The National Book Council is pleased to release the programme of events of the upcoming Summer Book Festival, which will take place in Gozo and will be open to the public on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 July from 10 am to 7 pm. Friday 14 will be dedicated to literature for youth, while Saturday 15 is a day dedicated to poetry. A special event will celebrate Gozitan poet Gorg Pisani. (Download here the digital version of the programme)

The Festival will be opened by the Hon. Minister for Gozo, Dr Justyne Caruana, who will also preside over a book donation to the library of Sir M.A. Refalo Sixth Form by the NBC.

On 14 July, a number of authors will be reading excerpts of their work, both in Maltese and English, to young members of the public: Clare Azzopardi, Loranne Vella, Rita Saliba, Sarah Springham, Anthony Aquilina, Graham Bayes. There will be discussions with novelists Roberta Bajada, Simon Bartolo, Leanne Ellul and Claudia Cini, as well as a book signing with Stephen Lughermo and a session on the process of getting published locally with Antoinette Borg and Matthew Schembri, both winners of the 2016 Literary Contest – Novels for Youth. All these writers will take part in a panel discussion in the afternoon on writing for young readers.

Unique poetry events with Maria Grech Ganado, Michael Zammit, Norbert Bugeja, Immanuel Mifsud and Kenneth Wain are scheduled during the day on Saturday 15 July, while in the evening the poets will all join a discussion panel celebrating Gozitan poet Gorg Pisani with Notary Paul Borg Pisani, the late poet’s son, Dr Joe Zammit Ciantar and Joe Camilleri.

Members of the public, summer schools students and teachers, aspiring authors are urged to attend and find the time to visit the festival during the day or later in the evening. Do not miss out on this opportunity to browse through great literature while getting to meet some of the most exciting authors and poets active today on our islands.

Summer Book Festival 2017

When: Friday 14 and Saturday 15 July from 10 am to 7 pm. Events from 11 am to 5 pm

Where: Gozo (Sir M.A Refalo Post Secondary School)

Participants: Merlin, Glen Calleja and EDE books, Faraxa, SCA, Horizons, SKS, Midsea.

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Friday 14 July // Youth and Literature

10:00               Official Opening

The Festival will be opened by the Hon. Minister for Gozo, Justyne Caruana, who will also preside over a book donation to the library of Sir M.A. Refalo Sixth Form by the NBC.

10:30               Two Popular Writers for Young Readers // NBC

Renowned authors Clare Azzopardi and Loranne Vella will be reading excerpts of their work to young members of the public. Clare will be reading excerpts from Frape, De Molizz and Jake; Loranne Vella will be reading from Magna Mater^TM

11:20                Reading Sessions by Various Authors // Faraxa and NBC

A number of authors will be reading excerpts of their work, both in Maltese and English, to young members of the public: Rita Saliba reading Il-Kulur tal-Lellux,  Sarah Springham reading The Gozo Cat Detectives: Trilogy; Prof. Anthony Aquilina  reading Il-Ġgant id-Dħuli (translation of ‘The Friendly Giant’ by Gladys Masters); Graham Bayes reading The Gold Knitting Needles / The Adventures of Joe Fenek / Octavius Moves House

12:30               Book launch // Faraxa

Faraxa will launch Is-Sigriet ta’ Lulù by Claudia Cini. The author will be present to sign copies of her publication and to meet and talk with members of the public.

13:10                Up Close: A discussion with renowned novelists // Merlin Publishers

Chris Gruppetta will engage novelists Roberta Bajada and Simon Bartolo in a discussion on sources of inspiration and the experience of writing a novel for young readers. In particular, the discussion will look at Termini u kundizzjonijiet japplikaw and Arloġġ u Tila by Roberta Bajada and the dystopian novel Deformity by Simon Bartol

15:00               Writing for the young: a workshop // Merlin Publishers

In this workshop Leanne Ellul, the award-winning author of Gramma, will address important issues in the writing of novels for young adults: what makes a YA novel tick? Are there any no-gos for YAs? How explicit is too explicit for YA?

15:50               Getting published in Malta and the editorial process: a discussion // Merlin Publishers

Antoinette Borg and Matthew Schembri, both winners of the 2016 Literary Contest – Novels for Youth, will share their experience of the process of getting one’s work published locally. The discussion will be led by Chris Gruppetta.

16:45                Youth Culture and Literature: a panel discussion // NBC

Discussion panel on writing for young readers: youth literacy, the problems of addressing youth issues without being patronising, the problem of using cultural referents that are prone to date quickly.

18:00               Book Launch Events // Horizons

                          Book launch and signing of Jarmuk with Stephen Lughermo, and of Damask by Rita Saliba, both winners of the winner of the Literary Contest – Novels for Youth

Saturday 15 July // Poetry

11:00               Female Voices // Faraxa

Poetry readings: Corrine Annette Zara reading unpublished poems; Linda Henry reading from Gozo Gems.

11:50                A unique voice // NBC

Poet Norbert Bugeja will be talking with Maria Grech Ganado, the winner of the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Literature, about her poetry and her work as a translator. There will be readings of poems by the author.

12:40               A leading contemporary voice // Midsea Books

Midsea presents Norbert Bugeja, who will be reading from his latest publication Nartiċi.

15:00               Music and poetry // NBC

Michael Zammit will read his work Għana ‘l Hena, a book-long poem in Maltese which was originally conceived to be read in one go. Members of the audience can acquire a free copy of the book and have it signed by the author.

15:50                EU-literature prize laureate // NBC

Award-winning poet and writer Immanuel Mifsud will be reading excerpts from his poetry books.

16:40               A life in poetry // NBC

Kenneth Wain will be reading poems from his poetry publication Who Looks at the Sun Anymore, published by Horizons this year.

18:00               Celebrating Gozo’s poet: Gorg Pisani // NBC

Discussion panel with Notary Paul Borg Pisani, the late poet’s son, Dr. Joe Zammit Ciantar and Joe Camilleri, with the participation of Maria Grech Ganado, Michael Zammit, Norbert Bugeja, Immanuel Mifsud, Kenneth Wain, followed by poetry reading of Gorg Pisani’s poetry.