Experience at the Paris Book Market 2025
A Rewarding Journey into Global Publishing
Shubhali Chopra is acquisitions and commissioning editor for Hachette India.
Building Global Connections
The Paris Book Market was a great platform to meet and discuss business with publishers from France and other countries. It was bustling with colleagues from across the world and was a breeding ground for ideas, potential translation projects and co-publishing opportunities.
Expanding Non-Fiction Horizons
The areas where it can do better is by approaching more publishers to showcase their lists for non-fiction reference. I say this because it is headlined as a book market and not a literary fair. There is a vast avenue for publishing books in that sector, we at our publishing house have a separate division to cater to it and would love to see more representation for that potential.
Navigating Rights and Financial Hurdles
A barrier we faced is that English rights are usually given out bundled for the UK and the Commonwealth, hence the negotiations are taking a bit longer as the rights owners try and free those up. The second barrier is of course financial, when planning colours.
Current Projects and Future Endeavors
I am currently discussing the rights for a couple of European comics and re-introducing them to the Indian market after a long break in their availability. Another project I am keen to discuss are large-size visual reference books that cover global art, mythology and General Knowledge concepts in India. The French Publishers have stunning illustrations that set them apart and I am looking to bring some of those for the Children’s non-fiction list.
Shubhali Chopra is the acquisitions and commissioning editor for the Reference division at Hachette India, building market-led non-fiction lists. Part of the Paris-based Hachette Group, the company publishes over 70 books annually and is India’s third-largest publisher.
Bringing French Literature to Tamil Readers
Aananth Daksnamurthy is the founder of Two Shores Press, India.
Discovering Contemporary French Voices
Before my visit, I already sensed that French literature was far broader than the modern classics Tamil publishers repeatedly retranslate, Camus being the obvious example. But, this awareness became much clearer. Participants introduced me to a vibrant range of contemporary French writers such as Virginie Despentes, Constance Debré, and Raphaëlle Red, whose boldness and stylistic experimentation could genuinely broaden the Tamil literary landscape, which is still relatively conservative.
The Strength of the French Book Market
One of the clear strengths of the French book market is the sheer range of original writing, particularly young, bold voices producing boundary-pushing work. These books could resonate strongly in India if introduced with the right positioning and marketing.
Challenges in Bringing French Works to India
An important realization for me was that many remarkable French works may never reach readers in Indian languages unless they first appear in English because acquisitions happen if a translator brings the project. Even then, many publishers hand over the entire process to the translator without really engaging with the book. I personally cannot work that way. I need to be involved editorially, and I cannot operate on the assumption that a grant will cover all costs.
Thoughtful Acquisition and Future Plans
We are in the process of securing translation rights to a few French titles. We are being deliberate rather than rushing to acquire a large list. I personally scout titles, so many of the books haven’t yet appeared on anyone else’s radar in the Tamil market.
Aananth Daksnamurthy is an emerging voice in indie publishing and the founder of Two Shores Press, operating between Tiruchirappalli and New York. In 2026, he will publish the Tamil edition of Sarah Jollien-Fardel’s Sa préférée (Sabine Wespieser).
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