Holmes was sentenced to a decade behind bars after police found 25 cannabis saplings in his Gozo home. Labelled as a drug kingpin by Malta’s justice system, Holmes and his friend Barry Lee were dragged through the legal system.

Lee would eventually commit suicide in prison while Holmes would turn to poetry and prose in a bleak and pessimistic world. Years of protests and lobbying to change legislation followed. In 2018, Holmes was released, rushed out of Malta, and banned from Malta until 2023.

Holmes will be interviewed via livestream from Wales to share personal stories from within the notoriously secretive Corradino Correctional Facility.

He’ll provide an in-depth insight into his debut novel, ‘A Memoir From Malta’s Prison: From A Cage, On A Rock, In A Puddle’. It is the first novel published by Lovin Malta and will be available very soon.

In a small world surrounded by drug abuse and Malta’s most dangerous criminals, the memoir provides an inside glance where few have been able to look before. It’s a must-read for anyone looking for a taste of what life is like in Malta’s prison.

Holmes had been working on the manuscript for the book throughout his years inside jail. With some incredible work by some of Malta’s top editors, the book will leave readers in awe, and wondering what else is going down inside Corradino.

Holmes’ appearance forms part of an amazing roster of events at this special online edition of the locally-renowned festival, with behemoths like Sir Salman Rushdie appearing.

Stretching over five days from 11th to 15th November, kids and adults can attend the online festival for free to take part in Q&As, get their hands on some books, or feast their eyes on some amazing performances. For more information on the festival, you can follow this link.

And you can do it all from the comfort of your home. All you need to do is visit this page or Facebook.

Check out the MBF’s programme of events right here and get planning.

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