The 2022 Malta Book Festival Exhibitors
These are the exhibitors participating at the 2022 Malta Book Festival. Follow the link to their online bookshops to buy books, discover their latest titles and avail of any special Festival offers.
In collaboration with the National Book Council, Festival exhibitors have also organised a number of literary activities for audiences of all ages. The Events Programme will be published in the coming weeks.
Agenda Bookshop operates as the leading books and magazines retailer and is a household name in Malta. Today, the Agenda Bookshop stores are located in high profile, heavy footfall areas such as the Airport, the capital city Valletta and the main shopping malls. Offering the very latest International best sellers and a wide selection of new titles on a daily basis, our offer is as wide and deep as would be expected of leading bookshops in the UK.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Malta is a religious organisation. It encourages dialogue, peace, and respect between followers of different beliefs. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community promotes education, knowledge and book reading. For this purpose the community publishes books and a monthly magazine in the local Maltese language, also to serve the national language. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is also known for its active role in charitable and philanthropic work. Its motto is: โLove for All, Hatred For Noneโ.
Arts Council Malta (ACM) is the national agency for development and investment in the cultural and creative sectors. Its central task is that of effectively funding, supporting and promoting the cultural and creative sectors in Malta. The Council manages a funding portfolio for the cultural and creative sectors through its national funding programmes. Our mission is driven by our commitment to cultural rights and to invest in the arts to strengthen Maltaโs creative and cultural ecology.
For over 25 years, BDL Distributors has been the leading publications distributor to all bookshops and retail outlets in Malta and Gozo. BDL Publishing, the second mast holding the companyโs sails, specializes in quality books ranging from childrenโs fiction to prestigious Melitensia literature. The third mast of the company is BDL Retail. Its outlet in San ฤ wann is a large depository of quality books where one can browse and shop directly from a selection of over 20,000 titles.
Bookends is a book bargain retail brand offering great value books at prices well below their original prices. We stock a huge range of books on different subjects. In the local book market, Bookends has gained a strong reputation for genuine bargain books and prices
ฤAK (Animation & Communication Centre) belongs to the Franciscan Conventual Friars. Founded in 1998 with the aim of offering religious animation through social communication means, it published various leaflets, magazines and books, and in 2005 it was amalgamated with the already existing publishing house Reliฤกjon u ฤฆajja (Religion & Life) (founded in 1967 by Fr Alexander Bonnici), which continued its work in the religious sector and lately became the official publisher of Church and Papal documents with a mutual agreement with the Maltese Episcopal Conference and Libreria Editrice Vaticana. ฤAK has so far published 325 titles.
Carl is a 14-year-old teenager in grade 9 at Stella Maris College Gzira, with an easy-going character. Creativity, brightness and meticulousness are some of the qualities which add up to Carlโs personality.ย Heโs an avid lover of history and mythology, immersing himself in his books to explore the foundations of the world and manโs experience of life.ย Carl relies on his vivid imagination to create intertwined adventure storylines in his mind, which he would then recite to his family and friends. This, and his persistence, helped him to be inspired to write his first book at such a young age.
Dar Camilleri is a publishing house owned by Mark Camilleri. It publishes history and research books, as well as literature. Its aim is to gradually publish a collection of books with a very high standard. The publication ฤ AฤฆAN FL-AQWA ลปMIEN is a best-seller, and the companyโs plan is to publish an anthology of Maltese literature by its best authors and to launch it at the Malta Book Festival.
Deer Publications is a small publishing house which has established itself in the particular yet popular niche of books related to lives of saints and their socio-cultural celebrations held locally with great pomp and enthusiasm. Its flagship publication is the festa encyclopaedia Ilwien il-Festi Maltin (each of the ten volumes include over 650 photographs taken by professional photographer and festa enthusiast Mark Micallef Perconte. The series editor is Andrew Borg who also re-introduced in the local book market lives of saints adapted for the young reader. Deer Publications latest project is a major publication of a collection of academic studies about St Joseph, for whom Pope Francis has declared 2021 as his special year.
Kixott is a co-operative bookshop and event space put together by a variety of artists and creatives, in collaboration with Ede Books. // Ede Books is a small publishing venture which produces short runs of books and periodical publications of predominantly visually-rich content that touches upon art, poetry, photography, and urban culture.
