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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 MARCH 2023 5 LITERATURE THE first edition of the Gozo Literature Festival, organised by the Gozo Regional Council and Inizjamed, will be held on Satur- day 1 and Sunday 2 April 2023. Readings will be held in differ- ent locations around Gozo. Five writers, four from Gozo and one from Malta, will be reading at the festival. The writ- ers participating in this first edition are Charles Bezzina, Joe Camilleri, Elena Cardona, Cor- rine Zahra and Trevor Żahra. Readings will be held in Maltese and English. Inizjamed has been organising the Malta Mediterranean Lit- erature Festival for the past 18 years. It is the only literature fes- tival in Malta that not only cele- brates the word in its poetic and prosaic form, with translations from and to numerous languag- es, but also the word as translat- ed into film, music and various other art forms. The success of the Malta Medi- terranean Literature Festival has led to the creation of the Gozo Literature Festival. The aim of the Gozo Literature Festival is to consolidate and promote the works of Gozitan and Maltese writers within the Gozitan com- munity; bridge the gap between emerging and veteran writers; involve the Gozitan community and various organisations; and also hold literary readings in places that are not usually asso- ciated with literature. Using one of the old traditional buses, writers will travel around Gozo, visiting the majority of towns whilst reading on the same bus. Literary performances will also be held at different ven- ues. Books from invited writers will be available at Book & Art Shop, Vajrinġa Street, Rabat. Saturday 1 April The day will start with a liter- ary walk around Victoria. Then, a book signing session with the support of local book publishers Merlin Publishers, Klabb Kot- ba Maltin, Horizons and Faraxa Publishing will take place at the Book & Art Shop in Vajrin- ga Street, where the public can meet the writers, have a chat with them and buy their books. The public can meet the writers again during lunch at Tal-Massar for a unique (and informal) event of food and food for thought. Registration for the event is through this link: https://forms. gle/UTRNYMe7pBxsTpPt5. In the evening, the writers will hop on the bus and read their works whilst at Xewkija, Għajn- sielem, Mġarr, Qala, Nadur and Xagħra. Around 8.30pm, a read- ing will take place in the magi- cal setting of Ġgantija Temples. This reading is being held in col- laboration with Heritage Malta. Sunday 2 April Sunday will also start with a lit- erary walk, this time in the coun- tryside with the collaboration of Wirt Għawdex and Għawdix. An open mic will follow at Saint Ce- cilia's Chapel, limits of Xewkija. The public is invited to read or perform their work in whichever language they prefer. Registra- tion is required: https://forms. gle/k9FimUrfhsa8h4Mz5. In the evening, writers will hop once again on the bus and read their works, this time visit- ing Żebbuġ, Għasri, Għarb, San Lawrenz, Ta' Kerċem, Munxar, Ta' Sannat and Fontana. Registration for the Festival nights is to be made through this link: https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoVQNs- MG1VfqJJ2aGukxo4qSVbWZz- b1p1F534XwsLtZejCqg/view- form?usp=sf_link Pre-festival events Amongst the events being held before the Festival, on Friday 17 March 2023, a workshop will be held with year six students at the Primary School in Rabat. The workshop will be led by Gozitan writer Elena Cardona. More information is available on Facebook, on the pages of the Gozo Regional Council and Inizjamed: www.facebook.com/regjunghaw- dex www.facebook.com/inizjamed 'Linja Hamra' - the first edition of the Gozo Literature Festival Left to right: Trevor Zahra, Joe Camilleri, Elena Cardona, Corrine Zahra and Charles Bezzina