By Erin L. Cox, Publisher | @erinlcox
On November 29th, the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) begins. For more than 10 years, Taiwan has participated in FIL, initially featuring picture books and now expanding to include novels, comics, graphic novels, photography books, and more.The Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) has been the organizer of the Taiwan Pavilion since
2022, striving to introduce Taiwanese writers to Mexican publishers in the hope of increasing rights deals. Taiwan is now attracting the attention of major publishers, including Fondo de Cultura Económica and SM México.
“Because of the challenges that come with translating fiction and non-fiction, many of our clients have
focused more on illustrated works,” said Ulises Benítez, International Rights and Sales Agent, B. K. Agency Ltd. Benítez is a Mexican professional working for an agency representing Taiwanese writers and is working to help foster that connection between the markets.
Taiwanese picture books explore universal subjects that transcend national and cultural boundaries, portraying shared childhood experiences across the world through sophisticated visual storytelling. These writers and illustrators have been recognized worldwide for their work, including being selected for the Illustrators Exhibition at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and receiving the BolognaRagazzi Awards.
“The author and illustrator created a picture book with deeply meaningful illustrations—something truly remarkable, considering how challenging it can be for a creator to convey an important message through the economy of language and the power of imagery,” said Estela Ruiz Torres, Children’s and Young Adult Editor at SM México, who acquired Who Will Read with Me? (¿Quién leerá conmigo?) by Jhih-Wei Hsu, which is forthcoming in Mexico.
It was the artwork and universality of the story that drew Torres.
“The book focuses on two topics of great interest, not only for Mexico and Spanish-speaking countries but also for those of us who create books for children worldwide: the promotion of reading through the development of meaningful bonds between parents (the first reading advocates) and their children.”
Benitez noted that programs from the Taiwan Ministry of Culture and TAICCA like Books from Taiwan, which introduces selected titles to international publishers and the Grant for the Publication of Taiwanese Works in Translation (GPT) have helped publishers who do not read Chinese or who might need financial support to publish these titles in their markets.
TAICCA has also expanded the reach of Taiwanese writers and their work beyond the fair. They have developed a partnership with Mexican chain bookstore Librerías Gandhi to create book displays and events to help facilitate the cultural exchange between Asian writers and Mexican readers.
“The Spanish-language market is vast and diverse, and we’ve seen growing interest in Asian works—especially comics and young adult fiction,” said Benítez. “At FIL Guadalajara, our agency has supported Taiwanese authors already published in Spanish by helping them continue promoting their books through presentations, media appearances, and professional meetings.”
The combination of both supporting rights deals at FIL and reaching out into the Mexican marketplace to introduce books and writers directly to readers has helped foster this growing market.
Last year, Bei Lynn was TAICCA’s featured author at FIL. The first Spanish edition of her book Practicing Goodbye was published by Mexican publisher Castillo and that publication has prompted a Spanish publisher to consider licensing the book as well.
Jimmy Liao has approximately 20 books available in Spanish, which helped spark interest from both publishers and readers in Taiwanese picture books. His most recent book Where Will I Be Tomorrow? (¿Dónde estaré mañana?) was published by Fondo de Cultura Económica in 2024.
“With the growing global interest in Asian creations, more Spanish-language publishers are now open to Taiwanese fiction and non-fiction,” said Benítez. “We’ve noticed a particular rise in demand for works by women and stories that explore women’s experiences. At the same time, younger readers are looking for books that reflect their realities—love and friendship, social pressure, education, and personal growth.”
This year at FIL, the Taiwan Pavilion, themed “Hogar de Historias,” can be found at Booth KK34, where it will be featuring 98 original titles from 25 Taiwanese publishing houses, spanning genres from animal tales, true crime, and sci-fi to dark comedy.
Featured books include the international bestseller Ghost Town by Kevin Chen; A City Of Sadness: 33th Anniversary Edition, a visual book that captures the essence of Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s film of the same name; Chih-Yuan Chen’s internationally acclaimed picture book The Featherless Chickens Met the Hungry Wolf; The Museum of Tears by Xianya Huang; and comics YAN by Chang Sheng and OKEN by Wu Shih-Hung.
Also, the two featured artists, illustrator Hsueh Hui Yin and manga creator Ding Pao Yen, will be visiting Mexico in person, participating in events both at the fair and beyond. They will share ideas with fellow creators and meet local readers, offering a unique opportunity to experience Taiwan’s creativity up close and connect personally with the artists behind the stories.
For more information on Asian book markets click here, for more information specifically on Taiwan and its book business click here.