One of your biggest challenges, the Scottish publishing industry is in a Brexit and its consequences. About the risks for your business and a prominent supporter of two Publishers languages in the DW-Interview.
DW: How Scottish publishers react to the developments around the Brexit?
Vikki Reilly: The real Problem is that we still know nothing Precise. On the one hand the whole time, on the other hand, you can plan, nothing Concrete, because you just know nothing Concrete. We must set ourselves apart as a publisher constantly in order that the British pound fluctuates. If you measure a book like this, driving here, then, is for us more expensive. There’s a lot of work ahead of us to organize everything properly, because we simply know what is coming.
Lucy Feather: Just as an example, It could be that in the near future for every single Person at the fair needs a visa when coming to Europe.
Reilly: Oh, we just don’t know it, because we don’t know the Details of what is going to happen now and how cooperation with Europe to continue to run. This is really frustrating. In Scotland – and I’m not sure, other UK publishers to do it differently – we have close relations with the international book market. And that is a good thing, because, fortunately, we have established this, despite all the political developments and maintained. We want to make our books known all over the world, because Scottish books are just too good to keep only for ourselves.
How torn Scotland in the Brexit question?
Reilly: The polarization generated by the issue of Brexit, which is lower than the one that caused the issue of independence in Scotland! Almost every Scottish Region voted to remain in the EU – I think there were 62 percent that voted for the whereabouts. Our government is trying very hard to make this clear. She says our EU colleagues that we are still open for business, that we want to continue to trade with them and that we want to maintain the relationships continue.
Feather: Nicola Sturgeon recently organized a panel discussion with the publishers and asked them about the challenges in the Scottish publishing business. One of the biggest, so came out, the Brexit and what would follow him. This shows that the Prime Minister of Scotland definitely has to the culture of the industry and the publishers as well as they can, would like to support.
Reilly: Yes, she is a great supporter of the Scottish book industry. It is great that we have someone of this calibre and profile to our page.
What could change for Scottish publisher yet?
Reilly: it May be that Export-relations and the production can take damage – however, we hope that happens. We have publishers that have to do with other European publishers, so we have to watch this – but we have to observe also in the world, if one thinks, for example, in the recent Trump duties collected for books… Which requires constant vigilance! But, you know, we must not despair therefore, you must adapt to the changes in the world.
In this regard, you don’t sound particularly anxious or have you resigned in the meantime, just?
Reilly: Yes, I think we are at the point where we have more and more resigned. Because this uncertainty has existed for so long and actually still continues to exist. There is still the possibility that it will not happen. Things change on a daily basis. It is tiring to want to with all up to date. As long as you stay on the same height with the actual events… And hopefully there is soon a clearer idea of how the future will develop. In the end it is only sad for us, because the culture belongs to, to reach out and be open. To create barriers, therefore, is simply a shame and a waste of time.