2. Does Il Lanternino deprive editorial and literary agencies of work?
Not if they are providing added value. Many agencies work under contract for publishing houses and could be prime users of the services offered by Il Lanternino. However, il Lanternino does seek to stamp out the procurers of ghostwriters and those who charge fees for empty promises of editorial introductions. Translators, by and large, do not have sufficient profit margins to spend on broker’s services. Il Lanternino offers them new opportunities to play an active role in an editorial market in which, up to now, they have been passive participants.

3. Normally a translator does not hold publication rights. If this is the case, does it make sense to propose new titles to publishers?
No, it doesn’t. However, translators often develop excellent contacts with foreign authors. It is strongly recommended that translators obtain an option on the publication rights before putting together a proposal. Failure to do so may result in them wasting time on works for which a publisher has already negotiated translation rights, in which case, the Italian publisher may already have found a translator.

4. How can translators protect their work against plagiarism?
Good relationships are built over a long period. When in doubt, and especially if the translator does not hold exclusive translation rights, it may be a good idea to protect yourself by lodging your work with the OLAF (Opere Letterarie ed Arti Figurative) section of SIAE (http://www.siae.it/olaf_doi.asp). The work is lodged for a period of five years, renewable; the fee is €110 and the application can be made by post, by filling in form 350, which is downloadable from the SIAE site.

5. What does Il Lanternino offer translators, apart from a publisher?
A colleague to help them meet a deadline, a colleague with a different training or specialization to work in tandem, an editor or a proof-reader.

6. What does Il Lanternino offer foreign authors?
A professional who will introduce them to Italian publishers by means of a book profile or a translation proposal, in particular for niche titles, not intended for mass distribution. It is in the best interest of foreign authors – whether known or unknown in Italy – to grant options on publication rights to translators.

7. What does Il Lanternino offer publishers?
• Book profiles and translation proposals concerning works by up-and-coming or established foreign authors, together with all the information needed to put the material into context, the degree of success encountered by the title in other countries and a clear idea of who holds the publication/translation rights;
• Translators who are already “tuned in” to the works they propose for translation; the assurance of a short lead time, given the ease with which teams of translators and editors can be put together;
• Experienced editorial revisers/editors;
• Opportunities to launch new series or fill gaps in their catalogue;
• Scouting for new talents at no cost and with little effort, because this comes free with the proposals.

8. Which language pairs does Il Lanternino welcome?
Any, but in particular from any language into Italian.

9. Who can become a Mentor?
Anyone with specific expertise, derived from teaching, translating or any other professional activity, but also, for example, from a graduate dissertation. The database for mentors specifies their particular source of expertise.

10. What can a Spark do?
• Contact publishers and cultural organizations to encourage them to subscribe to the newsletter.
• Link the project’s website, www.lanternino.net, from their own site. Welcome promoters and authors.
• Assist with website development, secretarial and sundry activities.

11. Why choose Lampi di Stampa?
Because Lampi di Stampa provides a print-on-demand service, using digital printing tools, not traditional typesetting. This is ideal for the small print runs which often characterize niche genres. Lampi di Stampa is part of the Gruppo Messaggerie Italiane, one of Italy’s major publishing groups. They ensure that the published titles are well distributed and offer preferential access to the Group’s more traditional publishing houses (Longanesi, Guanda, Corbaccio, Tea, Garzanti, Vallardi) for titles they regard as promising. It should be stressed that publishing via Lampi di Stampa is an alternative option for those proposals which have not found an interested publisher, and/or if it is what the author and translator of a title prefer.