Rita Antoinette Borg (Enchanted Grove Publishing) was born in Malta, raised in New York City and returned back when she was 15 years old. She is a member of the Society of Childrenโs Writers and Illustrators. Rita has published nine childrenโs books. Two picture books won Malta Book Awards: Il-ฤฆarba taลผ-ลปrinฤกijiet / The Frogsโ Great Escape (2003); Taqsamx it-Triq, Fuxa / Donโt Cross the Road (2009). Her poem ‘Waiting for Dolphins’ was published by Bloomsbury UK in the anthology Is this a Poem? She now performs storytelling sessions, blogs for the Times of Malta and is writing a middle grade novel and her memoirs
The Energy & Water Agency is governmental agency. Since starting in 2014, our mission has been to ensure the security, sustainability and affordability of energy and water in Malta. We formulate and coordinate the implementation of the Governmentโs national policies for energy and water, as well as EU legislation for energy and water sustainability. We also act on laws and set in motion policies related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, water demand management, and the security of Maltaโs electricity, gas and water supply. Through extensive modelling and research, we forecast Maltaโs energy and water demands and work to ensure energy and water are delivered across the country in an environmentally stable way.
Fabrizio Ellul is a visual artist whose work to date has been primarily in the traditional mediums of drawing and oil painting. He has held personal and collective exhibitions in Malta and Germany. In 2020 he founded Filfla Studio, focusing on storytelling through the medium of hand-drawn digital painting. Sarangu: The Sack Man ย is Fabrizio Ellulโs debut graphic novel and was created with the support of Arts Council Malta and the National Book Council of Malta. This project benefited from additional grants from Arts Council Malta to research the 1813 bubonic plague and Maltese folktales. The research is available for free from www.filfla.studio.
Faraxa Publishing was established in 2011, with the aim of publishing literary and non-literary translations into Maltese of world renowned authors and also lesser-known authors. The Faraxa Translation Series now boasts over 25 European classical works in Maltese translation and will be expanding further. Faraxa has published books of many genres, including academia, classical music, poetry, philosophy, young adult, fantasy and childrenโs literature.
Fondazzjoni Sagฤงtar is the professional arm of the Malta Union of Teachers (MUT), which strives to improve the professional qualities of Maltese and Gozitan educators, and assists the educational system through its publications, courses, lectures and other educational resources. Prominent among the Foundationโs publications is the popular magazine Sagฤงtar, which is issued every month throughout the scholastic year and is 50 years old.
Casey Martin can usually be found leading a learning experience with an enthusiastic and excited group of diverse learners. Itโs not uncommon to find him covered in paint, dressed in a crazy costume, or knee-deep in a school garden.ย He is a world traveler and international school teacher with a passion for helping children make connections to the world around them. Heย is committed to helping learners discover their individual beauty, strengths, and identity.ย He has written and published three children’s books with the latest one, Wally Worm and the Wool Scarves taking place on the island of Malta.ย It is the first Malta children’s book to capture the vibrant life of Malta, while delivering a positive message.ย His company Freckled Color Publishing is based out of the United States, but reaches children worldwide.ย Check out his websiteย for more information or to book personal book reads, workshops and unique learning experiences.
The objective of our organisation is to raise public awareness about the work of the National Archives, and the importance of preserving records of historical value.
The GermanโMaltese Circle is a voluntary organisation founded on 18 October 1962 with the aim of โpromoting closer understanding between Germany and Malta in all appropriate fields of activity and relationship, excluding political activitiesโ.ย To this end, the GermanโMaltese Circle has been organising various activities since then along with German language courses for adults and schoolchildren. // The Department of German is part of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Malta. It offers the opportunity to study German in a range of courses: fullโtime undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses (BA Honours in German, BA General with German, MA and PhD in German), partโtime language courses for all language levels (Certificate/Diploma in Language Proficiency), and partโtime evening courses for the general public (Certificate/Diploma in German).
The Gฤงaqda tal-Malti – Universitร is a student organisation which strives to represent students of Maltese at post-secondary and tertiary levels, whilst offering a space for all individuals with a passion for Maltese to promote and safeguard the language, in different ways. Every year, the organisation launches its annual publication, Leฤงen il- Malti, at the Malta Book Festival.
// Inizjamed is a voluntary non-governmental cultural organization founded in 1998 that is committed towards the regeneration of culture and artistic expression in the Maltese Islands and actively promotes a greater awareness of the cultures of the Mediterranean. Inizjamed is a project-based organization whose lean internal structure reflects its emphasis on concrete action and fruitful collaboration with all those with whom it shares common goals.
