China is Guest of Honor at BookExpo America's Global Market Forum in May 2015

China will send a high ranking delegation of up to 500 top publishing professionals, internationally acclaimed authors, as well as senior government officials to attend BookExpo America (BEA) in New York, in a unique effort to widen and deepen the cultural and business ties between the world’s two largest publishing markets.  “This is the most significant foreign delegation that we have ever hosted at America’s largest publishing convention”, notes Steven Rosato, BEA’s Show Director.  "We are honored to welcome China and we look forward to making this a rewarding experience for everyone involved."

The China presence will have both a professional and a cultural component, with events scheduled at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the convention location for BEA, as well as throughout New York City.  BEA will take place May 27 – May 29, 2015.

“American publishers welcome our Chinese counterparts to BookExpo America.  We look forward to professional conversations that can deepen mutual understanding of publishing in our respective countries and expand opportunities for new business ventures,” said Tom Allen, President and CEO of the Association of American Publishers.

Many of China's leading publishing houses are eager to develop a strong presence internationally.  Several of the largest Chinese publishing corporations, including Phoenix Publishing and Media Company, China Publishing Group (CPG), and China Education and Media Group (CEMG) are planning to participate in BEA's professional program.  Also, major service organizations such as China National Publishing Import and Export Company (CNPIEC) will participate thus facilitating a professional exchange between international players and Chinese publishers, distributors, libraries and educational institutions.

In addition, a delegation of pre-eminent Chinese authors will be present including such prestigious names as Mai Jia (in English for Farrar Straus & Giroux), and Chi Zijian (preparing a translation for Harvill Secker).

During all three days of BookExpo America professional debates will be held to explore the dynamic growth in Chinese publishing.  Forums will highlight the expanding international ambitions of the Chinese publishing and media industry; a comparison of digital developments in American and Chinese publishing; recent trends and success stories in literary translation; as well as educational publishing and reading promotion.

The Chinese participation at BEA will be kicked off with an Opening Ceremony: Welcome China! at the Jacob K. Javits Center on Wednesday, May 27th, 2015.  The official opening will be immediately followed with an agenda of professional forums and workshops dealing notably with topics such as digital publishing, literary translation, educational publishing, and reading promotion.

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Jonathan Franzen to Headline BEA Author Appearances - BEA May 2015

Celebrated Author to Be Interviewed by Salon.com’s Laura Miller

National Book Award winner and #1 bestselling author Jonathan Franzen will appear at BookExpo America (BEA) on Wednesday, May 27th at 12pm at the Jacob Javits Center. Mr. Franzen will be interviewed by Laura Miller, the noted book critic and columnist who co-founded Salon.com.The wide ranging conversation with Mr. Franzen will include a discussion of the author’s writing, the important influences in his life, as well as his new book, Purity, which is set to be released by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in the fall of 2015.The appearance will kick off the annual book convention and author extravaganza and follow the format of some of BEA’s most memorable events; namely 2013’s conversation between rock icons Neil Young and Patti Smith. The event will take place in Auditorium Room 1E12 – 14.

This signature event with Mr. Franzen and Ms. Miller will set the stage for BEA (North America’s largest annual book industry trade show) and BookCon (the new annual consumer book event organized by ReedPOP) which will take place back-to-back over five days beginning Wednesday, May 27th – Sunday May 31st. This will be Mr. Franzen’s first appearance on behalf of the book’s publication and it will be before an audience comprised of booksellers, librarians, book critics, and other book industry professionals. As noted, the event will take place at 12pm which is one hour before the show floor opens at BEA. The event is free to all BEA badged attendees.

Steven Rosato, Show Manager for BEA, notes: “Insightful conversation with marquee authors is a highlight of BEA and we are honored that Mr. Franzen and Ms. Miller have agreed to this event.The ‘in conversation’ format allows the author and interviewer to dig deep to reveal to the audience themes about the book, as well as the inspiration, motivation, and personal anecdotes that are all part of the creative process.I know our audience will especially appreciate this exclusive opportunity to hear Jonathan Franzen speak.”

Purity is Mr. Franzen’s first novel since 2010’s Freedom topped the bestseller charts.Itwill be published in September 2015 in the US, and by Fourth Estate, part of Harper Collins, in the UK. The novel will embrace big themes like sexual politics, love and parenthood, and has been described by its publisher as a decades- and continents-spanning multigenerational American epic.

Jonathan Franzen is the multiple award-winning and -nominated author of four novels – The Twenty-Seventh City (1988), Strong Motion (1992), The Corrections (2001), and Freedom (2010) – as well as a collection of essays, How to Be Alone (2002), and a memoir, The Discomfort Zone (2006).Purity will be published September 1, 2015.

Laura Miller helped to found Salon.com in 1995 and is currently a staff writer at that publication. She is a frequent contributor to the New York Times Book Review.Her work has appeared in the New Yorker, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal and many other publications.