Turning over a new page

Book-savvy Beijingers know that the written word takes over the city in spring. From February 25 to March 23, a host of writers, publishers and bookworms have the hard task of dividing their attention between two events that mark the most exciting chapter of the year for the local literati: the Capital M Literary Festival from February 25 to March 4 and The Bookworm International Literary Festival (BLF) from March 9 to 23. This year, BLF has recruited Chinese literary heavyweights for its sixth annual festival, while the Capital M Literary Festival relies on the international talent and decade-long prestige of its affiliate event at M on the Bund in Shanghai to broaden its appeal in the capital.

"This literary festival season is my favorite time of the year in Beijing," said Chris Hawke, a self-confessed book fan who has never missed either event during his four years living in the city.

"When I found out that there was a second festival [last year], I rolled my eyes. But I was really impressed to find both events were well organized and boasted a great slate of quality writers," explained Hawke, a journalism lecturer at the Communications University of China. "I thought the M Festival would be smaller, but when I got there I realized how big it was."

Impressed with novelist Yan Lianke's lecture last year and pleasantly surprised by the addition of slam poetry, Hawke bought a ticket for the Art of Profile at the Capital M festival, and is on the waiting list to see author Yu Hua and a panel of journalists at The Bookworm.

M makes its mark

Tucked away from the expat hub of Sanlitun and overlooking the city's iconic Tiananmen Square, the Capital M Literary Festival made a modest yet nonetheless impressive debut last year. Its follow-up event this year brings to town 25 celebrities who will head 21 talks and activities in the fields of literature, gastronomy, photography and economics.

"The idea was always to bring many of the authors from Shanghai to Beijing when we began last year," explained festival co-organizer, Tina Kanagaratnam. "We bring different perspectives and ideas into the city by inviting writers, many whom are visiting China for the first time."

The Capital M festival might be smaller than its Shanghai counterpart, but the three-week gala still boasts 87 authors from 17 countries. Among them are Chinese-American novelist and author of The Joy Luck Club Amy Tan and Simpsons' creator Matt Groening, who will mark the 10th anniversary of the festival in Shanghai but won't be coming to Beijing.

The Shanghai festival started with one author its first year, growing through cooperation with the Hong Kong International Literary Festival and consequently livening up a location that was little more than a cluster of government buildings.

Still relatively unknown to the local audience and located in a five-star venue that possibly limits its draw to a wider fan base, the Capital M book gala currently relies on a stellar program and a stylish atmosphere where people meet for a taste of food and words without necessarily buying a book. However, the next couple of years might be enough to repeat the success of its festival predecessor in Shanghai.

The Bookworm bug

BLF will host 75 speakers, a third of whom are Chinese. The city's primordial bookstore for expats looking for Chinese literature translated into English expanded the size and scope of its annual event with parallel activities, such as incorporating a children's program, musical performances and an international migrant school's outreach program.

"Our programming aims to represent the same diversity," said BLF director, Kadi Hughes. "We look for authors from different parts of the world, along with different genres - fiction, non-fiction, China experts, performance poetry, short fiction and experimental verse - by writers who represent different voices."

Some book fans have complained that the rising popularity of the BLF has meant a longer waiting list and ticket price hike, but that hasn't deterred another loyal turn out anticipated this year. "We strongly believe that literature is for everyone. We want to keep the festival as affordable as possible and as open to as many people as possible. Parts of our program are free, while other parts are scaled back because we have increasing costs," Hughes explained.

Big names, big appeal

Whether they are in the book business or merely looking to get a glimpse of the people who wrote their favorite stories, authors, publishers and bookworms are unanimous in praising the event.

"The Bookworm International Literary Festival is making a significant contribution to the branding of Beijing as a cosmopolitan cultural capital. It is a 'name card' for Beijing," noted Shanghai-born, Hong Kong-raised and now Beijing-based author, Chan Koon-chung. "Sinophone authors from all over the world could definitely use a higher collective profile through attending international literary festivals such as these."

Among them is Harvey Thomlinson, a British Hong Kong-based translator with Make-Do publishing. He bills the festivals as "tremendous platforms for Chinese writers and important windows into Chinese fiction."

"The festivals help raise publishers' awareness of what is going on with Chinese fiction, and help them find a market. Chinese writers meet new audiences, too," explained Thomlinson, adding that China is one of the featured countries at the 2012 London Book Fair.

Capital M Literary Festival

When: February 25-March 4

Where: 3/F, 2 Qianmen Pedestrian Street (southeast of Qianmen), Dongcheng district

Tickets: 20 yuan (kids/students)/65 yuan (adults). Includes complimentary drink. Literary lunch costs 188 yuan.

Contact: Phone 6702-2727 or visit:

www.m-restaurantgroup.com/capitalm/literary-festival.html

Bookworm International Literary Festival

When: March 9-23

Where: Courtyard 4, Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang district

Tickets: Some events free, others priced between 50-100 yuan

Contact: 6586-9507 or visit:

www.bookwormfestival.com