Heritage Malta is the national agency for museums, conservation and cultural heritage. It is appreciably active in the field of publishing as part of its education and outreach endeavours. The range of works produced includes exhibition catalogues, collected papers, conference proceedings, workbooks, project books, reading books and monographs. In autumn 2015 Heritage Malta also launched a bi-annual journal.ย ย
Horizons is one of the leading book publishers on the island, winning numerous literary prizes in the different book categories. It has published well-known and established authors such as Mario Azzopardi, Charles Briffa, Lina Brockdorff,ย Victor Fenech, Charles Flores, Albert Marshall, Gorg Peresso, Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci and Vincent Vella, as well as introducing upcoming authors such as Eman Bonnici, Edgar Formosa, Jacqueline Mizzi, Sergio Grech, Tyrone Grima, Stephen Lughermo, Justin Schembri and Andrรฉ Mangion.
Infomediaworks Ltd provides publishing and general information services to encourage self-publishing among aspiring and established authors. Based in the United Kingdom, our services include complete editorial services; low budget publishing; specialised publishing, promotion, and marketing to African countries; translation work in major African languages, and agency representation for authors. Established in 2016, we serve both national and overseas clientele. We work with authors publishing their first title and provide published authors with supplementary promotional and marketing support through representation at literary events, book fairs, and expos. We collaborate with other publishing outlets in related projects.ย
Infinity Books was founded in 2018 and has its headquarters in Malta. Infinity promotes no specific literary genre. They publish Christian books and study books, novels, childrenโs books, comics, and reprint classics of English and Italian literature. Infinity uses Amazon for printing and worldwide distribution of their books. Infinity Books published and assisted self-publish authors from Malta, USA, UK, Italy, Hungary, Albania, Israel and Jamaica. So far it has published books in English, Italian, Greek and Albanese, including English books by Sue Senden, Giuseppe Guarino and David R. Palmer, and Italian books by Andrea Magri, Marco Maugeri, Antonio Calisi, Daniela Annunziata, Pino Cacozza, Alessandra Albani.
The Istituto Italiano di Cultura is a symbol of the Italian heritage in Malta and is part of the Italian Embassy in Malta. Its main goal is the promotion of the Italian language and culture through events โ such as exhibitions, concerts and conferences โ and an extensive library open to the public.
Joseph Grech is the author of the following eight books: Malta and Gozo Buses 1905 โ 2011 (2021); Il-Vari taโ Malta u Gฤงawdex (2nd edition 2019); L-Altari tar-Repoลผizzjoni fil-Parroฤฤi taโ Malta u Gฤงawdex (2007); Il-Kaลผini tal-Baned taโ Malta u Gฤงawdex (2001); Il-Kwadri Titulari tal-Parroฤฤi taโ Malta u Gฤงawdex (2000); Il-Vari taโ Kristu Rxoxt fil-Knejjes taโ Malta u Gฤงawdex (2000); Il-Vari tal-ฤ imgฤงa L-Kbira taโ Malta u Gฤงawdex (1999); Il-Vari taโ Malta u Gฤงawdex (1998).
Joe, as he is more commonly known, comes from a fine art background that encompasses photography, painting and the graphic media. He has been in photography since 1979 and is a Fellow of the Malta Institute of Professional Photographers, and Fellow of various UK professional photographic organisations. He studied graphic design in Florence and in 2015 he successfully read for a Masters Degree in Fine Art, Digital Arts at the University of Malta. Joe works mainly in social documentary, the performing arts, portraiture, architectural and fine art photography. He has exhibited extensively locally as well as overseas and has been the recipient of numerous national and international awards including being shortlisted for exhibition in the prestigious Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery in London in 2014, 2015 and 2021.
Creativity, innovation, high quality and interest for readers are among the most important considerations for Kite Group. Through each book, Kite Group aims to create an experience that delights readers. This is true for both the visual seeker and even the reading seeker. Among the books published by this house of publications, winners of various awards, are those on art, culture, biographies, short stories, humor books, photography, architecture, law and the history of our country. Kite Group offers a service to readers and anyone who wants to publish a book. You can buy books published by Kite Group from www.kitegroup.com.mt and get a 25% discount by entering the coupon code BOOKS25.
Kiwi is a dynamic publishing house that is focused on bringing a unique experience to books for children. Kiwi believes that books should provide an opportunity for children to learn and dream. True to its belief, Kiwi publishes high-quality children’s books with a difference, bringing meaningful stories and inspiring young readers to dream.
Publisher and producer of handmade books and paper products.ย The story of Kotba Calleja starts with a love for paper as a humble, unique and versatile material. It is a passion that translates into quality products made entirely in Malta. Every part of the process – every fold, every cut, each and every stitch, every gluing – is rigorously made by hand with a lot of patience. That’s why they’re unique.
Kotba Calleja’s publications are biased towards experimentation and fresh imagery and nuance that give today’s Maltese prose and poetry its contemporary identity. This publishing house represents both established and emerging writers.
