European Women Voices in Graphic Novels

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Founded in 2005, Editions çà et là is an independent publishing house specializing in French-language editions of graphic novels written and drawn by international authors. Over those two decades, we have published 215 books by 112 authors from 33 countries, including 82 graphic novels from Europe. Our catalogue includes translations from German, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Slovenian, Turkish, and English. With the “European Women Voices in Graphic Novels” project, we aim to spotlight the work of contemporary European women authors by publishing seven graphic novels from diverse corners of Europe. These works address important social issues through innovative and rich graphic narratives. Additionally, we seek to highlight the contributions of the translators of these books, all of whom are women.The selection features works from Sweden, Finland, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain and Ukraine. The selected books are predominantly written and translated by women, emphasizing diverse graphic styles and tackling vital social and political issues, such as gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, women’s sexuality and mental health, the role of women in history and the history of the Ukrainian literature. Together, they reflect the richness, creativity, and diversity of contemporary European graphic novels, fostering greater understanding and cultural exchange with our European neighbours. These stories provide fresh perspectives and reveal societal realities often unfamiliar to French audiences. Our publishing process prioritizes sustainability and equity. We ensure our books are produced responsibly and our goal is also to improve the financial situation of the authors and translators, by providing fair revenues for the authors and translators who make this work possible. Marking our 20th anniversary, Editions çà et là is becoming a cooperative (Scop), embracing direct democracy and self-governance as we continue to amplify the voices of European creators.