One-woman publisher produces popular books on provocative topics

Jolanta Gatzanis (b. 1961), a small Stuttgart-based publisher, has been producing popular books on provocative topics since 1995. Even the very first title did justice to the claim of the publisher's programme: with "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!" (no longer in print), the authors Leuze/Schmidt dealt with mental impotence in men. That was not planned when, in her early 30s, Jolanta Gatzanis gave up her job as production manager at a travel book publishing company to work as an independent publisher. But, after first meeting the team of authors, with her courage, curiosity and thirst for action she founded Gatzanis Verlags-GmbH and published further books dealing with, for example, sex education for young people, or providing insights into multicultural relationships, or looking at the theme of living and loving in old age. Also the name of Ulrike Folkerts, famous as the actress playing the role of detective Lena Odenthal in the popular German TV series "Tatort", appears in two Gatzanis books: in "… and I thought you were pregnant!" (a coming-out book for women), Ms Folkerts wrote the foreword, and in "Let the Games beGay" (a book about homosexual sporting events), she even contributed a story.

"Publishing work has always given me a boost!", says Jolanta Gatzanis. This also means travelling around Europe when necessary to meet an author and to market her books. For it is not only a question of the topic - the chemistry must also be right between publisher and author. "I have to see that he is convinced by the project." It may thus occasionally be the case that Jolanta Gatzanis allows herself an "infidelity" and publishes a book that, for once, does not deal with the topic of sex and relationships. For example when it involves the relationship between art and humour, or the printed version of the SWR cult radio series about Frau Kächele & Frau Peters, or a high-quality coffee table book. This mixture suits the niche publisher, who does not plan but rather lets herself be guided by ideas. After 10 years as a publisher, she is looking forward to further exciting book topics and the cooperation with a large number of book enthusiasts.