Going international! Maltese debut SAJF by Ryan Falzon to be published in English by Foundry Editions
The upcoming English edition has also received support from the grant programme PEN Translates.
After making waves on the beach of Malta’s literary scene with SAJF, published by Kotba Calleja, author Ryan Falzon is poised to reach a wider international readership. The novel will now be published in English by Foundry Editions, in a translation by Joe Gatt.
The upcoming English edition, with the title ‘You Know the Sun Bothers Me’, has also received support from English PEN through its flagship grant programme, PEN Translates. One of the world’s oldest human rights organisations, English PEN champions freedom of expression, supports writers at risk, and promotes international literature through a series of prestigious prizes and grants. The PEN Translates award is a significant endorsement, backing outstanding works of international writing for English-language publication.
First published in November 2022, SAJF quickly established itself as an unflinching new voice in contemporary Maltese fiction. Set against the heat and haze of a long, restless summer, the novel unfolds amid vintage cars and the constant pull of adventure waiting just around the corner.
SAJF captures the spirit (and contradictions) of the millennial generation and the emerging Gen Z era, and the novel’s impact was swiftly recognised, being shortlisted for the National Book Prize in 2023.
In 2024, Ryan Falzon was awarded the National Prize for Best Emergent Author, and in the same year, he was also selected to participate in Ulysses’ Shelter, the European literary residency programme that brings together emerging writers from across the continent.
Reflecting on the journey from Maltese publication to international translation, Ryan shared: ‘From a story born in Maltese to a new readership beyond our shores, this feels significant. Grateful to everyone who believed in the book from the start, and excited (and slightly stunned) to see it take on a second life in English.’
Have you read SAJF yet?