د . إAEDSRر . س

9 Things You Will Not Want To Miss From The Malta Book Festival This Month

Article Featured Image

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for bookworms all over Malta and Gozo. The National Book Council will once again host the Maltese Islands’ largest international event dedicated to books and reading: the Malta Book Festival.

Just like last year, the Festival will run between Wednesday 23rd November and Sunday 27th November at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre (MFCC) in Ta’ Qali. It will offer an 8,000-square-metre buffet of books with a side of wonderful events!

The 2022 edition of the Book Festival has built on its legacy from previous editions, year after year attracting a long and impressive list of participants and exhibitors to make sure every bookworm’s needs are satisfied.

In short, this year’s festival aims to provide information and entertainment based on practically every niche in the publishing industry and beyond, to celebrate book culture in all its forms.

With over 100 activities and 50 exhibitor stands to choose from and visit throughout the festival, attendees are going to need all the help they can get to make sure they do not miss a thing, and Lovin Malta’s got you covered.

These are the top 9 things to look forward to during this year’s Malta Book Festival!

A wide range of books will be available

This one goes without saying, of course. Who wouldn’t want to grab a good bargain at the Book Festival? Winning books of the National Book Prize will be on sale during the Festival, yet the public can also enjoy a series of book launches and presentations.

Discover who are the exhibitors at the Malta Book Festival 2022 here

A special programme for children

This year the National Book Council has joined forces with ŻiguŻajg International Festival for Arts Festival for Children & Young People so visitors can enjoy theatre or dance shows while catching up on their favourite reads.

From 23rd to 25th November, schoolchildren who have been registered for this part of the festival will be given a €5 voucher to choose a book to take home with them. They will be treated to a special programme of events curated by ŻiguŻajg: Ride the Feeling (Merlin Publishers), written by Auntie Sab, with illustrations by Emma Galea Naudi and winner of the category ‘Original Works for Children 0-7’, and Vjaġġ bil-Ballun (Horizons), the winning book in the category ‘Original Works for children 8–12 years of age’.

On Friday 25th November another very special show awaits schoolchildren: registered students will be treated to a special appearance on stage by John Boyne, who will be reading an extract from The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and answer questions from the audience, while illustrator Gattaldo will illustrate live for the audience. 

During the afternoon of Saturday 26th, children between the ages of 7 and 12 can participate in an exclusive illustration workshop with Gattaldo, author of Fearless (Il-Ġurnalista, Midsea Books) and the illustrator behind Arnold, this year’s Festival poster hero. Since the number of participants is limited to twenty, register for a spot here. All materials will be provided.

All shows are available to watch for free, however, you will need to purchase a ticket to sit for Żigużajg’s very own dance performance, Coco, the Singer and the Chocolate Finger, which will be performed at the Malta Book Festival theatre over the weekend.

Inspired from the tale of Andrew Rausi’s book The Rise of the Bakers Dozen, choreographed and produced by Pamela Kerr – Coco is straight from Żigużajg’s international arts festival to the MFCC. You can purchase your ticket on https://www.ziguzajg.org/coco-the-singer-the-chocolate-finger.

You can meet some VIPs

You will have the chance to meet the author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, John Boyne, who is this year’s headlining international guest. The author is currently on the road promoting his latest novel All the Broken Places, and will be interviewed by award-winning local author Leanne Ellul. He will also be available for a book signing following this interview.

John Boyne will not be the only familiar face we see at this year’s book festival! World-famous comic book artist and journalist Joe Sacco will also be present and will be interviewed by journalist James Debono from MaltaToday on the 24th of November.

He will also attend a book signing session after this interview. Sacco will also be part of a panel discussion on forms of visual storytelling and will be joined by photojournalist Joanna Demarco and illustrator Gattaldo. Teodor Reljić will be moderating this panel discussion.

