Alex Vella Gera, who is in court over his short story, Li Tkisser Sewwi, who has been accused of breaking Malta’s obscenity laws, won second prize on Thursday night with his book Żewġ during the National Book Prize awards held at Auberge the Castille.
Mr Vella Gera, however, was not there to receive his prize from Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi because he boycotted the ceremony in protest against the way the Nationalist Party station Net TV had described him as “promoting paedophilia” with his short story. A few other authors also boycotted the ceremony in a show of support. In a press statement, Net TV countered by accusing Mr Vella Gera of “censoring” them.
Speaking to TMID, Mr Vella Gera expressed his pleasure at winning the prize.
“As a self-published writer that is particularly satisfying. Regarding my court case, I don’t think it will make any difference, but in the great scheme of things, it is definitely excellent timing. As for Net TV, (Head of News) Nathaniel Attard needs to buy himself a dictionary and look up the word “censorship”. There’s this misconception in this infantile nation of ours that condemning or criticising something amounts to censorship?”
Meanwhile, Merlin Books also had cause to celebrate for sweeping both first and second prizes in all the three categories they publish in.
Asked for his reaction, Merlin publisher and editor Chris Gruppetta said, “We’re thrilled of course – these are arguably the three most important categories in literature: adult fiction, children’s fiction and teenage fiction. Plus, Mark Scicluna won the Best Illustrator Award for the second year running for three Merlin books. And once again Merlin was the publishing house with most awards to its name – the awards come as welcome recognition for the hard work of our authors, illustrators, designers and the entire team.”
The winners are:
Literary Prose: Novels and Short Stories in Maltese
First Prize
Qed Nistennik Nieżla max-Xita, Pierre J. Mejlak, Merlin Library Ltd
Second Prize
45, Chris Gruppetta, Merlin Library Ltd
(and)
Żewġ, Alex Vella Gera (Self-Published)
Prose Non-Fiction
First Prize
Panoramic Malta and Gozo, Daniel Cilia, Book Distributors Ltd
Second Prize
It-Tifel tan-Nanna, Ġorġ Peresso, Horizons
Prose Non Fiction: Textbooks
First Prize
Il-Qari tal-Letteratura bejn Esperjenza u Kritika, Terence Portelli, Allied Publications
Poetry in Maltese
First Prize
Weraq Sfajjar fix-Xagħri, Maurice Mifsud Bonnici
Second Prize
Id-Demm Nieżel bħax-Xita, Adrian Grima and Karl Schembri, Edizzjoni Skarta
(and)
Bliet, Norbert Bugeja, Edizzjonijiet Emma Delezio
Poetry in Another Language
First Prize
Poesie, Poems, Poeżija, J.J. Cremona, Klabb Kotba Maltin
Works of Biographical and Historical Research in Maltese or in Another Language
First Prize
Jewellery in Malta, Francesca Balzan, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti and Midsea Books
Second Prize
Baroque Painting in Malta, Keith Sciberras, Midsea Books
General Research in Maltese and English
First Prize
Dan hu l-Islam, Taħriġ ta’ Tifsir, Edmund Teuma, ĊAK
Second Prize
Exploring the Maltese Media Landscape, Joseph Borg, Mary Ann Lauri and Adrian Hillman, Allied Publications
Drama in Maltese
First Prize
Ħitan bil-Moffa, Joseph Vella Bondin, Bronk Productions
Second Prize
Ippermettili Nitlaq, Alfred Buttigieg, Klabb Kotba Maltin
Prose for Children
First Prize
Il-Każ Kważi kollu tal-Aħwa de Molizz, Clare Azzopardi, Merlin Library Ltd
Second Prize
Ir-Re Pankrazju jagħlaq Mitt Sena, Clare Azzopardi, Merlin Library Ltd
(and)
Id-Dar fi Sqaq il-Forka, Ivan de Battista, Klabb Kotba Maltin
Prose for Adolescents
First Prize
Il-Ġnien tad-Dmugħ, Simon Bartolo and Loranne Vella, Merlin Library Ltd
Second Prize
L-Aħħar Ġranet ta’ Ciorni u Stejjer Oħra, Mario Azzopardi, Merlin Library Ltd
Poetry and Drama for Children and Adolescents
First Prize
Paroli, Trevor Żahra, Malta Union of Teachers
Translations and Books in Another Language for Children and Adolescents
First Prize
Don’t Cross the Road, Holly/Taqsamx it-Triq, Fuxa, Rita Antoinette Borg
Special Prize for Translations in Maltese or in Another Language
First Prize
Il-Politika tal-Persważjoni, Charles Abela Mizzi, Allied Publications
Best Illustrator for Children’s Works
Mark Scicluna
Best Production in Maltese
Michael Schiavone/Outlook Coop Inservi, PIN
Best Production in Another Language
Joseph Mizzi, Baroque Paintings in Malta, Midsea Books
Special Lifetime Achievement prize for a person who has contributed greatly in the fields of Literature and Publication
Alfred Palma