The 19th edition of the “Autumn Alive” literary festival will feature writers Mia Couto, José Eduardo Agualusa, and Gonçalo M. Tavares.
In addition to these names, Isabel Rio Novo, Domingos Amaral, Dulce Maria Cardoso, Raquel Varela, Pedro Boucherie Mendes, Virgílio Castelo and Bárbara Guimarães have also been confirmed.
The poster for the festival, which will take place in Praia da Vitória from November 25 to 10, was presented yesterday at a press conference.
The Mayor of Praia da Vitória, Vânia Ferreira, stressed the consolidation of the festival, which is gaining an international dimension.
“It’s very gratifying to see the dimension that Autumn Alive has reached, not least because of the position we’re occupying as the third book fair recognized at national level. For us, it’s a great source of pride, but also a great reason to align ourselves and hold on to this project, so that it can continue its upward trend,” she said.
Vânia Ferreira pointed out that this year’s “high point” is the presentation of the Vitorino Nemésio literary prize, which will be attended by the president of the Legislative Assembly of the Azores, Luís Garcia.

The Councillor for Culture, Paula Sousa, said that this year’s edition includes around 55,000 books, which translates into 30,000 titles. “We’re allowing 90 publishers and chancellors to be here,” she said.
She said ‘Autumn Alive ‘will include 43 authors: 20 regional authors, 20 national authors, one from the diaspora and two from Portuguese-speaking Africa, more specifically Angola and Mozambique, everyone’s favorite, José Eduardo Agualusa, and Mia Couto.’
Paula Sousa pointed out that “for the first time, ‘Autumn Alive’ is going beyond the borders of Portugal.”

The literary festival will also include theater, music, exhibitions, a Tourist Route through Nemésio’s City, round tables, workshops for children and a “master class” on “Writing and Imagination”, led by the author Gonçalo M. Tavares.
The work “Mau tempo an Canal” from Vitorino Nemésio marks its 80th anniversary and will be the focus of a literary challenge.
According to Paula Sousa, the aim was to create a program that “cuts across all ages.” The municipality will continue to award a voucher worth one euro to all children in the borough. “We’re concerned about having a supply of books that supports this value so that no child leaves ‘Autumn Alive,’ a visit to the fair, without taking a book, if they don’t have the money to support a book of greater value,” she said.
All municipal schools are guaranteed transportation to visit the fair and participate in activities.
“At the same time, we also have a 200 euro voucher on offer for all the integrated basic schools in the municipality, the secondary school, the educational centers, the municipal library and the professional school in Praia da Vitória. This voucher will be used to buy books to enrich their libraries,” said the Councillor for Culture.
Several festival sessions will feature a sign language interpreter, who will work in partnership with the Regional Directorate for the Promotion of Equality and Social Inclusion.
From Papelaria 96, Carlos Lima said it had been a goal to introduce novelties to the festival, which “weren’t easy, but they ended up happening.”

“José Eduardo Agualusa was already planning to come here 14 years ago. Only this year was it possible. He’s an author from Mozambique, a foreigner, and it’s always difficult to get the dates right. This year, we managed it,” he said.
According to the municipality, “Autumn Alive 2024” will be inaugurated at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 25, in the foyer of the Ramo Grande Auditorium.
This will be followed by the official opening of the Book Fair at the Terceira Island Academy of Youth and the Arts, followed by the book’s presentation paying tribute to the passage through Terceira of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Olga Tokarczuk.
José Eduardo Agualusa is at “Outono Vivo” on the 29th, at 8pm, with his book “Mestre dos Batuques”. Mia Couto presents “Compêndio para desenterrar nuvens” on November 1st, also at 8pm.

in Diário Insular, José Lourenço-director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.