

Over the past 35 years, Alfa Publishing Group has steadily expanded its publishing portfolio to encompass a diverse range of genres, including literature, psychology, philosophy, science, history, personal development, popular fiction, and children’s books—earning recognition as one of Turkey’s leading publishers. The group comprises six main publishing brands: Alfa Kitap, Everest Yayınları, Artemis Yayınları, Kapı Yayınları, Büyülü Fener Yayınları, and Mona Kitap, along with three extensions: Artemis Milenyum, Artemis Sketch, and Everest Çocuk. One of Alfa Publishing Group’s key strengths is its fully integrated structure, which includes its own printing house and in-house distribution department. Alfa Publishing Group is also the exclusive representative of Amazon Germany in Türkiye, strengthening its strong presence in international publishing collaborations.

Fuat Ömer Altay

Publisher
Fom Kitap Publishing, Turkey

Fuat Ömer Altay has been publishing children’s books for twelve years. His deep curiosity for nature and archaeology leads him to trace the footsteps of the past and to share this passion with young readers. During his school visits, he talks to children about the value of protecting nature and understanding the traces of our history. For Fuat Ömer Altay, protecting a tree and discovering a historical artifact are one and the same: small steps toward understanding the world a little better. And today, he continues to search for new stories, new discoveries, and new hopes.
 
Founded in 2014, Fom Kitap set out with a mission to publish books that introduce children and young readers to universal values such as love, friendship, peace, and free, scientific thinking. It continues its publishing journey without compromising on its commitment to nature, animal rights, equality, justice, and an ecological worldview. With its innovative approach and keen eye on current issues, Fom Kitap aims to bring together young readers with distinguished authors and illustrators from both Turkish and world children’s literature. It strives to publish books that excite, amuse, inspire, spark curiosity, encourage questions, offer answers, and—years later—make readers say, “This is the book that made me love reading.” With its meticulous editorial standards, a young yet experienced team, and a catalogue of over 175 titles, Fom Kitap continues to move forward with confidence.

Asya Çağlar

Owner and Founder
Kelime Publishing House, Turkey

Asya founded Kelime Publishing House in March 2006 to focus on children’s and young adult literature.  Besides conducting Media Literacy activities for both children and adults, she has also organized workshops aimed at encouraging children to ask thoughtful questions. She has participated in numerous Reading Culture Workshops over the years, and has been the Editor-in-Chief of Kelime Publishing since its founding. In addition she is a member of the Boğaziçi Business People Association, International PWN Community in Istanbul, Boğaziçi University Alumni Association, and the Turkish Publishers Association.
 
Founded in March 2006 by Asya Çağlar, Kelime Publishing is dedicated to producing high-qualified children’s and young adult literature. Since its inception, the publisher has released over 400 titles, ranging from early childhood literature to young adult novels, collaborating with esteemed authors, illustrators, and translators from Turkey and around the world. So far, Kelime Publishing has translated and published children’s books from Norwegian, Farsi, Italian, Spanish, German, Ukrainian, French, Japanese, British, and American literature.

Dr. Akif Pamuk

TURLA – Turkish Literature Abroad

Dr. Akif Pamuk is an associate professor at Marmara University and a member of the Istanbul Fellowship Organizing Committee. He has participated in major international events such as the Frankfurt and Bologna Book Fairs, as well as numerous fellowship programs including the Seoul International Book Fair Fellowship (2018), Istanbul Publishing Fellowship (2018–2024), SIBF Publishers Conference (2022–2023), and the Novi Sad Fellowship (2023).
Since February 2023, he has also served as a consultant for Introtema Copyright Agency, where he focuses on acquiring high-quality titles, and he additionally provides consultancy for the Turkish Literature Abroad (TURLA) project.
 
Turkish Literature Abroad (TURLA) was launched in 2017 by the Association of Press and Publications with the support of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Since then, it has represented Turkish literature at the most prestigious international book fairs around the world. Its mission is to showcase the Turkish publishing sector and to build professional networks between Turkish and international publishers.

Gökhan Bayrak

Co-founder
Yediveren Publishing, Turkey

Gökhan Bayrak, one of the founders of Yediveren Publishing, is a well-known entrepreneur in the industry with more than 20 years of publishing experience. By actively participating in both national and international book fairs, he continues to strengthen collaborations and expand the global visibility of the publishing house. Through his contributions to book projects developed under two different brands, he continues to inspire the imaginations of hundreds of thousands of children and enrich their love of reading.
 
Yediveren Publishing
Founded in 2010 with an innovative and modern publishing vision, Yediveren Publishing has rapidly risen to a remarkable position in the industry with its strong brand diversity and wide author network. Over more than a decade, it has produced original and high-quality content across various genres, surpassing many long-established publishing houses in productivity and diversity. Thanks to its effective operations both in Turkey and abroad, its active presence at major book fairs, and its strong performance on social media, Yediveren Publishing has reached millions of readers across the country. The visibility of its authors on national television and radio programs continues to strengthen the brand’s recognition. In recent years, Yediveren Publishing has drawn particular attention with its investments in children’s and youth literature, producing high-quality works ranging from psychological development and value-based education to creative story series and cultural content. Trusted by teachers and parents alike, the publishing house continues to grow with inspiring projects for young readers.

Dessislava Zheleva

Marketing Director
Colibri Books, Bulgaria

Desislava Zheleva holds degrees in Journalism and in Literature, Cinema, and Visual Culture from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.” After several years working in one of the largest bookstore chains in the country, she went on to work as an editor at Orange Books. She is currently an editor and Director of Marketing and Publishing Strategies at Colibri Publishing—one of the largest publishing houses in Bulgaria and a leading publisher focused on translating European literature from a wide range of languages.
 
