March 2010
Pierre J. Mejlak and French novelist Élise Blot - winners of the first two editions of the Sea of Words European Short Story Award - present a selection of their most recent short stories at the Medina Intercultural Festival in Barcelona. Mejlak and Blot also read their Sea of Words winning story. The two public readings were part of the Anna Lindh Forum, a major civil society gathering for the promotion of intercultural action across the Mediterranean region.

December 2009
Mejlak is guest speaker at the launch of Inservi, a 900-page collection of writings in honour of former President of Malta and former Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami. Following the televised launch, during which excerpts from Mejlak's latest book are read, Qed Nistenniek Niezla max-Xita becomes Merlin's top adult Christmas seller.

November 2009
Transcript, the European Internet Review of Books and Writing, launches its new edition, Autumn Shorts, featuring short stories from ten contemporary European writers. This issue includes Mejlak's The Madonna round Evelina's in French and in English translated by Vincenzo Cardile and Antoine Cassar respectively.

October 2009
Pierre J. Mejlak wins Europe’s Sea of Words Award for his short story Nixtieq Nghajjat lil Samirah (I want to call out to Samirah). Around 200 writers from 40 European and Mediterranean countries took part in this year’s contest organized by IEMed and the Anna Lindh Foundation. The selection was then narrowed down to thirty and all finalists were invited for a week of activities in Barcelona and Toledo, where the winner was announced. Mejlak won the competition with a unanimous jury vote, made up of top European novelists. Mejlak's winning story has been translated into English and French and will now also be published by the organizers in Spanish and Catalan.

September 2009
Pierre J. Mejlak reads some of his short stories in English translation at the XIV edition of the Biennial of Young Artists from Europe and the Mediterranean in Macedonia. To mark the occasion a booklet with a selection of Mejlak's stories in translation is distributed to all those present.

August 2009
Mejlak's short story, Nixtieq nghajjat lil Samirah (I want to call out to Samirah), makes it to the final round of this year's Sea of Words international short story contest. The competition, organised by the Anna Lindh Foundation and the European Institute of the Mediterranean, is aimed at young writers from the 43 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean space. All finalists will be awarded with the publication of their short stories. The awards ceremony will take place in Barcelona on September 24th. During the awards presentation week, the finalists are invited to participate in a forum of exchange on trust, reconciliation and dialogue in the Mediterranean.

June 2009
Mort Naraha, Pa (I went to see her, pa) - Mejlak's new short story - is published in 45, an anthology of stories for adults marking Merlin Library's 45th anniversary. Also this month, Merlin publishes Kalejdoskopju 4, the final volume in the series. The volume includes two short stories written by Mejlak for young students - Kobba Suf (a ball of wool) and Ir-Ragel li Qatt ma Kien Kuntent (the man who always wanted more).

May 2009
Fil-Hanut ta' Bamba (In Bamba's Shop), a short story Mejlak wrote while on the way from Bamako to Dakar in January, appears in Kieku l-Ikel Jitkellem (if food could speak), an anthology of short stories for adults edited by Adrian Grima and published by Inizjamed. Three new short stories for young children - Ingravajjet (neckties), L-Istorja ta' Mokabi (Mokabi's Story) and Il-Gurdien li ma Hasibhiex (the unclever mouse) - are published in Kalejdoskopju 3, an anthology of short stories for children edited by Clare Azzopardi and published by Merlin Library.

April 2009
Qed Nistenniek Niezla max-Xita, Mejlak's bestselling collection of short stories, is selected as one of the highlighted international titles of the London Book Fair by the British Council and IYPE, and is the only Maltese non-children's book exhibited at the Fair. This is the second time Mejlak's work is being exhibited at the London Book Fair, following the presence last year of Rih Isfel.

March 2009
Mejlak is invited to participate in the XIV edition of the Biennial of Young Artists from Europe and the Mediterranean, taking place this September in Macedonia. In Skopje, Mejlak will be reading a number of his most recent short stories in translation.

