The Gothenburg Book Fair is regarded as one of the biggest events of the year, both as a meeting place and as a marketing platform for the publishers. But this year, the fair is threatened by the ongoing corona crisis, which has created great concern in the publishing industry.

"No easy decision"

On Monday, it was clear that Norstedt's publishers will not attend this year's fair, confirms Olle Lidbom, Head of Communications for Norstedts.

- It has not been an easy or fun decision, but we cannot credibly tell our clients and writers that everything is as usual and that they should book tickets, travel, hotels and plan their author talks.

- We want to conduct a fair that is fun, safe and secure, and we cannot do that this year. That is why we are over and will return in 2021, says Olle Lidbom to the Culture News.

The book fair is a big event in literature Sweden, how does it affect you that you are not there this year?

- There are few publishers who make money from going to the book fair. It is primarily a marketing window for hundreds of thousands of book lovers. We sell a lot of books, but that's not the main reason we're there. It does not mean that we are relinquishing a financial disadvantage. 

May be implemented digitally

The book fair has received criticism from the publishing industry, which has been waiting for information on whether the fair will be off or not. The organizers have presented two proposals: that the fair gets off in physical form but with some restrictions or that it is arranged digitally.

But Olle Lidbom is not impressed.

- We thank you no to what the organizers have presented as plan A. When it comes to plan B, we feel we have too little information. We think that the book fair should be a physical meeting place. We are aiming for 2021 and continued good dialogue with the fair around it, says Olle Lidbom.

- It is, above all, a hard blow for the visitors and the writers. This is a natural starting point during the literary year, but we also feel that in the long run it would hurt the book fair to carry out a half-measure. We believe that just as one can move forward a Håkan Hellström concert, one can move forward the book fair.

The book fair will be held in Gothenburg on September 24-27.