Join a special live podcast with Jon Mallia

Celebrate your relationship with books and reading by telling the entire island about it! The Jon Mallia Podcast team will be at the book festival on Wednesday 23rd November and will look to visitors and authors to discuss literature, writing, reading and any aspect of the wonderful world of books.

If you have ever watched the Podcast and wondered what it would be like to be a guest, well, now is your chance. At the festival you will have to chance to have  a 15-minute conversation with Jon, in a mini-Podcast about literature and writing, or any other subject which you would like to discuss.

Attend an exhibition on book illustration

From Illustration to Book is a collaborative effort between the National Book Council and the Arts Council Malta that will explore how illustration in Malta has evolved over the years, starting with the interwar period.

This exhibition will be split into five different sections and will provide historic examples of illustration and its evolution, including through some of Malta’s most popular fictional characters like Fra Mudest or Kunċett u Marinton.

As part of the exhibition programme, ACM will be organising a number of Meet the Artist Sessions for illustrators, graphic designers and the general public.

Get into the nitty-gritty of publishing

This one is for aspiring authors. On Saturday 26th November, the book festival will host a series of talks on different aspects of the publishing industry, including a Q&A session with Simon Trewin, literary agent of author John Boyne, on his role.

Authors and industry stakeholders will also have the chance to better get to know the process which leads to the production of a book. Representatives from Gutenberg Press will show how a book is made and the full process of book manufacturing – from the design aspect through to the production process and finally the finished bound book.

Some self-published authors have chosen to be at MFCC among the exhibitors showcasing and selling their books. A discussion will be held targeting this segment of the publishing world, titled Self Publishing: A Focus on Quality.

Speed dating with a twist

The Literary Speed Dating event on Saturday 26th November will give a unique opportunity to book for a fifteen-minute one-to-one meeting with a number of industry professionals publishing professionals in a private setting.

Whether you are looking for advice to take the first step to publishing, or whether you are looking to pitch a book with a publisher, this event will appeal to you. 

The professionals available for an individual meeting include John Boyne’s agent Simon Trewin; book editor Elizabeth Cortis; poet laureate Nadia Mifsud; illustrator and art-director Gattaldo; co-founder and publisher at Praspar Press Kat Storace; literary translator Jen Calleja; and prize-winning author and translator Antoinette Borg.

Registrations are now open and you can register through this link. Match with an industry professional to give you the push you need to publish your work!

It isn’t just for bookworms!

The National Book Council has also catered for visiting children with a flair for science and technology this year. The Energy and Water Agency will also be an exhibitor at the festival to oversee reading sessions and scientific experiments on the different aspects of energy and water conservation, from security and sustainability to affordability.

No child will be left out

A sensory-friendly room will be set up within the Rainbow Hall to offer an autism-friendly space for children within the spectrum, with ongoing story-telling activities. The National Book Council worked with Inspire Foundation to create this safe environment for these children while ensuring they do not miss out on the buzz of the Book Festival!

The 2022 Malta Book Festival will open its doors on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th from 9 am-1 pm and 5:30 pm-9 pm; Friday 25th from 9 am-1 pm and 5:30 pm-10 pm; Saturday 26th from 9:30 am-10 pm, and on Sunday 27th from 9:30 am-8 pm.

Follow them on Facebook to remain updated.

Check out the full programme of events.

Tag a bookworm or an aspiring author!

READ NEXT: Maltese Company Successfully Sets Up Zero Waste Initiative With Plans To Expand

Willing to write about absolutely anything, Kelly’s love for storytelling started in childhood as she hoarded books, films and collections of short stories that all became an escape from the ordinary. She has now (finally) decided to put what she learned to good use and keeps herself busy by using her words and her voice to help tell other people’s stories, to inspire, uplift and connect with others. While writing is certainly a passion of hers, theatre is Kelly’s first love, and she has been acting professionally for over ten years.
Sponsored By
Sponsored Logo
National Book Council
Visit National Book Council
National Book Council on Instagram

You may also love

View All