The year 2020 is the date in which Merlin Publishers' 2011 Young Adult novel MagnaTM Mater is set. The themes of Loranne Vella's novel - climate change, social media, far-right extremism, online and offline bullying - have only become more relevant in the intervening nine years. MagnaTM Mater is set in a Malta plagued by extreme weather, where its young protagonist, Elizabeth, is on the threshold not only of adulthood but also of self-knowledge through a reckoning with her family's past. With increasing urgency, she needs to discover the truth about her childhood friend, starting with whether he ever actually existed.
The skatepark at Tal-Qroqq is a prominent location in the novel. It sets the stage for the rivalry between two skate gangs. What distinguishes them is much more than a different skating style, but a radically different outlook on life, and as the planet creaks towards its uncertain future, our young protagonists must choose their side.
Vella will read from the novel in Youtube episodes, each of which will represent a chapter of the book. The reading will also be available as an audio podcast from the usual providers. Each episode will be published on the date in which the events of the chapter take place, from 13 January to 19 June.
Brussels-based Maltese writer, translator and performer Vella is the co-author of the fantasy novels The Fiddien Trilogy, the author of , Rokit and several other short stories, including the recently published short story collection mill-bieb 'il ġewwa. She has translated a series of children's books into Maltese and has won various local literary awards both for her original works, including the National Book Prize for Rokit (2018) and her translations. She is co-founder of Aleateia Theatre Group (1992) and in 2017 launched Barumbara Collective - a performance art project which focuses on performative events in collaboration with various artists in Malta and abroad.
To commemorate this anniversary, Merlin Publishers are offering the novel 'MagnaTM Mater' at a special 20% discount from their website merlinpublishers.com