Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 84 Shanghai is my home turf! (asking for monthly tickets)
2004 was the year when the Shanghai Book Fair was launched.

The predecessor of the Shanghai Book Fair was the Shanghai Edition Book Ordering Fair which started in 1987 and was later renamed the Shanghai Book Trade Fair. However, neither the ordering fair nor the trade fair is open to readers and its cultural influence is limited.

Due to changes in the book market, the function of book fairs gradually weakened and eventually withdrew from the historical stage. In response to the needs of the times, "book exhibitions" began to appear. Ordinary citizens and readers were finally able to enter and visit.

This has led to the addition of cultural activities such as new book releases, author meetings, and book signings.

As an old megacity with a long history and rich cultural atmosphere, Shanghai has always been a battleground for the book industry. This is the first Shanghai Book Fair, so almost all domestic and foreign publishers are out in force.

The best-selling authors are undoubtedly the most dazzling stars in this book fair.

In the meeting room reserved by Chunfeng Society, Shan Yingqi and other staff members and the team brought by Xiao Si are confirming the final details before the performance.

Although the lawsuit has cast a shadow on the relationship between the two, the popularity of Xiao Si's works is unquestionable, and the works to be released now are also the result of contracts signed a long time ago.

This is the most important new book published by Chunfeng Publishing House this year.

Shan Yingqi looked at Xiao Si, who was skinny but had amazing work enthusiasm and energy, and knew that this cooperation might be the last one for both parties - no matter what the final outcome of the ongoing lawsuit was.

This time, Xiao Si came with his own studio "Island", which indicates that in the future Xiao Si will no longer rely on the resources of the publishing house, but will be an independent kingdom in the publishing industry.

As for whether this model of authors rising up and establishing their own publishing houses will be successful, Shan Yingqi cannot predict. But she can feel that the "control" of publishing houses over authors has become increasingly weak. If they do not transform, they will gradually become printing factories for these top authors.

At 10 a.m., someone came in and reminded: "It's time. The reporters are already in place."

Xiao Si nodded, and asked the stylist to confirm again whether there were any problems with his and his team's makeup and hairstyle. Then he led the way out of the conference room and arrived at the new book launch.

This time, the press conference was arranged in accordance with the standards for the release of new movies and new albums in the entertainment industry, with colorful decorations everywhere.

Xiao Si arrived at the venue and was surrounded by the studio members like a star surrounded by the moon. Behind him was a giant book model covered with red cloth.

As Xiao Si symbolically cut the red cloth straps, a book with a white cover and a sleeping face of Xiao Si himself was revealed. Below the cover was the title of the book - "Island"

Xiao Si walked to the microphone and said to all the reporters: "The work I brought today not only belongs to me, but also to my team. This is a magazine that I supervised from topic selection to hiring columnists, including the review of each article and the design of illustrations and posters. Starting from this magazine, Xiao Si is no longer fighting alone, but will fight shoulder to shoulder with them..."

From behind him, several young people dressed in some grand or some fresh clothes came out one after another. The reporters quickly recognized that each of them was a famous rising star in youth literature, Luo Luo, Xiang Siwei, Qi Jinnian...

Everyone exclaimed, these people plus Xiao Si, it is not an exaggeration to say that they account for half of the domestic youth literature. Xiao Si's ambition is probably more than just publishing a magazine, as he can gather so many top authors behind him.

Soon a reporter asked, "Xiao Si, what is your purpose in creating such a magazine?"

Xiao Si answered confidently: "They are the top youth writers in the country, the 'dream team of youth literature'. I hope to work with them to create a dreamlike paradise of words for young people across the country and witness their growth together..."

Soon, another curious reporter caught on to his answer and asked, "When you say 'the best youth writers in the country', do you include Han Han and Zhang Chao?"

Xiao Si calmly replied, "Of course they are also excellent authors, but I believe that as a team, our strength exceeds that of any single author, including myself..." The reporter then asked, "At the last Southern Book Festival, it was said that Zhang Chao's book signing was the most popular and lasted the longest. May I ask if you are launching the team this time to protest to Zhang Chao?"

Xiao Si replied: "It has always been my dream to set up my own studio, not because of anyone. But I want to say - Shanghai is my home ground, I will not lose to anyone here!"

If Han Han, who was holding a press conference on the other side of the book fair, heard this, he would definitely laugh out loud.

At this moment, he was standing next to Lu Jinbo, and together with a dozen other authors, he was promoting Lu Jinbo's "Youth Literature Front".

He originally claimed that he "does not attend seminars, does not hold book signings, does not write prefaces for living people, does not write scripts for others, does not participate in ribbon-cuttings, does not appear in TV dramas..." However, this time, during the break of the rally season, he was able to return to Shanghai to support Lu Jinbo, which shows how much he values ​​this book fair.

Unlike Xiao Si, which only published one magazine, Lu Jinbo brought more than a dozen new books this time, including Han Han's "Five Years" and the novel "Luoyang Chaos". Among them, the first print run of "Luoyang Chaos" was 40 copies, which is the highest first print run of novels this year except for Zhang Chao's "Youth Like You".

Lu Jinbo passionately told reporters: "In the next five years, we will sell more than 1500 million books for these writers every year. We will also create new million-selling writers every year.

By 2009, one-third of the best-selling literary books on the market will come from our "array". These books will promote civilization with their tiny power, which is also the original intention of my involvement in the publishing industry..."

In the following question-and-answer session, Han Han was the focus of everyone. After all, it was not easy to interview him.

The reporter asked: "Han Han, you are from Shanghai, and Shanghai should be your home turf. Facing the 'double attack' from Xiao Si and Zhang Chao this time, did you feel any pressure?"

Han Han's answer is still very characteristic of him: "I still feel that it is more stressful to use the Scandinavian Pendulum to corner on a wet track..."

Lu Jinbo looked at the scene in front of him with satisfaction. He actually knew that Xiao Si had gathered a group of best-selling authors to set up his own faction, but he was still very confident.

The writers and works under his command avoid the market segment of "middle and high school students and female readers" that Xiao Si has been deeply involved in. There are both children's book authors whose readers are as young as elementary school, and relatively young authors like Han Han who cover all genders, which actually "surrounds" Xiao Si.

Of course, if Han Han and Zhang Chao hadn’t fallen out…if Zhang Chao had been more “obedient”…if…

He even had the confidence to wage an "annihilation war" against Xiao Si!
Just as they were feeling proud, several staff members of the book fair suddenly came in from the outside of the press conference and whispered to the reporters one by one. The reporters who heard it interrupted the interview, begged for mercy from Lu Jinbo and others, and hurriedly left the venue.

After a while, the "Youth Literature Array" press conference site was empty, with only a few media outlets that had communicated in advance to follow the event remaining.

The same scene happened at the launch of Xiao Si's "Island" magazine. The staff also came in and whispered, and the venue was also empty...

Xiao Si was still answering the reporter's questions just a moment ago, but the reporter ran away in a hurry before hearing his answers.

His face was pale and he didn't know what was going on. He could only turn around and look at the staff of Chunfeng Society with a pleading look.

Shan Yingqi, who had just received the news, saw this scene and didn't know whether to feel pity for him or sad, so he just sighed.

She said to the president, who had an equally serious expression, "Leader, we can't wait any longer. Let's make a decision quickly, otherwise there won't be any news about our Chunfeng Society in the news of this book fair."

(End of this chapter)