Lanzarote's participation in the 84th edition of the Madrid Book Fair begins in the best possible way on the first weekend of the fair, where thousands of visitors have passed through the stand that the Publications Service of the Cabildo of Lanzarote has paid for the promotion of the island's publishing industry, including many Lanzarote natives who live in Madrid.
Likewise, almost a hundred books have been sold, a figure that exceeds all initial expectations, taking into account the gigantic editorial offer of the fair and the fact that the afternoon of the first day was closed due to a heat wave alert.
This is the first time that publishers from the Canary Islands have participated in the most important fair in the country, and it has been the Cabildo of Lanzarote, in collaboration with the association of booksellers and publishers of Lanzarote Isla Literaria, who have made it possible.
For the Councilor of the Publications Service of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Ascensión Toledo, "participation in the Madrid Book Fair constitutes a very important milestone, since it means giving visibility to the editorial production of Lanzarote, which is not negligible, and exporting our culture and making it available to an audience that would be inaccessible from the island." "This implies," adds Toledo, "that through literature Lanzarote is shown in all its singularity to potential visitors of the future, who will undoubtedly have a more conscious look at the territory they are going to visit."
As the Councilor points out, "our presence at the fair establishes a meeting point with all the Lanzarote natives and Canarians who live in Madrid, who during the two weeks of the fair will feel connected with their home. Likewise, from an economic point of view, it also implies a boost to the island's publishing industry and to the publishers who see the reach of their books expanded, and of course, for the Publications Service of our Cabildo it constitutes a unique opportunity to publicize all the works that contain the knowledge and island singularity and thus expand our island culture."
On the other hand, it should be noted that last Saturday, May 31, the Lanzarote stand received the visit of the delegate of the Government of the Canary Islands in Madrid, Rosa Aguilar, who was received by the Councilor, Ascensión Toledo, the president of Isla Literaria, Tomás Pérez and the director of the fair Eva Orúe. Aguilar was delighted with the initiative and congratulated the Lanzarote delegation for the initiative.
During the weekend, some of the authors of the publishing houses signed copies of their books, and throughout the fifteen days of the fair, many other writers from the island will take turns signing the copies exhibited at the Lanzarote stand. The publishers that are present at the Lanzarote stand, together with the Publications Service, are: Ediciones Remotas, Editorial Siete Islas, Fórmula Creativa, Horizontes Atlánticos and Caballos Azules.
