Miriam Fabiancic To Head Mosaico Book Club

by Carmen Cusido -- Críticas, 4/1/2008 8:59:00 AM

Miriam Fabiancic, an editor, translator, and co-author who is “passionate about books,” was named editor-in-chief of Mosaico Book Club, the only direct-to-customer distributor of Spanish-language books in the U.S. via catalogs and online. “Over the course of her career, Miriam has held a number of positions that have given her a wealth of knowledge about the Spanish-language/bilingual publishing industry,” said Sharon Fantera, VP and editorial director for Direct Group North America (formerly Bookspan) in a prepared statement for Críticas. “Her expertise will be a benefit not only to our business but also to members of Mosaico.” Fabiancic began her work at Mosaico on March 20.

Fabiancic’s editorial career started in 1992 at Scholastic, where she developed textbooks and children’s books in Spanish. In 1997, she set up and managed Club de Lectura (now Club Leo), the first direct-mail bilingual catalog of children’s books geared to elementary school teachers and students.

Most recently, the Argentine-born Fabiancic worked as regional director of the Partnerships Program for the Centers of Excellence for Teacher Training (CETT) in the Dominican Republic, where she was responsible for securing corporate partners to sponsor classroom libraries in rural and underprivileged schools, as well as designing classroom libraries and training more than 400 CETT teachers on the importance of reading. “The teachers were so eager to learn, which is why training them and finding ways to provide them with books was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” Fabiancic told Críticas.

Mosaico’s diverse and sophisticated readers

Fabiancic believes Mosaico’s community of Spanish-language readers is becoming more sophisticated and demanding. “We have to offer a variety of books, authors, and genres to satisfy everyone,” she says, adding that Mosaico’s 15 catalogs a year offer new books and bestsellers. The book club currently sends out a direct mailing of their brochure, and new members can subscribe through the website, www.clubmosaico.com. 

Founded in 2001, Mosaico offers members a wide selection of Spanish language books, including self-help, spirituality, and cooking. “The club has grown because of the demand that exists in the [U.S.] market,” Fabiancic says.

A fan of children’s books and Latin American fiction, she specifically loves Gabriel García Márquez. “All my life I’ve been passionate about books.” She says her prior experience, which includes consulting on foreign rights acquisitions and assisting with international marketing studies, will benefit her at Mosaico.