Highlights And Insights: The 2023 Malta Book Festival’s Unmissable Experiences!

Exploring Boundaries #BeyondBooks

The festival, to be held at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC), Ta’ Qali, from the  18–22 October, goes #beyondbooks. The theme highlights literature’s potential to transcend the written word and manifest itself in various media – from illustration to audio, theatre to film adaptation. 

About 100 free events over five days will range from family-friendly activities, book launches and discussions, to professional meet-ups, writing workshops and performative readings.

Illustrated by Moira Scicluna Zahra and designed by Sarah Cachia Falzon, the Festival’s poster gives vibrant visual expression to the #beyondbooks mission. The mascots include Ray il-Qarrej, an imaginative fisherman whose nose is always stuck in a book; the enigmatic writer Filip il-Kittieb, whose passion lies in the performed word; Ċiċi l-Ispettatriċi, the curious cat who purrs at the sight of a literary show; and Mia s-Semmiegħa, the music enthusiast who jams to aural stories. 

A spotlight on Maltese talent

Trevor Żahra, Lon Kirkop, Alex Farrugia, Nadia Mifsud and Loranne Vella will be the protagonists of a roundtable discussion led by Jon Mallia. The discussion will delve into the personalities and careers of these writers as well as how they perceive their role in the ever-evolving landscape of Maltese literature.

Jon will pose thought-provoking questions to gain deeper insights into what these award-winning writers believe the future of books in Malta will be like and how this development can be influenced.

Teatru Malta will deliver the best excerpts from their successful productions VII and Il-Fidwa tal-Bdiewa in an hour-long concert packed with the music and distinctive sounds of The New Victorians, promising a show enriched by vibrant music and writing that embodies the Festival’s theme. This is the only paid event at the Festival. Tickets can be purchased from here.

Sam Blake: A Source of Inspiration

Bestselling Irish author Sam Blake will captivate the audience with her multifaceted talent, sharing her extensive experience in crime writing.

Founder of Europe’s largest writing resources website, Blake will conduct sessions on the essentials of storytelling, guiding aspiring writers on crafting compelling narratives.

In addition, she will participate in a public discussion titled ‘Finding the Words’, exploring the art of storytelling alongside renowned Maltese author Leanne Ellul.

Workshops and Masterclasses: Hone Your Craft

The Festival seeks to cultivate local talent through local and international collaboration, providing opportunities for attendees to interact with industry stalwarts and to participate in workshops and discussions.

These interactions aim to enrich the local reading and writing community, and expand the horizons of Maltese writers, editors, translators, illustrators and publishers. A series of workshops and masterclasses were designed to hone one’s craft and provide insights into the book industry.

A number of guests will share their expertise offering insights into the foreign market.

Sam Blake will take you through her own process with tips from her colleagues in the industry, from Jeffery Deaver to Joanne Harris, and how to adapt the process to give your own work the best chance of success in her Masterclass: What’s Your Story: 5 Steps To Writing A Bestseller.

Literary agent Simon Trewin will be delivering a masterclass entitled ‘Inside Publishing – Routes to Market’ in which he will shed light on the book journey from inception to publication.

Bridging the gap between Maltese practitioners and the international literary landscape, Kat Storace and Jen Calleja will lead an editing workshop that will guide participants on how to edit one’s own work and that of others, including the process of editing translated literature.

Charlie Castelletti, children’s books editor at Macmillan, will deliver ‘Writing for Children and Young Adults’, an exploration of the nuances of children’s literature, from different age categories to story hooks and the secrets behind bestsellers.

All workshops and masterclasses require participants to register in advance via the links above. 

Celebrating Art and Inclusion

This year’s edition brings forth collaborations with various entities, including Arts Council Malta and the Malta Community of Illustrators, to create a multisensory experience.

Highlights include the From Illustration to Book exhibition and an interactive mural. 

The festival also extends its reach to children on the autism spectrum with a sensory-friendly room managed by Inspire Foundation and hosting a range of inclusive events, ensuring a rich experience for all readers.

Further in line with the National Book Council’s drive to explore the multi-faceted potential of literature while also empowering the local creative community, the Festival’s characters enjoy an additional spotlight in a beautiful animated video created by Kyle Xuereb Cunningham, the  result of a productive and ongoing collaboration between the NBC and the Malta Community of Illustrators. 

A Hub of Literary Excellence

The 2023 Malta Book Festival stands as a cultural hub, aiming to nurture and celebrate the richness of literary art in its various forms. It creates a bridge between local and international literary landscapes, facilitating conversations and learnings. 

Among other collaborations is the announcement of a partnership with the Commonwealth Foundation through which Maltese writers will have the opportunity to participate in the Commonwealth Short Story Prize competition, with short stories written in both Maltese and English. To inaugurate this collaboration, the Festival will be welcoming Constantia Soteriou, the Cypriot writer whose short story ‘Death Customs’ won the 2019 edition of the Prize. The National Book Council of Gibraltar will also be talking to the NBC about Gibraltarian literature, history, language and culture, uncovering interesting parallels between the two ‘Rocks’ in the process.

With its assortment of events, discussions, and workshops, the festival is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for book lovers, aspiring authors, and anyone keen to explore the limitless world #beyondbooks.

For more details and registrations, follow the NBC website, the NBC Facebook page and the Malta Book Festival 2023 Facebook page. The event will be held at MFCC, Ta’ Qali.

The concert VII/Fidwa tal-Bdiewa  is the only ticketed event at the 2023 Malta Book Festival; attendance to the Festival and to all other events is free of charge.

Tag a bookworm who wouldn’t want to miss this phenomenal event!