February 2009
Two years after his bestseller Rih Isfel, author Pierre J. Mejlak launches Qed Nistenniek Niezla max-Xita, his newest collection of short stories for adults. The book, published by Merlin Library, was launched at a packed Chiaroscuro Cellar in Strait Street, Valletta, in a casual candle-lit winebar atmosphere. Ten friends of the author each chose a different story and talked briefly about what emotions and memories it evoked. These friends ranged from DJs to poets to authors, and included Marika Grech, Pierre Portelli, Rupert Cefai, Wayne Flask, Roderick Mallia, Clare Azzopardi, Guze Stagno, Noel Tanti, John J. Schranz and Trevor Zahra. The evening was also given a visual twist, with four of Malta's top visual artists (Pierre Portelli, Austin Camilleri, Vince Briffa and Charles 'City' Gatt) live-doodling their interpretation of the stories onto an overhead projector. A soundtrack to the evening was provided by jazz players Antonio Olivari and Carlo Muscat. The combination of words, imagery and sound blended in perfectly with the mood of Mejlak's latest work and gave guests a multi-sensory introduction to the book. Click here for launch photos.

January 2009
Merlin publishes L-Istorja ta' Gesu'. The book, adapted into Maltese by Pierre J. Mejlak and strinkingly illustrated by Italian artist Tommaso d'Incalci, covers the main events, teaching and miracles of Jesus' life.

December 2008
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi hands Mejlak his second Malta Book Award for Rih Isfel. The novel claimed first prize in the category for Young Adult Fiction, followed by Mario Azzopardi's Alicia Titkellem mill-Imwiet. "Critics and readers had already seen in Rih Isfel the coming-of-age of young adult fiction in Maltese. The National Book Award has now confirmed this verdict," Merlin's Chris Gruppetta said after the presentation ceremony at Auberge de Castille in Valletta.

October 2008
Pierre J. Mejlak takes part in Jigu mas-Sebh, an evening of contemporary Maltese literature in Luxembourg, with Mark Vella reading from the forthcoming book Qed Nistenniek Niezla max-Xita.

September 2008
A new issue of Storie, Leconte's literary journal, is out, featuring Ten Minutes Malta - 17 Maltese writers writing about the same ten minutes of their life simultaneously. The momentist-writing session took place on November 29th, 2007 from 1750 to 1800 and the result is a sort of rhapsody that recounts the Malta of today. Mejlak is one of the writers taking part. Storie, in English and Italian, is on sale from all leading Italian bookstores.

August 2008
Merlin Library announces that Mejlak's new book will be published on February 12th, 2009. "Qed Nistenniek Niezla max-Xita (i'm waiting for you to fall with the rain) is a showcase of all that Maltese fiction at its best can be," Merlin Library's Director of Publishing Chris Gruppetta said.

July 2008
Kalejdoskopju 5 and 6 are out. The two new anthologies of short stories, edited by Clare Azzopardi and published by Merlin Library, include three short stories by Pierre J. Mejlak. The books are illustrated by Nicole Diacono and Mark Scicluna and are targeted at primary school students.

April 2008
Rih Isfel is exhibited at the London Book Fair and selected as one of the highlighted international children's titles of the Fair by the British Council and IYPE. Earlier in the month, Mejlak takes part in Dijaspora, an evening of Maltese literature in Luxembourg.

February 2008
Transcript, the European Internet Review of Books and Writing, launches its new edition featuring children's literature from the less widely diffused languages and cultures of Europe, which still struggles to attain an international audience. This issue includes an extract of Mejlak's Rih Isfel in French and in English translated by Elodie Loppé and Antoine Cassar respectively. It also features stories by Trevor Zahra and Clare Azzopardi. Transcript is a Literature Across Frontiers publication.

