Our story
The Story of Croissant That Can Be Read
I still remember the first time I picked up that French young adult novel. At the time, I was a senior in university, and my love for fiction led me to choose translating a French novel as my graduation project.
The issue was that my knowledge of French novels didn’t extend far beyond the classics. I felt completely stuck until an idea suddenly struck me: “Why don’t you try fantasy or young adult literature?” It had everything I was passionate about—magic, medieval worlds, mythical creatures, and plots that were straightforward yet captivating!
I shifted my focus to French young adult and fantasy literature, and the results made my heart race. I discovered many fascinating books, with fresh flavors that hadn’t been translated into Thai yet. And most importantly, they were just as exciting as those from the US, UK, or Japan! After narrowing down over twenty titles, I found the one that was perfect.
After presenting my project, I took that book to my professor, asking him a question that had been on my mind:
“Professor, how can I see this book on the shelves of bookstores?”
He smiled faintly and replied, “A publisher would need money, rights and time, but that’s difficult, as it’s hard to find French translators, especially for the kind of work you’re translating.”
“What if I were the one who starts it?”
He paused for a moment and then said, “Do you think you can handle it? You’ll have to translate the whole book, you know. Even translating just 11 pages, I thought it was a lot.”
His words weren’t a threat, but a challenge.
For the following months, I dedicated myself to translating the book in its entirety. Every word, every sentence, I poured my heart into ensuring the language was beautiful while maintaining the author’s intent. I applied all the skills I had learned throughout my studies to this translation, driven by the dream of introducing French fantasy literature to Thai readers, just as I had fallen in love with it from the very first encounter.
When I finished the translation, I sent the translated manuscript to several publishers. Unfortunately, most of the responses were either silence or rejections, stating, “The book you’ve translated doesn’t match our publishing house’s profile.”
At that moment, it felt like the world was crumbling around me. I looked at the manuscript I had poured my heart and soul into, and the pain turned into a question in my mind: Should I let my dream end here?
That night, I stared at the book on my desk and realized I had two choices: accept that my dream had ended, or create a space for myself—a space where French fantasy novels could find a place in the Thai book market.
I chose the second choice and decided to start my own publishing house from scratch. No capital, no team—just the belief that these books were valuable and that Thai readers deserved to experience them.
Today, my publishing house is still small, but every book we bring in is filled with love and conviction. I’m not just translating books; I’m translating dreams and hopes into reality.
Our publishing house is driven by the belief that literature has the power to change minds, and if we’re given the opportunity to bring these stories here, they could inspire and change the lives of many others as well.