René Solís invites you to reflect on the past, present and future of the edition

The challenges of the Mexican publishing industry are four: making good books, distributing them well, deepening the reader’s knowledge and promoting the dissemination of works.considered René Solís, legendary figure in the world of letters and author of Between books and editors. Memoirs, published by Tusquets.

Solís, a key figure in the Mexican publishing world, played a leading role between 1974 and 2002 in opening marketing channels that continue to set the standard in this country’s market. He was director of Grupo Planeta México (1996-2002) and directed the company Promexa for two decades, which marketed thousands of copies at a time when distribution was one of the biggest challenges in the sector.

In his publication, structured in 10 sections spread over 197 pages, Solís recovers the efforts to bring literature to the public at a time when books were not available on the Internet and bookstores were scarce. Among its strategies, sales through telephone orders and in self-service stores stood out, which transformed the way literary works were obtained.

It is not a manual or an instruction manual, it is simply a personal testimony from a very specific time.Solis explained.

In his house, in Coyoacan, surrounded by volumes in English and French, many of them inherited from their mothershared that his purpose in writing this work was to rethink his work as an editor and transmit his experience to those who have an interest or vocation for the industry.

The text also describes the relationships that Solís forged with writers such as Carlos Monsivais, José Emilio Pacheco, Jorge Ibargüengoitia, Juan José Arreola and Octavio Paz. One of the most special cases for him was that of Eladia González, whose first novel Who like God It became an unexpected success. He also remembers his connection with Kathryn S. Blair and her work In the shadow of the Angelinspired by the life of Antonieta Rivas Mercado.

In reviewing half a century of his work, the author regrets not having included a chapter on the presence of women in publishing. Figures such as Neus Espresate (1934-2017), founder of ERA, stand out; the Argentine Victoria Ocampo (1890-1979), from Sur, and Virginia Woolf, creator of Hogarth Press.

This is one of the spheres where gender has not been a selection criterion. They have been fundamental in the development of the sector. In my case, gender was never a reference for hiring, if I had the skills, I was hired.

For Solís, digital changes have revolutionized the area. The way a manuscript is worked on is totally different; Although it is already part of our daily lives, it is an immense change that we sometimes overlook.. He also stressed that access to publications has improved significantly thanks to technology, allowing readers to acquire works quickly and efficiently.

Faced with the voices that predict the disappearance of the printed book, Solís is optimistic: You just have to go to the Guadalajara International Book Fair to see that this is not true. Printed and digital works are parallel formats that expand the market of readers.

For Solís, the editor has a role that goes beyond selling works, it has to do with the construction of the culture and literature of a country, It is up to you to identify talents, valuable texts, and not only literary ones, but also history, politics, and science, that is your contribution. But this work must be done in constant dialogue with academic institutions.

The importance of fairs

He highlighted the role of book fairs as essential spaces to connect readers with works and encourage cultural exchange. Events such as the fairs in Guadalajara, Monterrey and the Palacio de Minería are essential to keep the passion for reading alive..

Solís also highlighted the importance of Mexico having more good quality and better used libraries, We must improve the use of these spaces and ensure that they are seen as a cultural axis.

Con Between books and editors René Solís not only shares his legacy as an editor, but also invites us to reflect on the past, present and future of an industry that continues to be key in the cultural construction of Mexico.

Between books and editors. Memoirs It will be presented tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Rosario Castellandos bookstore of the Fondo de Cultura Económica (Tamaulipas Avenue 202, Hipodromo Condesa neighborhood).