October 2007
Pierre J. Mejlak wins the Malta Journalism Award for the best use of the Maltese language in Journalism. The awards, organised for the 17th time by the Institute of Maltese Journalists, included 11 categories. This year's jury was composed of Anton Cassar, Ranier Fsadni and Michael Shiavone. Professor Manwel Mifsud, President of the National Language Council, presented Mejlak with the award.

September 2007
Rih Isfel finds its way to the shelves of Grant and Cutler - London's largest foreign language bookshop, while Merlin Library launches Senduq Buffuri Ahmar, the new anthology of stories for children, which includes two new short stories by Pierre J. Mejlak - Charlie Jaghmilha (Charlie does it) and Fit-Triq lejn Marsaxlokk (on the road to Marsaxlokk).

August 2007
Senduq Kuluri Ahmar is now out. The book, part of the 'storybox' series that has brought Maltese primary school reading into the 21st century, includes two new short stories penned by Pierre J. Mejlak - L-Istorja tal-Qtates (the history of cats) and Bil-Guh Ma Torqodx (when hunger strikes at night).

July 2007
Fans greet very enthusiastically the launch of Mejlak's new novel Rih Isfel. A crossover book appealing to the young adult and adult market, Rih Isfel has been snapped up in the first few weeks of publication. Mejlak's gamble of writing a deceptively simple story on the disappearance of a young boy in a typical Maltese village, paid off in the form of rave reviews both by critics and by readers. In Rih Isfel, published by Merlin, Mejlak takes the reader on a tour-de-force of wit, mystery, intrigue amid unforgettable characters in whom everyone can recognise a neighbour, a friend or a relative. Rih Isfel was also the first Maltese novel to be preceded by an online 'preview' on YouTube. The summery fresh cover by artist Pierre Portelli has earned the book plaudits. The book was launched at a casual booksigning-cum-get-together evening aptly called 'Niltaqghu' (let's meet) held at Merlin Library. To a background of Mejlak's favourite rock tunes, friends and fans got together to get their copy signed, meet and chat with the author, and spend a relaxed evening with wine and pastizzi.

November 2006
Pierre J. Mejlak wins the National Book Award for Enciklopedija ghat-Tfal, becoming the youngest writer to ever win Malta's most prestigious literary award. Organised by Malta's National Book Council, this year the awards attracted 166 entries, which vied for the top prizes in six different categories.

August 2006
Merlin Library launches Senduq Buffuri Vjola, which includes three short stories written by Pierre J. Mejlak. The stories - Meta Ruggier Baghtilna Kartolina (when Ruggier sent us a postcard); Fil-Gnien ta' Maggie (In Maggie's Garden) and Dar Mimlija Muzika (a house full of music) are illustrated by Nicole Diacono.

March 2006
Merlin Library publishes Senduq Buffuri Orangjo, which includes Tracey and Xita Shuna (warm rain), two short stories penned by Pierre J. Mejlak. They are both illustrated by Robert Caruana.

February 2006
Merlin Library publishes Senduq Kuluri Orangjo, which includes Pierre J. Mejlak's short story F'Nofsillejl (at midnight), illustrated by Lisa Falzon. It's his first story to appear in the series edited by Clare Azzopardi. Mejlak is currently writing stories for the other books in this series.



November 2005
Pierre J. Mejlak wins the e-journalism category of the Malta Journalism Awards with his interviews with the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi; an interview with Jens-Peter Bonde, MEP and chairman of the euro-critic Group for a Europe of Democracies and Diversities; and other reports he sent from Brussels in 2004.



July 2005
Enciklopedija Ghat-Tfal takes Malta's book market by storm. The book is an exhaustive, one-volume children's encyclopedia, adapted into Maltese by Pierre J. Mejlak and published by Merlin Library.



November 2004
Pierre J. Mejlak wins the Translation Category of the Malta National Literary Awards for his adaptation of Pat Alexander's The Lion's First Bible, published in Maltese as Stejjer mill-Bibbja.