Alfa

dear ALFANs

I hope you are enjoying the summer that finally seems to have arrived. Coming monday, the 5th of July there won’t be any ALFA (thanks god for that, I hear somebody say, what difference does it make, another voice).

Well, I have tried for more than two years to give authors a platform to make their books known. We have had some remarkable sessions and experiences, eye openers and – I have met the nicest, most helpful. loyal people, without whom I would not be able to plan lit.ALGARVE – the first international literature festival taking place in the ALGARVE from thursday the 16th through sunday the 19th of September. A remarkable 50 authors from 8 countries will be reading and discussing, performing and fascinating audiences in different languages at different places all over the Algarve.

The program is in the making, meanwhile I enclose a list of venues and authors.

On monday the 2nd of August, I have lined up an interesting author from the UK for you:

Marc Gee will be coming to the Convento S. José in Lagoa and present his latest novel Autumn kill and answer your questions

Providing enough of you are coming.

Marc Gee

Biography

Marc Gee has written eleven stage plays which have been performed throughout the counrty. One of his plays Al’s Lads was made into a full feature film in 2001 and premiered by BAFTA at the Cannes Film Festival. Presently the film has been sold to over twenty two countries. Marc has lectured in screen writing at the BBC, various literary festivals, schools, universities and colleges.

Book News

“Autumn Kill has been one of the most intriguing and powerful books ‘The Keswick Book Club’ have read and discussed this year.”

dear ALFANs

I hope you are enjoying the summer that finally seems to have arrived. Coming monday, the 5th of July there won’t be any ALFA (thanks god for that, I hear somebody say, what difference does it make, another voice).

Well, I have tried for more than two years to give authors a platform to make their books known. We have had some remarkable sessions and experiences, eye openers and – I have met the nicest, most helpful. loyal people, without whom I would not be able to plan lit.ALGARVE – the first international literature festival taking place in the ALGARVE from thursday the 16th through sunday the 19th of September. A remarkable 50 authors from 8 countries will be reading and discussing, performing and fascinating audiences in different languages at different places all over the Algarve.

The program is in the making, meanwhile I enclose a list of venues and authors.

Biography

Marc Gee has written eleven stage plays which have been performed throughout the counrty. One of his plays Al’s Lads was made into a full feature film in 2001 and premiered by BAFTA at the Cannes Film Festival. Presently the film has been sold to over twenty two countries. Marc has lectured in screen writing at the BBC, various literary festivals, schools, universities and colleges.

“Autumn Kill has been one of the most intriguing and powerful books ‘The Keswick Book Club’ have read and discussed this year.”

Locations:

Types of  events:

• public readings (preferably outside conventional locations like libraries in order to catch and spellbind “non-readers”) in various languages (Portuguese, English, German, Dutch, Swedish)
• discussions
• debates
• book presentations and signings
• meetings between national and international authors
• poetry slam
• workshops
• reading marathon

Saturday, the 18th of September from 10 am to 10 pm anybody is welcome to read a story or recite a poem. At the square next to the Auditório Municipal de Lagoa, there will be a stage with access to microphone  and chairs for the audience.

Writing contest

Students from schools all over the Algarve are welcome to participate in a writing contest that will be judged by some of the participating authors. The entries have to be in Portuguese or English.

Good stories and good food

Various hotels and restaurants hold culinary evenings accompanied by authors who read  entertaining stories.

The festival will be accompanied by other activities such as:

• concerts
• recitals
• exhibitions
• film viewings