The Odiseja Publishing Agency, one of the most prominent publishers of children’s and young adult literature in Serbia, has recently turned to adult titles as well. Our books are carefully selected and include outstanding works of fiction, educational books on ecology and civil education, fiction addressing important social issues, classic works of literature, given our dedication to the development of social awareness and promotion of the local cultural scene, and our belief that such books are in fact commercial. A relatively moderate number of books published annually allows us to pay meticulous attention to each title and to increase our presence on the market, in the media and the public sphere in general. Our associates, the best among the Serbian writers, illustrators and translators, contributed hugely to our success. Our editions are often awarded and sometimes translated to other languages. We take great pride in having benefited from the EACEA grants programme ever since its beginning Serbia. We regularly exhibit at the Belgrade and Frankfurt book fairs.
PUBLISHING:
Odiseja continues the tried-and-tested strategy of publishing only the carefully selected titles clustered in a few clearly conceptualized editions, since our focus is quality and comprehensive promotion rather than the sheer number of published books. Our books are carefully selected as we seek to promote development of social awareness and of the cultural scene (by selecting outstanding works of fiction, educational books on ecology and civil education, fiction addressing important social issues, classic works of literature), believing that such books are in fact commercial. A relatively moderate number of books published annually allows us to pay meticulous attention to each title, seeking to increase our presence on the market, in the media and the public sphere in general. We only engage those associates, be it illustrators, translators, expert consultants, that we believe will offer their best performance in a particular project.
Our publishing programme is divided into the children’s and the adult section.
Among the children’s editions, the following two are very successful:
* Fictional journeys (Prozna putovanja) is a collection of children’s novels written by outstanding, award-winning authors, both in the fields of classic and contemporary literature, who proved able to communicate with the interests, concerns and joys of a XXI century child. We discovered that great children’s novels can in fact achieve great popularity even if treating the so-called difficult subjects: children with disabilities (Sleepovers by Jacqueline Wilson), child abuse (Secrets by Jacqueline Wilson), Roma inclusion (Enchanted Class by Ivona Březinová), anorexia (35 Calories Without Sugar by Jasminka Petrović), etc. In 2009, this edition won the Belgrade Book Fair Prize for the Best Children’s edition. Some of the novels in this edition have been supported by the EACEA.
* My world (Moj svet) is an edition of educational books on different subjects (mostly the ecology and civil society building), mainly in the format of picture books and workshop manuals since the edition is intended for 6-9 year-olds.
As to our adults editions we are especially proud of *Kaleidoscope, where we present novels by assorted multicultural authors who write in languages different from their mother tongues, whether by choice, need or origin (Nabokov, Tabucchi, Swedish Moroccan Junas Hassen Khemiri, Finnish Swedish Tove Jansson, French writer of Spanish origin Carole Martinez, etc.). We believe that works by this group of authors, portraying a world perceived through a reach and complex cultural heritage, are the hallmark of a contemporary world, a place where different histories, cultures and literary traditions are organically intertwined.
This year we started a new edition for young adults, the Calypso, where we intend to publish novels tackling dilemmas and lives of the youth stuck in a contemporary world, particularly the young women. * The Flea market is actually a bit more than an edition – it is where all non-fiction books find their place: memoirs, popular psychology, ecology, etc.
PRizes:
2009, Belgrade Book Fair Prize for The best children edition for the edition Prozna putovanja (Fictional Journeys).
2010, the Dositejevo pero award for 35 calories without sugar, a novel by Jasminka Petrović. (This award is a Serbian equivalent to the Smarties Prize, since the jury consists of children, in this case over 200 schoolchildren.)
2011, the Dositejevo pero award for the Six and a Half Worst Flirts Since the Beginning of Time, a novel by Robert Takarič.
International activities:
In October 2010, Odiseja exhibited at the Frankfurt Book Fair for the first time, along with several other members of the Serbian Publishers and Booksellers Association. The Odiseja Publishing Agency can now be found in the biggest publisher’s catalogue in the world, the Frankfurt Book Fair Catalogue.
As a member of this association Odiseja initiated opening of the Serbian National Section of the International Board on Books for Young people (IBBY), arguably the most significant international organisation focusing on children’s literature.
The Belgrade International Book Fair, where we have exhibited since 2004, remains the most important publishing event in the region. In the last 2 years we participated in the country in focus programme (Brazil, Portugal and Angola 2011, Sweden 2010), with the Odiseja editions presented at the guest’s pavilion and included in various promotions. Our excellent cooperation with the Swedish Institute brought about several successful joint projects and promotions, including our guest visit to Gothenburg in 2007. The Belgrade International Book Fair is the only book fair where we regularly exhibit. We are also present at various local book fairs throughout the year and visit different regional and international book fairs.
