Contact: Kim Pettit
ChristianTrade Association International
+1 (719) 432-8428
E-mail: kpettit@ChristianTrade.com ChristianTrade Association International and the Ukrainian Christian Publishers Association (UCPA) partnered with Literature in New Kontexts (LINKS) to offer training and translation rights opportunities at Marketsquare Europe 2011. Held at a Christian conference center in Irpin, near Kyiv, Ukraine, the event took place 5-8 October, the week before the Frankfurt Book Fair. With 46 Christian publishers and booksellers, Marketsquare Europe had representation from several Eastern European countries: Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Russia and Ukraine. “This forum created a unique opportunity for many of our members to hear first-hand about the world’s largest Christian publishing markets,” says Olena Tsertii, UCPA executive director. “Organizing such an event in Ukraine with ChristianTrade made it possible to meet colleagues from CIS countries who cannot attend Frankfurt or ICRS. We need to share our experiences, and this provided a wonderful opportunity to invite them to Ukraine.” Andrey Kravchenko, of Ezdra Publishing, worked closely with Tsertii, Pettit and Rick Iles of LINKS to coordinate the event. “Marketsquare Europe was a real blessing for me,” says Julia Vishnivetsky of Visson Publishers in St. Petersburg, Russia. “It was a good opportunity to review our situation and position, learn more, meet with old friends and make new ones.” “We received new information, opening our eyes to many aspects of publishing,” says Rafal Waclawyk, of BB Publishers in Poland. Diana Reutki, of New Hope in Moldova, told RISU journalist Olena Kulygina that in her country, “There are no Christian publishers. All the books that come into Moldova are brought in from Ukraine, Russia or Romania.” Therefore, “for us it was nice to learn about Christian publishing in the U.S.,” and to “see …the results of Ukrainian Christian publishers.By combining Western theory and Slavic practices, we hope to build this ministry in Moldova.” “We have been engaged in book publishing and selling for 17 years,” says Lina Pinkevich, of CLC Belarus and Blagovest, “but we were very pleased to come.” “Marketsquare Europe was great experience,” says Sergiy Mykhaylyk, of Baruch Publishing house in Kyiv, Ukraine. “First, I received useful information at the seminars, and right on the spot I made several decisions about how to improve the effectiveness of my publishing house. Second, it was good communication with local publishers. I meet some I did not know before and we planned several projects together. Finally, I was happy to make useful international contacts, and to plan co-operation and co-productions with three more countries. It was a blessed time.” A highlight of the Marketsquare Europe banquet held Friday, 7 October, was the presentation of the fourth annual European Christian Book of the Year award. “We want to provide recognition for excellent work by Christian authors in Europe,” says Kim Pettit, executive director for ChristianTrade Association International, “and this award is decided by votes from one’s peers in the industry—other Marketsquare Europe participants.” First place went to Vocatio Publishing’s The Day When Canaan Fell Down, a three-part story written by Polish author Rafal Kosowski imagining society in the times of Genesis, before the flood. Second place was secured by Ukraine’s Christian Enlightenment Publishing House with the New Heart Story Book, a collection of stories written by parents seeking to teach their children Christian values during times of Communist rule. Another notable title was Kljuchi Publishing House’s Acts of the Inhabitants of Heaven, an epic poem described by author Victor I. Grebenyuk as defending Christian truths to postmodern society; it is reportedly already in use in the liturgy of some Ukrainian Orthodox churches. ChristianTrade’s next event is Marketsquare International, in Atlanta, held together with the Inspirational Value Book Show January 18-20, 2011, just after the AmericasMart Gift Show. (For details, please visit www.ChristianTrade.com. *** ChristianTrade Association International is a worldwide association of nations, companies, and individuals committed to fulfilling the Great Commission by distributing Christian resources. It holds international regional conventions in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America; publishes an annual Christian-trade directory; hosts international events at CBA’s International Christian Retail Show; and serves as a catalyst for growing the Christian trade worldwide. For more information, please visit www.ChristianTrade.com or e-mail info@ChristianTrade.com |
