The Odiseja Publishing Agency is a prominent Serbian publisher known for high quality contemporary literature, particularly children’s books and translated outstanding fiction from small countries, mostly Scandinavian. 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/CE grants programme ever since its beginning in Serbia (9 successfully finished Literary translation projects and 10th in process). 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.

In edition for young adults, the Calypso, we 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.

* EUPL is special edition in which we present the winners of European Union Prize for Literature.

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 novelby 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 novelby 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 several 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