DISTRIBUTION:
Our books are available in bookstores, toy shops, gift shops, online book shops and hypermarkets across Serbia, as well as in several specialized book shops abroad. Please find their address at kupovina.
Full name: Odiseja Publishing Agency, Belgrade (Samostalna agencija za izdavaštvo Odiseja)
Address: Dobračina 5, 11000 Belgrade
VAT number: 103132307
Internet address: www.odiseja.co.rs
Tel: +381 11 26 20 521, 26 21 375
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
BACK LIST OF SELECTED TITLES:
Books for children
Edition Fictional journeys:
Philippa Pearce, Tom’s Midnight Garden
Iva Procházková, Wir treffen uns, wenn alle weg sind (We’ll meet when there is no one else)
Eva Ibbotson, Journey to the River Sea
Jacqueline Wilson, The Story of Tracy Beaker (pre press phase)
Jacqueline Wilson, Sleepovers
Jacqueline Wilson, Secrets
Jacqueline Wilson, The Illustrated Mum
Astrid Lindgren, Ronja Rövardotter (Ronia the Robber's Daughter)
Astrid Lindgren, Mio, min Mio (My Son Mio)
Astrid Lindgren, Barnen på Bråkmakargatan (Lotta Says No)
Astrid Lindgren, Lotta på Bråkmakargatan (Lotta Makes a Mess)
Ivona Březinová, Začarovaná třída (The Enchanted Class)
Jonathan Stroud, Bartimaeus Trilogy: Amulet from Samarkand, Golem’s Eye, Ptolemy’s Gate
Jonathan Stroud, The Ring of Solomon (pre press phase)
Tove Jansson, Kometen kommer (Comet in Moominland)
Michael Lawrence, Jiggy McCue stories (The Poltergoose, The Killer Underpants, The Meanest Genie, TheToilet of Doom, The Snoottle, Nudie Dudie, Neville the Devil, Ryan’s Brain (pre press)
Jasminka Petrović, 35 kalorija bez šećera (35 Calories Without Sugar; copyrights sold to Sweden and Hungary)
Robert Takarič, Šest i po najgorih muvanja od postanka sveta (6 ½ Worst Flirt Atempts since the Beggining of Time)
Paul Maar, Onkel Florians fliegender Flohmarkt (Uncle Florian’s Flying Circus)
Michael Coleman, Internet Detectives I-III
Michael Coleman, Going Straight (pre press phase)
Edition My world:
David Bellamy, 101 Ways to Save the Earth
David Suzuki, Eco Fun
Marija Vukosavljević, Recikligranje (Recycling games), part one and two
Mike Manning and Brita Granstrom, Wonderwise series (What if? The story of recycling, Тhe World is Full of Babies, What’s Up?, What is under the bed?)
Roberto Marchesini, Imariamo a conoscere i nostri amici animali (Meet our Animals Friends)
Text books for civil education in primary schools
Edition Family stories:
Neil Gaiman, The Day I Swapped my Dad for two Goldfish
Jasminka Petrović, Mame (Mothers; copyrights sold to Sweden)
Tove Jansson, Hur gick det sen? (What happened then? The story about Moomin)
Jens Ahlbom, Jonatan på måsberget (Jonathan of Gull Mountain)
Books for adults
Edition Kaleidoscope:
Vladimir Nabokov, Pnin
Carole Martinez, Le coeur cousu (Women’s testament)
Tove Jansson, Sommarboken (Summer book)
Jonas Hassen Khemiri, Ett öga rött (One eye red)
Antonio Tabucchi, Notturno indiano (Indian nocturne)
Edition Calypso:
Bebeti Do Amaral Gurgel, O Diário Super Secreto De Carolina
Katarina Mazetti: Graben i graven bredvid (pre press)
Katarina Mazetti: Familjegraven (translation process)
Edition Flea market:
(Non-fiction books on different subjects)
Clive Ponting, The New Green History of the World
Luis Wolpert, Depression, a Malignant Sadness
Robin Skinner and John Cleese, Families and How to Survive them
Robin Skinner and John Cleese, Life and How to Survive it
Sofka Zinovieff: Red Princess: A Revolutionary Life
Rudi Dallos, Sally Dallos, Couples, Sex and Power: The Politics of Desire
James Frey, A million Little Pieces
Stephen Whitehead, Many Faces of Man