An Evening with Ryan Falzon

Celebrating the English translation of 
You Know the Sun Bothers Me

Saturday, 19 September 2026 · 18:00–20:00
il-lokal, Mdina

Join us at il-lokal in Mdina for an evening with author Ryan Falzon and curator François Zammit, celebrating the publication of the English translation of Falzon's debut novel, Sajf, now published in English as You Know the Sun Bothers Me.

Originally published in Maltese in November 2022 by Kotba Calleja, Sajf takes readers through a scorching summer of vintage cars, excessive drinking and the persistent promise of adventure around every corner. The novel has been described as a generational voice for those born between the 1980s and late 1990s, and was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Prize.

For this special evening, Ryan Falzon will be in conversation with François Zammit about the book, its cultural landscape and its journey from Maltese into English. They will explore what happens when a novel rooted in Malta, its language and its particular generation is opened up to a new readership through translation.

The evening will include readings from the novel in Maltese and English, followed by a conversation and audience Q&A. There will also be an opportunity to meet Ryan, have a copy signed, and continue the evening over refreshments at il-lokal.

About the English translation

Translated by Joe Gatt, the English edition brings Falzon's novel to a wider international readership. Gatt is an award-winning translator working between Maltese, English and Italian. He has lived and worked in Malta, London, Berlin and Brussels, with a background spanning publishing and journalism. His writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Faceand Dazed & Confused, and he is co-founder and co-editor of the Maltese-language literary journal Aphroconfuso.

The English edition is published by Foundry Editions, an independent press dedicated to bringing exceptional literature from across the Mediterranean to English-language readers, with a focus on ambitious contemporary writing in translation and new perspectives on place, identity and culture.

About the evening

18:00 — Welcome & refreshments
18:10 — Readings from You Know the Sun Bothers Me and Sajf
18:20 — Ryan Falzon in conversation with François Zammit
19:00 — Audience Q&A
19:20 — Book signing & refreshments
20:00 — Close

Admission is free. Registration is encouraged so that we can prepare refreshments, but you are welcome to attend without registering.

Registration From 

Copies of You Know the Sun Bothers Me and Sajf will be available to purchase at il-lokal during the evening, and Ryan will be available to sign copies.