For over 35 years, Colibri has been at the forefront of the publishing business in Bulgaria. Colibri is the Bulgarian publisher of some of the brightest names in global fiction, representing various eras, styles, and cultural and ideological movements. Colibri provides a platform for new literary voices and supports authors whose works stand out with vivid linguistic and stylistic innovations. The quality of translations and editorial work, the elegant design of the Bulgarian editions, the eye-catching covers, and the original concepts for presenting and promoting books are highly valued and explain why booksellers consistently rank Colibri among the top in sales. Colibri regularly attends international forums, book fairs, conferences, and other prestigious events discussing current policies in publishing and distribution, and it participates in numerous initiatives supporting reading in Bulgaria and across Europe.

Yana Genova

Founder
Next Page Foundation and Sofia Literature and Translation House, Bulgaria

Yana Genova is a cultural manager, consultant, and researcher with nearly 30 years of experience. In 2001, she founded the not-for-profit Next Page Foundation for international literary exchange, which in 2014 launched the Sofia Literature and Translation House—an international literary translation hub that also runs a residency programme for writers and translators. Throughout her career, Yana has served on the boards of several cultural organizations, including as president of the European network RECIT and as a founding member of the Bulgarian online reading promotion platform, Knigovishte. With a strong grounding in civil society, she has also worked in the public sector as an advisor to the Minister of Culture and as a Deputy Mayor for Culture, Education, and Sports for the City of Sofia.

Svetlozar Zhelev

Director
National Book Centre at National Palace of Culture – Congress Centre Sofia, Bulgaria

Svetlozar Zhelev is a literary expert, head of the National Book Center, host of the Bulgarian National Radio programme Our Day, lecturer in the Master’s programme Translation/Editor at Sofia University, co-founder of the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation, creative director of the Black Sea International Literary Festival in Burgas and of Book Month in the village of Chavdar, two-time member of the International Jury of the European Union Prize for Literature, member of ENLIT. Svetlozar represents the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture on the Programme Council of the TRADUKI Translation Network. He is the author and co-author of several books of prose and one of poetry.

Alexandru Popescu

Department of Cultural Policies
Ministry of Culture, Romania

Born in 1980, Alex Popescu has over a decade of experience in public relations, cultural diplomacy, and international collaboration. He has coordinated major projects that positioned Romania as Guest of Honour at prestigious international book fairs, like Leipzig, Belgrade, Budapest, Sofia, Istanbul and Cairo. He’s focused on promoting Romanian literature abroad, strengthening Romania’s role in European cultural networks like TRADUKI, and he’s fond of cultivating long-term partnerships with institutions across Europe and beyond, building cultural bridges and setting up cultural projects.

Nevena Dishlieva-Krysteva

Owner and Founder
ICU, Bulgaria

Nevena Dishlieva-Krysteva is a literary translator from English and owner and editor-in-chief of ICU Publishing. She has translated over 50 works by contemporary English-language authors, including books by Kapka Kassabova, Chris Cleave, Philip Roth, Jeffrey Eugenides, and Zadie Smith. For her translation of The Memory Artists by Jeffrey Moore, she was awarded the Krastan Dyankov Prize, presented by the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation. Her publishing house focuses on high-quality contemporary fiction, both Bulgarian and in translation. Among the ICU authors are Olga Tokarczuk, Goran Vojnovich, Elena Vladareanu, Anreea Rasuceanu, Nikos Panayotopulos, Momchil Milanov, Elin Rahnev, Kapka Kassabova, Emine Sadka.
 
ICU is an independent boutique publishing house dedicated to literary fiction and creative nonfiction. Founded in 2010, now they have around 80 carefully curated titles, with a strong focus on European voices and themes such as trauma, memory, identity, ecology and belonging. At the heart of their list stands Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk, alongside authors like Kapka Kassabova, Hisham Matar, Goran Vojnovich, among others, as well as original Bulgarian works that we actively promote abroad. Translation is central to who they are: ICU treats translators as full creative partners and work with some of the most respected names in the field. For us, ICU – I See You – is both a name and a promise: we believe literature is a form of resistance and healing, a way of being fully human.

Radostina Nikolova

Founder
Marmot Publishing House, Bulgaria

Radostina Nikolova is a children’s book author and the founder of the children’s publishing house  Marmot. She became popular in 2013 with her series The Adventures of the Motts, which later received the Magic Pearl Children’s Choice Award and the Most Read Children’s Series recognition from the Sofia Library. She was named Children’s Author of the Year in 2020. Her books are also published in China, Ukraine, Finland, Poland and USA. Radostina travels across the country to meet with kids at various ages because she believes that reading shapes thoughtful, responsible, and compassionate people.
 
Marmot publishes fiction and non-fiction books for children ages 1 to 12. Their portfolio includes titles that address important themes some of which are sometimes considered “too bold” for children’s literature. For Marmot, books are also a means of cultivating culture – the team values strong content, thoughtful language, and high-quality paper and visual design.

Zornitsa Hristova

Founder and Editor-in-chief
Tochitza Publishing House, Bulgaria

Zornitsa Hristova is the founder and editor-in-chief of Tochitza Publishing House. She brings her experience as a literary translator (Robert Frost, etc.) and journalist to book publishing. She is the author of award-winning children’s books such as Golden Lion, Hristo G. Danov, Konstantin Konstantinov, and Peroto. Her works have been translated into Italian, French, Polish, Turkish, Serbian, Macedonian, and Russian. She prefers books with original ideas and depth.
 
Created in 2010 by two translators and a poet, Tochitza is a mission – to bring all our knowledge of words and art together to create sensitive, kind, and extraordinarily beautiful books for children. We are also deeply enamored of illustration, and proud to have some of the best artists in this field as friends and collaborators. We are passionate about out books and love to see them going around the world.