John A. Bonello jiddiskuti ma’ Luke Galea r-rumanz It-Tawmaturgu ta’ Mark A. Fenech, li jkun il-punt tat-tluq għal diskussjoni fuq ġeneri ta’ letteratura differenti bħal dawk sci-fi u ta’ fantasija, li huma skarsi fil-letteratura Maltija imma li xi awturi xorta jimirħu fihom, u li jwasslu għal ħolqien ta’ neoloġiżmi.

John A. Bonello huwa rebbieħ tal-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb sitt darbiet. Huwa kittieb minn Ħad-Dingli li jikteb fantasija, fantaxjenza u stejjer investigattivi għal qarrejja tfal, żgħażagħ u kbar. Fost l-aktar kotba popolari tiegħu hemm is-serje investigattiva għat-tfal Irvin Vella, Investigatur Virtwali, it-triloġija YA bl-isem Il-Logħba tal-Allat u d-duoloġija għall-adulti Unus Mundus. Ta' spiss iżur skejjel biex jiltaqa' ma' studenti u jkellimhom dwar il-kitba kreattiva.

Kotba dikussi f’dan l-episodju:

Mark A. Fenech, It-Tawmaturgu (Horizons, 2017)

John A. Bonello, Is-serje ta’ Irvin Vella (Merlin Publishers, 2008 - )

Mużika:

Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

https://michaelazzopardi.xyz/

Markapaġna hija produzzjoni tal-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb imxandra b’kollaborazzjoni ma’ MaltaToday. Segwi fuq Facebook, YouTube, jew bħala awdjo fuq Spotify u Apple Podcasts u għal aktar informazzjoni żur https://ktieb.org.mt/.

EN

John A. Bonello discusses with Luke Galea Mark A. Fenech’s novel It-Tawmaturgu, which leads to a discussion on different genres of literature such as of fantasy and sci-fi, which are rare in Maltese literature, that however Maltese authors still venture into, leading them to create neologisms.

John A. Bonello won the National Book Prize six times. He is a writer from Ħad-Dingli who writes fanstasy, science fiction and investigative sotries for children, youths and adult readers. Among his most popular boks are the investigate series for children of Irvin Vella, the YA trilogy Il-Logħba tal-Allat and the duology for adults Unus Mundus. He visits schools frequently to meet students and talks to them on creative writing.

Books discussed in this episode:

Mark A. Fenech, It-Tawmaturgu (Horizons, 2017)

John A. Bonello, Is-serje ta’ Irvin Vella (Merlin Publishers, 2008 - )

Music

Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

https://michaelazzopardi.xyz/

Markapaġna is produced by the National Book Council and aired in collaboration with MaltaToday.

Follow us on Facebook, YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information visit ​​https://ktieb.org.mt/.

This podcast is a dialogue between Clare Azzopardi and Luke Galea on Nadia Mifsud’s collection of short stories żifna f’xifer irdum (Merlin Publishers, 2021), the different experience it allows to the reader from other collections, and the opportunity it delivers to look at life from different perspectives.

Clare Azzopardi wrote and translated various books for children, teenagers and adults. Among the most popular are Il-Każ (kważi) kollu tal-aħwa De Molizz and Jake Cassar’s series. Many of her novels were published in foreign journals and her collection of short stories Kulħadd ħalla isem warajh was published in Croatia, Hungary, Egypt and Slovenia. Her novel Castillo was published in Arabic and Italian. Its English translation titled The Lives and Deaths of K.Penza will be launched at the Malta Book Festival. This novel has also been adapted for theatre and television by Take Two.

Books discussed in this episode:

Nadia Mifsud, żifna f’xifer irdum (Merlin Publishers, 2021)

Clare Azzopardi, Castillo (Merlin Publishers, 2018)

Music Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

https://michaelazzopardi.xyz/

Markapaġna is produced by the National Book Council and aired in collaboration with MaltaToday.

Follow us on Facebook, YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information visit ​​https://ktieb.org.mt/.

Leanne Ellul discusses with Luke Galea on her chosen poetry anthology, Glen Calleja’s eki t’eki (Pubblikaturi AWL, 2002), the influence it left on her, her respect towards Calleja’s as a wordsmith, and how the sound of every poem becomes its essence.