In 1975, the Society of Christian Doctrine known as M.U.S.E.U.M. developed a well-established bookshop named after its Founder, Preca Library. It specializes in the sale of religious literature and other multimedia resources from several of the main publishing houses in Europe, Asia and North America. In November 1997 the bookshop was moved to a more spacious and specifically designed area, which is incorporated within the Society Central House at Blata l-Bajda, affording easier access to the general public. Apart from the large variety of spiritual books, Preca Library offers a large variety of Christian souvenirs for all occasions: Christmas, Holy Week, Weddings, Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Birthdays, etc.
Alfred Reale wrote his first novel, Is-Sigriet tas-Siฤกill, so that all the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Malta Guide Dogs Foundation (MGDF). In 2018, due to glaucoma, Alfredโs vision deteriorated drastically and he had to retire from work as a member of the Armed Forces of Malta. The MGDF was set up in 2006. The founder organisations are the Malta Society of the Blind and Visually Impaired (MSB), the Torball Society of the Blind and the Gozo Aid for the Visually Impaired (GAVI). Its aims include to raise funds so that it can give guide dogs to the visually impaired.
Malta Libraries is the entity responsible for the National Library of Malta, the National Library (Gozo), the Central Public Library, the Gozo Public Library, all Regional and Branch Public Libraries in the Maltese Islands as well as the National Bibliographic Office. As an entity, Malta Libraries was established by the Malta Libraries Act (Act VII of 2011), replacing the former Libraries Department.
Malta University Press is the small but prestigious scholarly publisher of the University of Malta, the national university of the Maltese islands. The Press is specialised in producing high quality and rigorously peer reviewed works on Malta and the Mediterranean with particular interest in the humanities and social sciences.
Meli Bookshop has two shops which are both located in the capital city, Valletta. The first shop was opened in 1965 and after some time, the second was opened.ย One of the shops can be found at 52, Santa Luฤija Street where one can find the latest assortment of Melitensia books, Maltese and English novels. The shop also provides books for children and cookbooks. The other shop can be found in Old Bakery Street, numbered 185. In this shop one may browse through a large variety of classical literature of both prose and poetry with bargain prices. There are also many novels in English, Sci-Fiย books, fantasy books, horror books, murder books and much more! One can find cookbooks and other general books here as well. Travel books are also foundย in this bookshop.ย For this yearโs Malta Book Festival, Meli Bookshop will be having a new sample of books in English which you can find in their shops!
The Mellieฤงa Local Council is selling mainly books from the Hannieqa Kulturali published by the Mellieฤงa Local Council and written from various authors, mainly related to the heritage, lifestyle and story of the village of Mellieha.
Merlin Library has supplied Primary and Secondary textbooks as well as Sixth Form textbooks to customers since 1978. Our book shop in Blata L-Bajda is the only bookshop in Malta to stock text books all year round. A good selection of revision and self study material for most subjects can also be found in stock. We are a specialist childrenโs bookshop and consequently stock thousands of titles suitable for children from 3 months to young adults. We stock a good selection of fiction, nonfiction, and general interest books for adults too. We often have special offers running at the bookshop and special discounts for children that are members of the Wizzies Club. Merlin Library was the first to have introduced childrenโs authors to Malta to talk to children in schools hence supporting schools in their quest to instil the importance of reading among students. In 2003 Lynne Reid Banks was the ‘first author’ and many since have followed.
Midsea Books Ltd and Klabb Kotba Maltin are considered to be Maltaโs leading publisher. It was set up in 1969 by Pawlu Mizzi. In 2021 KKM celebrated its 50th anniversary from the publishing of its first book Il-Gaฤกฤกa in 1971. Midsea Books with its subsidiaries Klabb Kotba Maltin, and Heritage Books, have become a household name in producing childrenโs titles, novels and fiction, reference and fine art books about Malta. A number of books published are award winners or have been short-listed for awards both in Malta and overseas.
Narcy Calamatta is an icon of theatrical arts in Malta, he published: Why Commedia? Why Malta? and its translation, Gฤงaliex Commedia? Gฤงaliex Malta? including 4 of his original plays. He also published Endgame bil-Malti, the translation of Samuel Beckettโs play, 1,2,3, Love which includes 3 of his comedies. All the 4 books include an academic essay on the related subjects. // Peter Calamatta is an icon of landscape gardening in Malta.ย Consequently he published: Gardening in Malta, and Maltese Plants in the Bible. He published an unorthodox autobiography, called Me and My Mentors. His latest is a personal inspirational book in Maltese on his fight with cancer, Hemm fuq Xi ฤฆadd Iฤงobbni.
