As an author, words tend to come to me naturally. However, finding the words to convey the depth of my gratitude sometimes poses a challenge.
Now is one such time, as I thank Consul General of Malta in Canada, Dr Raymond Xerri, for his championing of my work and his tireless support of Maltese-Canadian artists.
I was born the youngest of five in Toronto to Maltese parents, both active in the Maltese-Canadian community. I am a novelist, screenwriter, professional editor, and high school teacher.
Raymond Xerri, an inveterate storyteller and historian himself, has been instrumental in spreading the word about my bestselling historical novels, Eight Pointed Cross and Falcon’s Shadow, and creating anticipation around the forthcoming third novel in my Siege of Malta series.
His sharing of my television and media appearances has garnered tens of thousands of views across the globe, the kind of publicity an author dreams about.
An advocate of the arts, Raymond Xerri has graciously put me in touch with editors and the arts community around Malta to increase coverage of my novels.
He also plans to submit my third novel to the Toronto International Festival of Authors, an event I have longed to participate in since I began my career. Twenty years ago, I attended the festival as an aspiring writer and imagined that one day I might take part as a featured author.
Given that my novels are set in sixteenth-century Malta, it is beyond gratifying to have the support of the Maltese community.
Through his promotion of my novels, Raymond Xerri has actively sought positive recognition for my efforts to publicise and celebrate Maltese culture through the arts.
I am often asked about my goals. Seeing my novels come to life on the screen is my biggest dream. For years, I have wished someone – a director, a producer, an actor – would approach me about adapting my books.
Anytime a film is being produced in Malta, I’d pray the director would pop into a bookshop and pick up one of my novels and contact me.
Suddenly, it dawned on me that I am capable – I did write the novels, after all.
That revelation guided me towards a book-to-script screenwriting course. I have since started adapting my first novel and am currently drafting a pilot episode that I hope to pitch to streaming services as well as HBO, and the History Channel in the next few months.
Nothing would bring me more joy than experiencing the fortitude, resilience, and tenacity of the Maltese play out on the screen – big or small. Approaching studios with such a project is a daunting task, but one Raymond Xerri will help facilitate.
I look forward to the realisation of my dream, of connecting not only the Maltese community but the world with one of the most incredible stories of valour and triumph to grace the annals of history, the Great Siege of 1565.
I wish Dr Raymond Xerri and his wonderful colleagues continued success, and I hope he plans to stick around as our consul general for years to come.
Without a High Commission in Ottawa, Maltese Canadians need such a talented, energetic, well-networked and an internationalist like Dr Xerri, who has worked hard and is offering hope to the Maltese Canadian Community an a Consul General many of us have been long wishing for.
Marthese Fenech,
Toronto.
Website: https://marthesefenech.com [1]