MAI formed close ties with emerging Christian publishers after the fall of Communism in East and Central Europe by holding four LITT-WORLD conferences in England during the 1990s. MAI-Europe formed to help grow these relationships. Men and women whom MAI has trained over the years now serve as trainers in our international network.

MAI has served in Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, England, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine and former Yugoslavia.

Here's how we've helped...

• 
  Trained writers of childrens books in Russia
• Mentored a start-up publisher in Russia
• Held writer training in Poland, Albania, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Switzerland
• Led publisher and editorial training seminars in the Balkans
• Mentored start-up book and magazine publishers in Russia, Poland, Albania and Bulgaria
• Awarded David Alexander Author Scholarship to Croatian writer finishing first novel
• Conducted a "publishing realities" seminar in former Yugoslavia

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"Writing is like planting a tree; it bears fruit for generations," said Maria Pileva, a regular contributor to Leah magazine in Bulgaria. She and 24 other writers gleaned and sharpened storytelling skills at an MAI fiction-writing workshop hosted by Mission Possible (MP) Bulgaria, April 7 to 9.

Back in 2002, MP launched a writer club. Today editor Svetlana Karoleva helps nurture some 20 member writers at the club’s monthly meetings.
 
The MAI workshop’s 25 participants included club members who are newspaper journalists, book authors and magazine contributors. Several are leading writers in Leah, one of MP’s publishing projects and the only Christian women’s magazine in Bulgaria.

During two-hour daily devotions and teaching, participants were challenged by British author Marion Stroud. They learned fiction techniques from her, American author Robin Gunn, and Bulgarian pastor and author Daniel Nalbantski.

Nalbantski also invited his publisher, Rumen Papratilov of New Man Publishers. Rumen brought Daniel’s newly released book, The Prodigal Son, and explained the publishing process to participants.
 
"Our horizons were broadened, and our dreams rekindled," said Tania Stoyanova, who plans to write a novel about family dynamics. She has already authored two books, one about a gypsy girl who scours the garbage for food instead of attending school. "I learned many practical things about how to build characters and write character-based stories, weaving in the Bible message."

Journalist Ivaylo Yabulkaro writes regularly for Evangelski Vestnik, an evangelical newspaper. He plans to write a novel about a pregnant girl considering an abortion.

Many more stories are sprouting in Bulgarian soil. Leah magazine launched a short story competition, urging participants to complete the stories they began by June 30. The first-prize winner will be published in the magazine, and second prize wins a week-end personal writing retreat.

"I will keep writing and let the Lord expand my borders," Maria Pileva said. 

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Photos courtesy Nadia Ianakieva

Maximizing the Market in Times of Crisis and Change

6-10 September 2010, High Leigh Conference Centre, UK 

The MAI-Europe Publishing Forum featured gifted participants and good “chemistry” between them; excellent content on the Forum theme of marketing; skilled speakers, helpful workshops and a strong spiritual dynamic. 

A significant outcome included the creation of an online catalogue of original publications by indigenous authors. This catalogue will enable the publishers to offer book rights to one another, expand their markets, and expose their best authors to a broader audience across Europe and beyond. The new initiative will be called BRIEF, or Book Rights International Exchange Forum.

The Forum drew 62 participants, including European publishing staff, speakers and MAI Europe Trustees, from 20 countries. The Forum also had an unexpected Middle Eastern flavor with a publisher from Israel and Jordan. Participants represented: Hungary, Ukraine, Brazil, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, Jordan, Serbia, Latvia, Netherlands, Romania, the UK and US.