Leanne Ellul writes poetry and prose, and has published works for both adults and children. She was named Best Emerging Author in the 2016 National Book Prize, and her works for children have garnered various Terramaxka awards. L-Inventarju tal-Kamra l-Kaħla, her first poetry collection, was published in 2020. Her latest published work is Bjuda, the fruit of an interdisciplinary project centered around the colour white. Ellul lectures in Maltese language and literature and is active in Inizjamed and HELA Foundation, two NGOs that have Maltese language and culture at their core.

Books discussed in this episode:

Glen Calleja, eki t’eki (Pubblikaturi AWL, 2002)

Leanne Ellul, L-Inventarju tal-Kamra l-Kaħla (Merlin Publishers, 2021)

Music Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

Markapaġna is produced by the National Book Council and aired in collaboration with MaltaToday.

Follow us on Facebook, YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information visit ​​https://ktieb.org.mt/.

Audrey Friggieri tiddiskuti ma’ Luke Galea l-poeżija u poesaġġi ta’ Mario Azzopardi fil-ġabra tiegħu Il-Fabbrikant tal-Marjunetti. Flimkien jaqsmu ħsibijiet fuq kif il-qari mill-ġdid ta’ Azzopardi dejjem joffri xi ħaġa ġdida, u kif Azzopardi jiffoka fuq il-kundizzjoni tal-bniedem u jipprova jsib tifsira tal-umanità.

Audrey Friggieri trabbiet Ħal Luqa, ħdejn wied sabiħ li llum għeb, fejn attendiet l-iskola primarja tal-gvern. Fl-2013, ġie ppubblikat l-ewwel ktieb tagħha għat-tfal li kien ukoll finalist għall-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb. Iggradwat bħala għalliema, u llum waslet biex ittemm ir-riċerka tad-dottorat tagħha dwar iż-żgħazagħ f’Malta u l-edukazzjoni. Fl-2022, ippublikat Karolina, Ferdi u s-saħħar il-ħażin flimkien ma’ Clarissa Sammut Scerri, u Ana u Zak isalvaw il-pjaneta, żewġ kotba b’illustrazzjonijiet għat-tfal.

Kotba dikussi f’dan l-episodju:

Mario Azzopardi, Il-Fabbrikant tal-Marjunetti (Horizons, 2012)

Audrey Friggieri, Karolina, Ferdi u s-saħħar il-ħażin; Ana u Zak isalvaw il-pjaneta (Merlin Publishers, 2022)

Mużika:

Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

https://michaelazzopardi.xyz/

Markapaġna hija produzzjoni tal-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb imxandra b’kollaborazzjoni ma’ MaltaToday. Segwi fuq Facebook, YouTube, jew bħala awdjo fuq Spotify u Apple Podcasts u għal aktar informazzjoni żur https://ktieb.org.mt/.

EN

Audrey Friggieri discusses the different forms of poetry in Mario Azzopardi’s anthology, Il-Fabbrikant tal-Marjunetti (Horizons, 2012). Luke and Audrey share thoughts on how rereading Azzopardi’s work always offers something new, and how Azzopardi focuses on the human condition and the search for meaning within it.

Audrey Friggieri was brought up in Luqa, next to a beautiful valley that is no longer. She published her first children’s book in 2013, which was shortlisted for the National Book Prize. She graduated as a teacher, and is finalizing her doctorate research on Maltese youth and education. In 2022, she authored Karolina, Ferdi u s-saħħar il-ħażin together with Clarissa Sammut Scerri, and Ana u Zak isalvaw il-pjaneta, two illustrated books for children published by Merlin Publishers.

Books discussed in this episode:

Mario Azzopardi, Il-Fabbrikant tal-Marjunetti (Horizons, 2012)

Audrey Friggieri, Karolina, Ferdi u s-saħħar il-ħażin; Ana u Zak isalvaw il-pjaneta (Merlin Publishers, 2022)

Music

Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

https://michaelazzopardi.xyz/

Markapaġna is produced by the National Book Council and aired in collaboration with MaltaToday.

Follow us on Facebook, YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information visit ​​https://ktieb.org.mt/.

Luke Galea jitkellem ma’ Francesco Grech dwar l-istejjer umani f’Kissirtu Kullimkien (Merlin Publishers, 2020), il-ġabra ta’ novelli b’kuxjenza ambjentali ta’ Lara Calleja, u dwar l-ewwel pubblikazzjoni tiegħu Kollox Jeħel Magħna (Merlin Publishers, 2022).