The National Literacy Agency, within the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, was established to promote and ensure the delivery of the different aspects of the National Literacy Strategy for All in Malta and Gozo. It is to serve as the main driver in the field of literacy. The Agency seeks to promote and sustain lifelong, high-quality literacy practices. It strives to improve literacy outcomes, resulting in inclusive practices, higher educational qualifications, and better job prospects.
โโIrish International Best-Selling Author Nicola Kearns has been published in multiple anthologies and magazines over the years, and is a frequent speaker on radio, podcasts and in the public media in Ireland, UK, Malta and Italy. Her three novels Under a Maltese Sky, The Azure Window and All the Seas Between which make up The Malta Trilogy, all reached number one on the Historical Drama Best-Sellers List. At the Malta Book Festival Nicola Kearns will have copies of her books for sale and these can be signed personally by the author.
Pandora Bargain Books offers a large range of English and Maltese books at reduced prices both for adults and children. Furthermore, Pandora Publications publishes books in Maltese, priced so that they are affordable for every family in Malta.
Pauljon published his first book in 2016, L-Ispiritwalista, which was chosen for best publication in its section, and in 2018 he published 7 Rakkonti Misterjuลผi which was also awarded the same prize. In 2021 he authored PaulJon bl Oroskopju Gฤงalik, and in 2022 The 2022-23 Horoscope and Rakkonti. His books are published by Amazon UK.
Ir-Rumanz tal-Fieres Safran describes the travels of Markald, known as the Yellow Knight, from the kingdom of Camelot in Gaul, ruled by King Arthur, to the south of Europe. Along with the other Knights of the Round Table he leaves in search of the Holy Grail. But instead, Merlin the wizard sends him to find the platter made of clay which was kept under the Holy Grail and is stained with drops of Christโs blood. Since the fall of the Muran empire, there is anarchy all over Europe. Yet Markald reaches the islands of Melite and Gaulos and successfully retrieves the Sacred Platter. Back in Camelot, the Yellow Knight does not receive the welcome he expected.
Rachael Hollwey – I suffered from Anorexia and depression for a decade, and when I recovered, I found the diaries I kept throughout the torment, as well as the experience of volunteering in Ghana when I was well enough. I felt strongly to expose the reality of what it is truly like to suffer from mental illness, to help people understand it while also showing recovery is possible.ย I also launched a charity in Malta, โWalk and Talkโ, to offer support within the community and raise awareness through the media to reduce the stigma of talking about mental health.
Ricky Caruana is a novice to the world of writing but an old hand in the world of thinking, and it is with Resonance: A Glimpse of Infinity and Strings of Fate that he is trying to put his thoughts into words. His research interests and the focus of his books stem from his insatiable need to address the fundamental questions about life and our place in the universe. Significantly, Caruanaโs work encourages the reader to second-guess and challenge that which we take for granted, as he combines the philosophical with the personal, and the scientific with the speculative. He is currently working on another monograph, this time on the subject of death and the afterlife.
Sandra Hili Vassallo is the author of the IMELDINA series and of MIKELIN, winner of the National Book Prize. She also wrote IL-KOMPONIMENT TAL-MALTI and IL-KAXXA TAL-MEMORJI dealing with children in foster care and out -of-home care. Sandra is passionate about childrenโs rights, migration issues, social justice and the environment.ย Sandra also writes short stories for adults and is rediscovering poetry writing. Her stories were published in LEฤฆEN il-MALTI and other publications.
SKS is a publishing house based in Malta specialising mainly in the genres of history, literature, political theory, culture and biography. SKS strives to inform and educate the general public by publishing high-quality books based on a liberal understanding of life, history and literature, to provide writers and researchers of a similar persuasion the opportunity to publish their works, and to contribute towards the social, cultural, intellectual and national enrichment.
Wirt iลผ-ลปejtun is a local non-government organization (NGO) working in the heritage sector. It was launched upon the initiative of a group of people, mostly hailing from Zejtun, through a resolution approved during a formal meeting held on the 3rd October 2010. Our vision is that in the shortest possible time we motivate the people of ลปejtun to understand the need of appreciating, respecting and taking care of the natural, cultural, environmental, historical, ethnographical and archaeological heritage of iลผ-ลปejtun and its people.
Wikimedia Community Malta (WCM) is a wiki user group based in Malta. This group aims to encourage the uptake of wiki activity among Maltese communities, through the implementation of various wiki activities, projects, and training & outreach events. Special attention is given to Wikipedia and Wikidata, especially in terms of Maltese-language use and information about anything associated with Malta. WCM is affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation’s Affiliations Committee.