For Chiara Stanziani, the world of books has always been a place of fascination. Now an agent at the Helsinki Literary Agency (HLA), she works to bring outstanding Finnish literature to global audiences, ensuring that authors find new readerships across borders.

Her journey into publishing has been shaped by persistence, curiosity, and a bit of luck. After starting with internships and part-time roles, she eventually found her place in literary rights, where she now focuses on building strong relationships with international publishers and navigating the complexities of book translation and sales.

In this interview, Stanziani shares her experiences as a new literary agent, her biggest challenges, and the highlights of a recent publishing workshop in Slovenia. She also reflects on the changing landscape of literary rights sales and her ambitions for the future.

How long have you been working in the publishing industry?

I have been working in publishing full-time for about a year now as a literary agent, but I gained previous experience through internships and part-time positions over the past few years.

What has been the most challenging aspect of your role so far?

As a new agent, one of the biggest challenges has been establishing a solid and diverse professional network. That’s why I was particularly excited to take part in this project—it provided a fantastic opportunity to meet new people in the industry.

What personal goals drive your work in publishing?

I am deeply passionate about literature and thrilled to be part of a field that helps books transcend language barriers. Since I work for a foreign agency in another European country, I’m especially eager to introduce more Finnish books to my home country and beyond.

How did you first get into publishing?

A combination of persistence and good fortune! After finishing university, I moved to Finland for a job that wasn’t related to publishing. However, I always knew that I wanted to work with books, and I had applied for numerous publishing roles—without success.

Then, one day, after reading a particularly compelling Finnish book, I decided to take a chance and contact the agency that represented the author. I asked if they happened to be looking for an intern or trainee and shared how impressed I was with their catalog. To my surprise, they told me they were accepting applications, and that’s how I ended up joining them—first as an intern and now as an agent!

What were your expectations before traveling to Slovenia for the workshop?

I didn’t have any specific expectations because I knew very little about Slovenia’s publishing industry. However, I was aware that Slovenia had recently been the Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair, so I had done some research. One thing that surprised me was how popular poetry is in Slovenia—I was curious to learn more about that and to get a better understanding of the country’s literary landscape.

What was the most memorable part of your experience?

I really enjoyed exploring Ljubljana and attending the lectures that were prepared for us. It was my first time visiting the city, and I was struck by how beautiful it is—plus, I found it amusing to see dragon statues everywhere!

On the professional side, the lectures were very insightful. We had the chance to discuss how to improve book proposals and learn about Slovenia’s experience as Guest of Honour at Frankfurt from an insider’s perspective.

What were your impressions of Založba Goga?

I was impressed by Goga’s ability to build a catalog with a clear personality and style. Beyond that, the team was incredibly welcoming, and I wasn’t expecting to find such a charming bookshop and café attached to the publishing house. The fact that they host regular literary events and readings makes it an even more dynamic and engaging space. It’s especially remarkable considering that they are based in a smaller town rather than in the capital.

What insights did you gain from the workshops?

I took away a lot of valuable industry knowledge. We discussed best practices for book proposals and international book fairs, but we also explored technological solutions for publishing.

With the rapid pace of technological advancements, it was fascinating to compare different digital tools and software that could help us in our work. Finding ways to streamline workflows and improve efficiency is becoming increasingly important in our industry.