Purpose

My first visit to Laos was in 1998 when the roads of the capital city were still dirt. Everywhere I went, students told me how much they wanted to study English. I made countless promises that I would be back to help. Over the years, it became clear what kind of books they wanted, but it wasn’t until 2005 that I settled in Laos to fulfill my promises.

How to sell a thousand books

I did not grow up being a businessperson and actually shunned the pursuit of money, but now I understand that books can’t fall from trees (donations). Lao society must be cultivated to grow its own. I spent two years in Luang Prabang being a “volunteer” and found that the more dependent people become, the less they are able to grow anything. Thus, I shifted to publishing. With only pocket startup money, I intend to feed a demand for books that will ultimately grow into a self-sustaining business. Then I can move on to something else.

Why English texts?

In order for this project to be self-sustaining, books must sell. They must be affordable, bilingual and culturally relevant. They must meet present interests and demands. Now in Laos, language-learning texts are very popular and MOMOBOOKS focus on this market. There is a desperate need for books on all subjects in Laos, but they will have to come when the industry matures.