We had already planned to visit the Frankfurt Book Fair last year, but as it always happens..... Well, this year it should finally work out.

And since there was also an appointment with Mr. Matthias Kröner from Michael Müller Verlag regarding further marketing cooperation in the context of the presentation of travel books, we had chosen the second day of the fair for our visit. The route via the A3 to Frankfurt is often characterized by chaotic traffic situations, but we were lucky this morning. Without significant delays caused by traffic jams, we were able to cover the route almost on time for the start of the trade fair at 9:00 a.m.

After parking in the Rebstock multi-storey car park, the way to the Frankfurt Book Fair grounds was quickly completed thanks to the shuttle bus service and thanks to the extensive information from the Internet about the fair itself, we had at least made a rough plan for the day. As it turned out a little later, it was a good idea, the site is so complex and huge. There's some truth to that - the Frankfurt Book Fair is the largest in the world. Our goal today was mainly the exhibitors in Hall 3.1, so we specifically headed for this complex.

The range of publishing providers could be described as almost endless, at least that's how long the aisles between the exhibition areas of the individual large and small publishers seemed. Everywhere new releases and classics, colorfully mixed with interesting offers, which even made a culinary detour possible. In a corner area, a well-known kitchen manufacturer presented itself in connection with a pot manufacturer for the purpose of presenting the latest cookbook edition by the Austrian TV chef Johann Lafer, who is known not only for the cooking programs "Lanz kocht", "Himmel un Erd", "Enjoy in good German", "The Kitchen Battle", "The Cooking Arena" or "Lafer! Lights! Delicious!" presented, but is also an entrepreneur and non-fiction author and would like to sell the autographed new edition of his cookbook at the book fair. And how could it be otherwise, after a few interviews by a TV crew, the presentation of some quick small dishes to enthusiastic spectators was of course also asked. Directly opposite is a stand that really caught our eye when a couple passed by saying (she to him): "Oh look, the cookbook for the man!"

A little later we met an exhibitor who was developing software for creating apps that would enable website operators to present the content of their website as an app in a simple way via a CMS, a perspective that we are also interested in been busy for a while. Then there was the roundtable of the provider of a forum for young authors to support the publication of first manuscripts, also a good idea. At many stands, authors were actively involved in lectures and readings from their books, so that audiences sometimes formed larger and sometimes smaller groups.

A huge accumulation of television cameras, a flurry of flashbulbs and microphone stands in the air indicated an important event at a trade fair stand from afar. A little later it was clear why this crowd and rush. Just before that, this year's winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature had been chosen, the Canadian Alice Munro, who is considered one of the best contemporary short story writers. She had already made her debut in 1968 with the collection of stories "Tanz der seligen Geister". Since then, further short stories have been published in volume form at regular intervals. These include titles such as "The Love of a Woman" (1998, German 2002), "Heaven and Hell" (2001, German 2004) and "Tricks" (2004, German 2006). Alice Munro never wrote a real novel. In their comments on their short stories, critics repeatedly praise the unbelievable density.

Alice Munro's stories mostly focus on women. Love, marriage and gender relations are Munro's major themes. Munro is alien to romance. They often have an open, unsettling ending. "There is no other short story author who sells better in Germany," said S-Fischer Verlag, which publishes Alice Munro's books in Germany, during the interview. A new volume is already in the works. It should be called "Dear Life". "We are euphoric," said Fischer program director Jörg Bong.

Book fair highlights on the third day of the fair: Friday, October 11, 2013

New dimensions of storytelling at StoryDrive, Prof. Christopher Clark at the Book Fair Talk, Nele Neuhaus on her beginnings as a self-publisher, a photo session with Michel Barnier, EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, the German Cartoon Prize 2013 - we have a selection for you of exciting dates on tomorrow's trade fair day. missed event? Read about it in our blog: www.buchmesse.de/blog. All events on the Friday of the fair can be found at www.buchmesse.de/Eventscalendar

Frankfurt Story Drive

Under the motto "Fiction is real", well-known representatives from the publishing, film, TV and games industries, lateral thinkers and pioneers from technology and science open up a new dimension of storytelling. You are from the future. They are as real as ever. You can touch, experience and influence them. With Ziad Doueiri, Dmitri Glukhovsky, Zak Kadison, Sarah Doole and many more m.

Press representatives can apply for accreditation by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

9.00 a.m. – 6.30 p.m., Europa Room

Hot Spot Tour to the Future of Publishing

A tour of the Frankfurt Hot Spots and their exhibitors: Whether data management, new production services, mobile publishing, digital learning or social reading - the six trade fair areas show the possibilities of digitization.

Registration: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

11.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m

Meeting point: 11 a.m. Clients Lounge, Hall 4.1 F1

Being somewhere else and being different – a child flees from the war

The work "When my father became a bush and I lost my name" is a parabolic story about war, flight, somewhere else and being different, told from the perspective of a girl who is to be brought to safety by traffickers. Conversation and reading with Joke van Leeuwen , the translator Hanni Ehlers

Introduction by Elke Fettweis, deputy Chair of the Working Group for Young People's Literature

11.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m

World Reception Salon, Hall 5.0 E 81

Level 2: Curated shopping in bookstores?

What bookstores can learn from fashion start-ups. With fashion start-up founder Tanja Bogumil.

11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Level 2, Hall 4.0 D106

photo op

Michel Barnier, EU Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, BIEF stand (Bureau International de l'Edition Française), Hall 6.1, A 114. Then: tour (Halls 5, 6 and 3).

11:15 a.m

What does the First World War teach us?

Book Fair Talk with Prof. Christopher Clark, historian; Klaus von Dohnanyi, Hamburg's former mayor, moderation: Thomas Schmid, publisher WELT Group. Media Partner: The World

12.00 – 13.45 Science and specialist information forum, 4.2 B2

Nele Neuhaus on her beginnings as a self-publisher

Crime writer Nele Neuhaus is one of the best examples of how self-publishing can lay the foundation for your own success. Before classic publishers became aware of her, she published her first books in self-financed small editions. In an interview, she reveals how she made it from her tedious first steps to becoming a bestselling author.

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m

Next Generation: Self-Publishing Area, 3.1 G65

Licensing Day

With: Axel Dammler, Icon Kids, Jan Weitendorf, Oetinger, Friso de Jong and others

The Licensing Day starts with a "Trend Check License Market for Children and Youth Issues". Followed by: networking soup and tour of the fair to exhibitors who are successful in the licensing business. Tickets also on site.

11.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m

Kids Bubble, Agora

"Too late!" - The German Cartoon Prize 2013

For the first time, the printed book on the competition is available in time for the award ceremony. Of course, it makes sense that winners will ennoble this volume in a book signing session after the award ceremony. With Antje Haubner (Carlsen gift book/humor), Juergen Boos (Director Frankfurt Book Fair), Renate Herre (Carlsen Verlag) and Ralph Ruthe (filmmaker, artist - Shit happens!)

2 p.m. – 4 p.m

Comic Center, 3.0 K17

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