publisher from publishing house Sammakko
How looks work in publishing house?
Right now we are translating mexican writer Roberto Bolaňo. His book 2666 1300 pages. And there will be just 500-700 copies. If you want to publish, need to think also on profit. This book won´t make a big income. Top selling book is about cursing hedgehog...But this books would be hard to sell in Germany for example. They are very polite.You must know the people in country where you publish. People like to look close to edge, but there is some certain line. When is the book still art, but on the border..
What is specific on Sammakko publishing house?
We have our own style, kind of underground. We publish 30 - 40 titles per year. There is 10 people working, also 4 in shops (one in Turku, one in Helsinki). In Sammakko are working very good people I have to say.
Is there anything typical in Finnish literature?
I think we have ability to tell stories. Prose is "down on Earth".
What does it mean to you "a good book"?
Every book is different...I like Russians classics, magic realism, french...The best books are the one, which are doing something with your unconscious. And there must be some humour in books. Even after European´s 1989, we need to be hungry for truth.
What are your challenges?
Economically, we struggle year by year. Also future and phenomena of e-books is dangerous for publisher. We have to follow it and know how to do it. Me personally, I will always prefer normal book.
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