Yesterday the National Book Council published the list of titles submitted for consideration to the 2025 National Book Prize and Terramaxka Prize (the National Book Prize for Children and Young Adults), both of which will be awarded to outstanding works published in 2024. Widely regarded as the highest literary recognition in Malta, the National Book Prize honours authors, editors, translators, publishers and illustrators for books published with a locally issued ISBN during the preceding year – and there are lots to choose from.
There are nearly 150 titles under consideration ranging from spiritual poetry to military history, from a new episode in the popular Fables from Miragasia series to a New Year’s Eve murder. The selection also includes a confessional journal of a highly dysfunctional domestic life; an overview of the life of a fascinating Maltese sculptor; and a miscellany of scientific and medical thought from the early modern period in Malta which includes a chapter on the use and abuse of chocolate in the eighteenth century. It’s certainly an ecclectic collection!
These are judged in fourteen distinct subdivisions, all of which can include titles in both Maltese and English. The 86 books for adults are considered in eight categories (novels, short stories, poetry, drama, non-fiction, prose fiction in translation and research and historiographic research) whilst 63 books appear in the six children’s book categories, picture books for children (ages 0–7); children’s literature (ages 8–12); children’s literature in translation (ages 8-12) and young adult literature.
An independent adjudication board has screened all submissions for eligibility and ensured their placement in the appropriate categories. Over the following months, jury members will review the submissions ahead of the announcement of the finalist shortlists on 26 August.
The winners of both the National Book Prize and the Terramaxka Prize for children and young adults will then be announced in September.
If you’ve read this far, then you clearly have a passion for books and the printed word – and it’s said that everyone has a book inside them.
If so, you might be interested in last month’s announcement from The National Book Council (NBC) that applications for the Malta Book Fund 2025 are now open – until 20 May. Since its inception in 2015, The Malta Book Fund has played an important role in fostering cultural growth in the local book market by funding publications and supporting writers, authors and publishers with their proposals. This year the NBC has €135,000 to issue across different categories for eligible submissions at project stage.
Have you always dreamt of being a best-selling author?
And might some of this be earmarked for you?
For the latest updates on the National Book Prize and other initiatives by the National Book Council, follow them on Facebook or visit ktieb.org.mt.
