Published Tuesday, 05 February, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Queensland writers to star at giant Bookfest in Asia
One of the State’s most successful creative exports, writer Nick Earls, will spearhead a new push to sell more Queensland-authored books in the growing Asian market.
Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said Earls would be the face of the Queensland Writers Showcase at the coming Taipei International Book Exhibition on February 13-18.
The event is one of the largest international book fairs in the Asia Pacific region. This year more than 400,000 visitors from the world of publishing are expected to attend displays from over 40 countries.
“This is Queensland’s first appearance at this exhibition and a unique opportunity to build on the region’s growing interest in English language books – particularly children’s books and young adult fiction which are now being used in schools to help boost English language skills,” Ms Boyle said.
She said Earls, the author of ZigZag Street, Bachelor Kisses and Perfect Skin was the perfect choice as head of Queensland’s Showcase.
“As a celebrated author of 11 books, he’s a great ambassador for Queensland writing,” she said.
“He hosted the inaugural annual Queensland Writers Showcase series in Los Angeles in 2004 which has become one of our most important vehicles for promoting new Queensland writing talent. The US is the world’s largest English language market and Earls has secured US agents, publishing deals and film rights for himself and fellow authors.”
Nick Earls most recently co-wrote Joel and Cat Set the Story Straight with fellow Queensland author Rebecca Sparrow and his book Perfect Skin is currently being developed into an Italian language feature film. His book, 48 Shades was picked up by an American film producer and released to cinema goers in 2006 and a number of his books have also been adapted for the stage.
Minister Boyle said the early signs for the Asian market were positive.
“The aim of the Taipei showcase is to secure new publishing deals for Queensland authors. While this is our first official foray into the Asian market, Trade Queensland’s Taiwan Office has already helped some of our local publishers get a foot in the door,” she said.
“The University of Queensland Press has succeeded in selling a number of its young adult titles and the Books From Our Backyard catalogue has also been picked up by a Taiwanese publisher who plans to sell them directly to Taiwanese schools.”
Ms Boyle said a number of Queensland fiction ‘blockbusters’ would be on show at the Taipei exhibition this year including Tiana Templeman’s Absolutely Faking It, Karen Foxlee’s The Anatomy of Wings, Michael Noonan’s December Boys and Nick Earls’ Perfect Skin.
The Queensland presence at the Taipei exhibition is being co-ordinated and funded by the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry’s Creative Industries Unit.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
5 February 2008
Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said Earls would be the face of the Queensland Writers Showcase at the coming Taipei International Book Exhibition on February 13-18.
The event is one of the largest international book fairs in the Asia Pacific region. This year more than 400,000 visitors from the world of publishing are expected to attend displays from over 40 countries.
“This is Queensland’s first appearance at this exhibition and a unique opportunity to build on the region’s growing interest in English language books – particularly children’s books and young adult fiction which are now being used in schools to help boost English language skills,” Ms Boyle said.
She said Earls, the author of ZigZag Street, Bachelor Kisses and Perfect Skin was the perfect choice as head of Queensland’s Showcase.
“As a celebrated author of 11 books, he’s a great ambassador for Queensland writing,” she said.
“He hosted the inaugural annual Queensland Writers Showcase series in Los Angeles in 2004 which has become one of our most important vehicles for promoting new Queensland writing talent. The US is the world’s largest English language market and Earls has secured US agents, publishing deals and film rights for himself and fellow authors.”
Nick Earls most recently co-wrote Joel and Cat Set the Story Straight with fellow Queensland author Rebecca Sparrow and his book Perfect Skin is currently being developed into an Italian language feature film. His book, 48 Shades was picked up by an American film producer and released to cinema goers in 2006 and a number of his books have also been adapted for the stage.
Minister Boyle said the early signs for the Asian market were positive.
“The aim of the Taipei showcase is to secure new publishing deals for Queensland authors. While this is our first official foray into the Asian market, Trade Queensland’s Taiwan Office has already helped some of our local publishers get a foot in the door,” she said.
“The University of Queensland Press has succeeded in selling a number of its young adult titles and the Books From Our Backyard catalogue has also been picked up by a Taiwanese publisher who plans to sell them directly to Taiwanese schools.”
Ms Boyle said a number of Queensland fiction ‘blockbusters’ would be on show at the Taipei exhibition this year including Tiana Templeman’s Absolutely Faking It, Karen Foxlee’s The Anatomy of Wings, Michael Noonan’s December Boys and Nick Earls’ Perfect Skin.
The Queensland presence at the Taipei exhibition is being co-ordinated and funded by the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry’s Creative Industries Unit.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
5 February 2008