Francesco Grech huwa l-awtur ta’ Kollox Jeħel Magħna, ġabra ta’ kitbiet intimi li jesploraw suġġetti diffiċli u spiss meqjusa tabù fosthom is-sesswalità u d-diffikultajiet ta’ saħħa mentali. Grech huwa wkoll kompożitur b’xogħlijiet li ttellgħu madwar diversi teatri f’Għawdex, Malta u l-Italja, u Uffiċjal tal-Kultura fi ħdan Reġjun Għawdex.

Kotba dikussi f’dan l-episodju:

Lara Calleja, Kissirtu Kullimkien (Merlin Publishers, 2020)

Francesco Grech, Kollox Jeħel Magħna (Merlin Publishers, 2022)

Mużika:

Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

https://michaelazzopardi.xyz/

Markapaġna hija produzzjoni tal-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb imxandra b’kollaborazzjoni ma’ MaltaToday. Segwi fuq Facebook, YouTube, jew bħala awdjo fuq Spotify u Apple Podcasts u għal aktar informazzjoni żur https://ktieb.org.mt/.

EN

Luke Galea speaks to Francesco Grech about the human stories in Kissirtu Kullimkien (Merlin Publishers, 2020), Lara Calleja's eco-conscious short story collection, and about his debut publication of poetic writings Kollox Jeħel Magħna (Merlin Publishers, 2022).

Francesco Grech is the author of Kollox Jeħel Magħna, a collection of intimate writings that explore difficult or taboo subjects including sexuality and mental health struggles. Grech is also a composer of works that have been performed around various theaters in Gozo, Malta and Italy, and a Cultural Manager within Reġjun Għawdex.

Books discussed in this episode:

Lara Calleja, Kissirtu Kullimkien (Merlin Publishers, 2020)

Francesco Grech, Kollox Jeħel Magħna (Merlin Publishers, 2022)

Music

Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

https://michaelazzopardi.xyz/

Markapaġna is produced by the National Book Council and aired in collaboration with MaltaToday.

Follow us on Facebook, YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information visit ​​https://ktieb.org.mt/.

Rita Saliba's poetry from her first collection Minn wara l-Ħġieġ  (Klabb Kotba Maltin, 2022) are discussed in depth in this exchange between Luke Galea and the visual artist and writer Matthew Schembri, in which they reflect, among other things, on the appreciation and threats to our surroundings.

Matthew Schembri earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Digital Arts in 2017 and a Diploma in Maltese Literature in 2020. In 2016 he was invited as an artist-resident at the Virginia Centre for the Creative Arts (VCCA). In addition to Malta, some of his artworks were showcased in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and the United States. His debut novel, Stessi, won the Literary Contest of Novels for Youth and was published in 2018. In 2021 he published Ħassartek, an exercise in erasure poetry based on his first novel.

Books discussed in this episode:

Rita Saliba, Minn wara l-Ħġieġ (Klabb Kotba Maltin, 2022)

Matthew Schembri, Ħassartek (2021)

Music

Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

https://michaelazzopardi.xyz/

Markapaġna is produced by the National Book Council and aired in collaboration with MaltaToday.

Follow us on Facebook, YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information visit ​​https://ktieb.org.mt/.

The actress and writer Simone Spiteri spoke to Luke Galea about the use of language and the search for roots in Alex Vella Gera's now decade old novel Is-Sriep Reġgħu saru Velenużi (Merlin Publishers, 2012), and how about her own work as a playwright.

Simone Spiteri is the Artistic Director of the theater company Dù Theater, which was founded in 2004, and twice awarded the Premju Francis Ebejer in 2009 and 2011. Her original work has been staged in several countries including Egypt, the US, England, Macedonia, Denmark and Spain. Her plays have been published in Żewġ Drammi: Repubblika Immakulata/Appuntamenti (2019) and she is also the author of the YA series of novels Il-Vinkulari, published by Merlin Publishers.

Books discussed in this episode:

Alex Vella Gera, Is-Sriep Reġgħu saru Velenużi (Merlin Publishers, 2012)

Simone Spiteri, Żewġ Drammi: Repubblika Immakulata/Appuntamenti (2019)

Music

Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

https://michaelazzopardi.xyz/

Markapaġna is produced by the National Book Council and aired in collaboration with MaltaToday.

