This week, our editors take us behind-the-scenes at book festivals, from a festival spotlighting Latin American literature in Los Angeles to Paris’s Festival du Livre. From workshops on reimagining fairytales to a look at the only Palestinian-owned publishing house in America, read on to find out more!
Kathryn Raver, Assistant Managing Editor, reporting from France
Beneath the glittering glass ceiling of the Grand Palais, Paris welcomed over 114,000 attendees for its fourth annual Festival du Livre last weekend. The festival is a hub for publishing professionals and book lovers alike, promoting both Francophone and international literature to French-speaking readers and offering insights into the literary and cultural landscape of today.
Among an extraordinarily diverse selection of programming, a few of my personal favorites included a workshop on reimagining classic fairytales and a seminar on resisting the language of fascism—an examination of far-right language and how it is actively influencing popular discourses “blurring traditional political markers and weakening collective memory.”
Thousands of authors and publishers took part in the festival, as they do every year. Among them was Moroccan-French author Leila Slimani, whose previous works have been highly praised and have even been awarded prestigious prizes like the Prix Goncourt (Chanson douce, 2016). Slimani’s newest novel, J’emporterai le feu, was released in January of this year and concludes her Le Pays des autres trilogy.
In fact, Moroccan literature was the festival’s special cultural focus this year. Thirty-two publishers of Moroccan voices were present at the festival, most of them taking part in one of the many events offered at the Moroccan Pavilion—a dedicated space designed to highlight the country’s multilingual literary tradition and its “image as a cultural crossroads between tradition and modernity.” The events included a number of creative writing workshops, author talks, and even a seminar on translation and cultural reception of the Moroccan novel.
The Festival du Livre wasn’t the only event on which French readers could slake their thirst this month. Hors Limites, a festival hosted by the Association Bibliothèques en Seine Saint-Denis, seeks to highlight contemporary literature and address reading as a dialogue between creators and consumers. This festival, though smaller, still featured dozens of workshops and author meetings in Ile-de-France.
Among the authors present was Palestinian author Karim Kattan (whose 2021 interview with Asymptote can be found here). Kattan’s most recent novel, Eden à l’aube, was recently awarded the 2024 Prix de la Cagnotte. An English translation of his first novel, Le Palais des deux collines, was recently released by Foundry Editions.
Carol Khoury, Editor-at-Large, reporting from Palestine
The 2025 shortlist for the International Publishers Association’s (IPA) Prix Voltaire, announced at the Festival du Livre de Paris, highlights the resilience of publishers who champion freedom of expression under challenging circumstances. Among the six nominees, Michel Moushabeck, founder of Interlink Publishing in the United States, represents a vital Palestinian voice in global publishing.
Moushabeck, a Palestinian-American writer and publisher, established Interlink Publishing in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1987. The independent publishing house is recognized as the only Palestinian-owned publisher in the U.S. and has built its reputation on amplifying marginalized voices and fostering cross-cultural understanding. Interlink’s catalog spans literature in translation, history, activism, politics, and award-winning cookbooks. Its mission reflects Moushabeck’s commitment to countering stereotypes about Arab and Palestinian cultures while promoting global solidarity through literature.
This nomination comes at a time when freedom to publish is under threat worldwide. Half of this year’s shortlistees live in exile due to persecution in their home countries. Moushabeck’s work stands out not only for its cultural significance but also for its humanitarian impact. Each year, Interlink publishes a book dedicated to humanitarian causes, with profits donated to support those in need.
Moushabeck’s nomination follows a legacy of Palestinian recognition at the Prix Voltaire. In 2024, Gaza-based bookseller Samir Mansour was honored for his resilience in rebuilding his bookshop twice after its destruction during conflicts. These nominations underscore the enduring contributions of Palestinian publishers to global literary culture despite adversity.
The Prix Voltaire winner will be announced at the World Expression Forum (WEXFO) in Lillehammer this June. Kristenn Einarsson, chair of IPA’s Freedom to Publish committee and WEXFO founder, emphasized the importance of celebrating publishers who defend freedom of expression against authoritarian pressures. Moushabeck’s inclusion on this prestigious shortlist reaffirms the critical role of Palestinian voices in the fight for intellectual and cultural freedom.
Miranda Mazariegos, Editor-at-Large, reporting on Latin America
This weekend, the LA Times Festival of Books will take over the USC campus in Los Angeles, California, featuring over 500 speakers and authors. For the second time in a row, a unique spotlight will be placed on Latino literature, highlighting the diversity of stories from the region through the designated “Latinidad Stage.” From storytime for kids in partnership with the public library to conversations about Latino culture in the USA and book interviews with authors, the space will celebrate the diversity and richness of the culture in English, Spanish, and Spanglish.
The Latinidad stage is an initiative from De Los, the Latino-focused vertical of the L.A. Times. “Over the last few months [we] have been working closely with outside collaborators… to come up with an inclusive program that reflects as many of our stories as possible,” writes Fidel Martinez and Andrea Flores in the Latino-focused newsletter Latinx Files. Some participants of the Latinidad Stage include Justin Torres, Nadxieli Nieto, Alejandra Campoverdi, and Yesika Salgado, among other literary superstars.
Admission to the Book Festival is free of charge. If you’re in L.A. I encourage you to stop by!
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Read more on the Asymptote blog:
- Weekly Dispatches From the Frontlines of World Literature
- Weekly Dispatches From the Frontlines of World Literature (April 4, 2025)
- Weekly Dispatches From the Frontlines of World Literature (March 28, 2025)