Meet the authors
Junior News asked Simon Bartolo and Loranne Vella, authors of the soon-to-be launched Sqaq l-Infern about their latest (ad)venture!
1. Why is it important for you that this book trilogy is in Maltese?
Simon: We started writing the first book in Maltese without thinking about it. We've done plays and other stuff which were in English but it somehow feels natural that this book be in Maltese.
Loranne: The Maltese language is an intrinsic part of the work as a whole.
2. Do you think children in Malta are showing a greater interest in book these days? Whether yes or no why do you think this is?
Simon: It is very difficult for us to know since we don't live in Malta. However every time we're on the island we also make it a point to visit bookshops and it seems to us that the children's sections are getting bigger.
Loranne: We do think that as an experience, reading is gaining more of a cool edge internationally.
3. Who would you say is/are the heroes in Sqaq l-Infern and why?
Simon: The obvious heroes are Jason and Tommy since they are the protagonists. There are however other characters who have heroic qualities that are less obvious. These play a key role in the evolution of the trilogy.
Loranne: I am very fond of Tommy's charismatic character and intrigued by the aura of mystery that surrounds him and his family. At the same time we walk through the novel with Jason, and we discover Tommy's world through Jason's eyes. So I guess I would have to agree with Simon that these two characters are the heroes in Sqaq l-Infern.
4. What ideas and impressions do you hope readers will form after reading the book?
Simon: I'm hoping that what will come through will be a different Malta which feels natural and realistic but which has dark/fantastic elements lurking beneath the surface.
Loranne: I'd be happy if readers could identify with a character from the book.
5. What books did you enjoy as children?
Simon: Peter Pan, The Hobbit, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and Trevor Zahra's adventure books.
Loranne: The Water Babies, Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Peter Pan, Oliver Twist and Ramon u Sardinellu and we have to own up that both of us read lots of Enid Blyton when we were younger.
6. What are you looking forward to most about the launch of Sqaq l-Infern in Malta?
Simon and Loranne: The school visits because since we stopped being teachers we have missed the presence of students in our lives. We're also looking forward to the launch playlet since it will reunite us with our theatre friends.
Simon: We started writing the first book in Maltese without thinking about it. We've done plays and other stuff which were in English but it somehow feels natural that this book be in Maltese.
Loranne: The Maltese language is an intrinsic part of the work as a whole.
2. Do you think children in Malta are showing a greater interest in book these days? Whether yes or no why do you think this is?
Simon: It is very difficult for us to know since we don't live in Malta. However every time we're on the island we also make it a point to visit bookshops and it seems to us that the children's sections are getting bigger.
Loranne: We do think that as an experience, reading is gaining more of a cool edge internationally.
3. Who would you say is/are the heroes in Sqaq l-Infern and why?
Simon: The obvious heroes are Jason and Tommy since they are the protagonists. There are however other characters who have heroic qualities that are less obvious. These play a key role in the evolution of the trilogy.
Loranne: I am very fond of Tommy's charismatic character and intrigued by the aura of mystery that surrounds him and his family. At the same time we walk through the novel with Jason, and we discover Tommy's world through Jason's eyes. So I guess I would have to agree with Simon that these two characters are the heroes in Sqaq l-Infern.
4. What ideas and impressions do you hope readers will form after reading the book?
Simon: I'm hoping that what will come through will be a different Malta which feels natural and realistic but which has dark/fantastic elements lurking beneath the surface.
Loranne: I'd be happy if readers could identify with a character from the book.
5. What books did you enjoy as children?
Simon: Peter Pan, The Hobbit, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and Trevor Zahra's adventure books.
Loranne: The Water Babies, Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Peter Pan, Oliver Twist and Ramon u Sardinellu and we have to own up that both of us read lots of Enid Blyton when we were younger.
6. What are you looking forward to most about the launch of Sqaq l-Infern in Malta?
Simon and Loranne: The school visits because since we stopped being teachers we have missed the presence of students in our lives. We're also looking forward to the launch playlet since it will reunite us with our theatre friends.