By Josemaría Moreno
On the occasion of World Book Day, I interviewed Nahum Torres, the founder and editor of Ediciones Periféricas and Librosampleados. Nahum has a long history as an independent publisher, and his works can always be found at book fairs across Mexico. He recently appeared at the San Miguel de Allende Writers Conference, presenting a series of English translations of some of his authors for a new project called Librosbooks. Nahum’s sense of humor and frankness are unbeatable elements when he speaks, as evident in this interview. His contribution to the publishing world of works on the periphery is an invaluable example of the potential in this ancient and worthy profession.
JM: When did you decide to leave writing and become an editor?
NT: I don’t see writing and editing as antagonistic, although I prefer the path of (independent) editor to that of writer. Something in me tells me that it is less «personal» from the perspective that the books published in both Ediciones Periféricas (EP) and Librosampleados (LS) do not necessarily have anything to do with me: they are neither self-referential nor a mirror of my soul.
JM: What is your background in the publishing world?
NT: I consider it atypical in the sense that I am not part of any group or cultural aristocracy, although I am part of the Do-It-Yourself culture. It’s as if I’m a punk with no crests or studs. And in that sense, self-management has been the way to survive for both LS and EP.
JM: What is your perception of the publishing world in Mexico today?
NT: In short, the prevailing logic is that of the State with its publishers, its scholarships, its awards, its fairs, its bookstores, its libraries, its authors. Everything that is not a State decision is minuscule, almost non-existent, unless it comes from a transnational publishing consortium and its market logic, which has its own broadcast channels, fairs, etc. Both dominate the editorial imagination in Mexico.
JM: What are the biggest challenges and problems facing a publisher in Mexico today?
NT: I haven’t done a survey and I don’t know if there is a consensus. If anything, I have set myself a challenge, which is to build the credibility of Librosampleados and Ediciones Periféricas in a country where cultural entrepreneurship–and, therefore, publishing–are closely related to the logic of State or publishing consortiums. I consider precariousness (social) the biggest issue.
JM: How did you become a recognized independent publisher?
NT: After five years and publishing more than 66 titles, I think that Ediciones Periféricas is just getting a little (I underline “a little”) bit of visibility. Recognition, for me, is something else.
JM: As the founder and editor of EP and LS, what do you think is the greatest attraction of an undertaking like yours in the publishing scene?
NT: I really don’t know what the greatest attraction is. On the contrary, I think it is being developed.
JM: What is your opinion of Mexico being a country with few readers, and what do you think editors like you can do to make reading more popular in the country?
NT: From the idealistic «country of readers» of Foxism to the «Republic of Readers» of the 4T (Fourth Transformation), 20 years have passed. With these slogans you already get an idea of how cultural policies have been implemented in Mexico in terms of promoting reading. We are talking about purely good intentions. What we do at EP and LS is to help these cultural policies from the sidelines, from precariousness itself.
JM: What do you think about self-publishing writers?
NT: To those who practice self-publishing, I congratulate you.
JM: Do you think self-publishing is a viable publishing alternative or a threat to the publishing establishment?
NT: It is a viable and real alternative, so much so that it is also part of publishing and corporations. In other words, publishing platforms and consortiums are aware of it and are nourished by this publishing strategy.
