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8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 9 OCTOBER 2024 BOOKS THIS year's edition of the Malta Book Festival will be #bindingworlds, by bringing together an eclectic array of exhibitors running the gamut of literary styles and reader- ship demographics at the Mal- ta Fairs and Conventions Cen- tre (MFCC), Ta' Qali from 6 to 10 November. A record amount of space will be taken up by 40+ exhibitors, with custom stands bringing out the unique identity of local publishers who will contribute to the atmosphere of creativ- ity and the joyous celebration of the book, which is the hall- mark of the Festival — a staple of the local cultural calendar and now celebrating its 45th year. "Our exhibitors are the life- blood of the Malta Book Fes- tival. Primarily made up of publishers and booksellers, they also comprise NGOs and international entities based on the island, providing the kind of rich cultural offering that the Festival is now re- nowned for," Malta Book Fes- tival Director Simona Cassano said, adding that the human, in-person element of the Fes- tival cannot be discounted. "The ability to interact with so many different areas of the publishing world — both lo- cal and international — is the magic ingredient that makes the Festival such an enduring event that attracts over 50,000 people every year, from the youngest school pupils to sea- soned readers," Cassano add- ed. Exhibitors will also be or- ganising events, both at their stands and across the various activity areas of the venue. The international dimension will be receiving a significant boost this year, with the wel- come participation of entities such as the China Cultural Centre in Malta, the Embas- sy of Spain in Malta, and the French Corner which will com- prise of the French Embassy in Malta, Alliance Française and the bookshop Lireka. Returning entities such as the Istituto Italiano di Cultura La Valletta and the German-Mal- tese Circle will also be present. The Embassy of Ireland in Malta is also an important partner in this year's edition of the Festival, owing to their support in helping bring over Booker Prize-winning Irish author Paul Lynch as a special guest. The theme of #bindingworlds will extend further beyond the pages of books and their var- ied styles and genres, however. Thanks to collaborations with entities such as Arts Council Malta, along with En- ergy & Water Agency, Benna, the Water Services Corpora- tion and Piscopo Gardens, the festival will offer both creative inspiration and avenues of so- cial and environmental aware- ness. Notably, the inclusion of Il-Kamra Sensorja (Senso- ry-Friendly Room) — man- aged by Inspire Malta and supported by APS Bank — will once again allow children on the spectrum to have access to storytelling activities in a safe and inclusive environment. The Malta Book Festival will be taking place at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Cen- tre (MFCC), Ta' Qali from Wednesday 6 to Sunday 10 November. For more informa- tion and to stay updated on the latest developments, visit ktieb.org.mt and the Malta Book Festival Facebook and Instagram page. Meet the exhibitors at the Malta Book Festival 2024 IRISH author Paul Lynch, whose 2023 novel Prophet Song won the prestigious Booker, will be a special guest at the 2024 edition of the Malta Book Festival. Lynch will be in conversation with Maltese journalist Emma Mattei on Friday 8 Novem- ber, in a public event forming part of the Festi- val's jam-packed programme. Irish Ambassador to Malta Caroline Whelan said that it was a "particular pleasure" to col- laborate with the NBC in their efforts to bring "Ireland's latest international literary success, Paul Lynch, to the Maltese Islands". Highlighting that Prophet Song was the best-selling book in Ireland for 2023, the Am- bassador stressed how Lynch now joins an il- lustrious tradition of Booker Prize-winning Irish authors, among them the likes of Iris Murdoch, John Banville, Roddy Doyle, Anne Enright and Anna Burns, which "shines a light on the range of extraordinary literary talent that continues to emerge from the country". Booker Prize-winning author Paul Lynch at the Malta Book Festival 2024