Follow us on Facebook, YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information visit ​​https://ktieb.org.mt/.

Luke Galea speaks to the artist, writer and bookbinder Glen Calleja about the relation between diction, universal imagery and stylistic consistency in Caldon Mercieca’s poetry collection Mogħlint, and also about Calleja’s own reflections on the book as a material object.

Glen Calleja is an artist primarily interested in poetry and the book as object - his artistic work often involves alternative book structures, found content and performative elements. His poetry books include eki t’eki (pubblikazzjoni awl, 2002), IR-RAĠEL (2010, 2012) and kull flgħaxija kif mal-għabex tnin u tmut saħħet il-jum(2014). Glen is co-founder of Studio Solipsis, home to Calleja’s bookbinding endeavor, Kotba Calleja.

Books discussed in this episode:

Caldon Mercieca, Mogħlint (pubblikazzjoni awl, 2002)

Nadia Mifsud, Varjazzjonijiet tas-Skiet (EDE Books, 2021)

Music

Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

https://michaelazzopardi.xyz/

Markapaġna is produced by the National Book Council and aired in collaboration with MaltaToday.

Follow us on Facebook, YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information visit ​​https://ktieb.org.mt/.

Fl-ewwel episodju ta’ din is-serje ġdida, Luke Galea jitkellem mal-poeta Claudia Gauci dwar il-memorja, in-nostalġija, u l-vulnerabbiltà tal-awtur fil-ktieb ta’ Immanuel Mifsud Fl-Isem tal-Missier (u tal-Iben) (Klabb Kotba Maltin, 2010), u fil-ġabra ta’ poeżiji tagħha Max-Xatt tat-Tamarisk (Kotba Calleja, 2021).

Claudia Gauci tgħallem il-Malti fil-Junior College u hija wkoll traduttriċi. Fl-2022 ippubblikat it-tieni ġabra ta' poeżiji tagħha, Max-Xatt tat-Tamarisk, (Kotba Calleja). Ittraduċiet diversi kotba tat-tfal għall-Malti għal Merlin Publishers, fosthom, Magni taż-Żmien (2018) li kien rebbieħ tal-Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb fl-2019. Hija membru attiva tal-organizzazzjoni Inizjamed.

Kotba dikussi f’dan l-episodju:

Immanuel Mifsud, Fl-Isem tal-Missier (u tal-Iben) (Klabb Kotba Maltin, 2010)

Claudia Gauci, Max-Xatt tat-Tamarisk (Kotba Calleja, 2021)

Mużika:

Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

https://michaelazzopardi.xyz/

Markapaġna hija produzzjoni tal-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb imxandra b’kollaborazzjoni ma’ MaltaToday.

Segwi fuq Facebook, YouTube, jew bħala awdjo fuq Spotify u Apple Podcasts u għal aktar informazzjoni żur https://ktieb.org.mt/.

English description:

In our first episode of this new series Luke Galea speaks to the poet Claudia Gauci about the memory, nostalgia and the vulnerability of the author in Immanuel Mifsud's memoir Fl-Isem tal-Missier (u tal-Iben) (Klabb Kotba Maltin, 2010) and in her poetry collection Max-Xatt tat-Tamarisk (Kotba Calleja, 2021).

Claudia Gauci teaches Maltese at the Junior College and is also a translator. In 2022 she published her second poetry collection, Max-Xatt tat-Tamarisk (Kotba Calleja). She has translated several children's books into Maltese for Merlin Publishers, including 2019 National Book Prize winner Magni taż-Żmien (2018). Claudia is an active member of Inizjamed.

Books discussed in this episode:

Immanuel Mifsud, Fl-Isem tal-Missier (u tal-Iben) (Klabb Kotba Maltin, 2010)

Claudia Gauci, Max-Xatt tat-Tamarisk(Kotba Calleja, 2021)

Music

Michael Azzopardi, ‘Skrejjen’

https://michaelazzopardi.xyz/

Markapaġna is produced by the National Book Council and aired in collaboration with MaltaToday.

Follow us on Facebook, YouTubeor listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information visit ​​https://ktieb.org.mt/.