The Reading Day Book Fair, distinct from the larger Baku International Book Fair held in October, appears to serve a more focused, community-building function – offering a platform for local discourse rather than large-scale rights trading.
Khayala Murad A Key Voice at Azerbaijan’s Reading Day Book Fair
On 25–26 April, the 12th Reading Day Book Fair took place in Baku, Azerbaijan – a fixture in the country’s literary calendar that draws authors, publishers, and industry professionals.
Among the invited guests was Khayala Murad, a foreign-rights manager and literary agent who represented both her international agency role and her publisher, Khan Publishing.
Panel on Contemporary Azerbaijani Literature
Murad took part in a panel titled “Contemporary Azerbaijani Literature,” moderated by TV host and journalist Ürfan Məmmədli. She was joined on stage by writer Əziz Yaqubzadə.
During the session, Murad fielded questions on the current condition of Azerbaijani literature, its developmental trajectory, and the professional standards expected of writers in the region.
A Dual Perspective: Agent and Author
What distinguishes Murad’s contribution is her dual vantage point. She is recognised as Azerbaijan’s first international literary agent, and has built a career bridging domestic authors with global markets. At the same time, she is a published author in her own right – her bibliography includes at least nine titles in Azerbaijani, with works such as The Wish of a Leaf listed for foreign-rights sale. She is also affiliated with İntrotema Agency as a rights manager covering the Russia and Caucasus region.
The View From The Beach
For international publishing professionals, Murad’s presence at the fair signals a maturing rights infrastructure in Azerbaijan. Her commentary on “professional standards” suggests an industry increasingly attuned to the contractual, editorial, and commercial norms that govern cross-border deals.
The Reading Day Book Fair, distinct from the larger Baku International Book Fair held in October, appears to serve a more focused, community-building function – offering a platform for local discourse rather than large-scale rights trading.
As Azerbaijani publishers seek wider distribution and translation partnerships, figures like Murad provide a critical link. Her participation at events such as this one demonstrates the value of home-grown literary agents who can articulate local literary culture in terms that resonate with international markets.
Read Khayala Murad’s post on LinkedIn.:
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