The contingency brought about by the covid-19 pandemic forced dozens of book fairs in Mexico and the world to be canceled or to be transferred to the virtual field.
In the case of the Guadalajara International Book Fair, one of the largest publishing events in the world, its activities were drastically reduced from 3,000 to less than 300 events, all held remotely.
“Our third short story contest was canceled along with many more at FIL,”
writer Cristina Liceaga, who is also director of the Escritoras MX collective
, tells
Verne
.
Talking with friends and colleagues on WhatsApp, we decided to have our own fair ”, she says.
via telephone.
From a canceled event to the creation of the First National Book Fair for Mexican Writers, 16 women writers, an unlimited Zoom account and almost four months of work were needed.
It's already today.
We are waiting for you at this sorority fair. # FENALEM Remember that everything, except the workshop, will be broadcast live on the Facebook of @esvistasMX_ pic.twitter.com/QtPZRPIHtu
- Mexican Writers (@escribrasMX_) December 8, 2020
FENALEM is the first event created entirely by creative women in the area of literature to share and debate projects made by Mexican writers.
“For many years we women have been silenced in writing and at fairs,” says Liceaga.
"In universities, men have always been studied more or cases such as that one of the most important books by Elena Garro was a copy that was almost impossible to obtain, contrary to what happened with (Octavio) Paz," he points out.
The pandemic has severely affected the book industry in Mexico.
According to data from the National Chamber of the Mexican Publishing Industry (CANIEM), the sector has stopped billing 2,329 million pesos, while at least a hundred book presentations, conferences, lectures and fairs have been canceled.
"Despite the pandemic, we want to make visible the work of many women who stand out in the letters," says Liceaga.
More than 100 writers, mostly Mexican, will be present remotely on their Facebook platform from December 8 to 11 to dialogue in various literary genres.
Short stories, poetry, erotic literature, essays, novels and children's genres, among others, will be the central themes.
Additionally, the panels are divided regionally.
"We also want to talk about the work of female writers from the south and north, there has always been a lot of focus on what is done in the center of the country," says Liceaga.
For example, the activities on Friday, December 11, will focus on the work that women do in the Bajío area of the country.
The tables are focused on illustration works for children with a theme of the pandemic and confinement, but there is also a novel workshop where participants can learn about the writing techniques of the authors of this region.
For Liceaga and the group of Escritoras MX, it is important that the pandemic does not stop the efforts to create and read and above all, to make the work of the creators of Mexico visible.
The activities are free and the copies that are presented can be purchased on the platforms of this group.
It's already today.
We are waiting for you at this sorority fair. # FENALEM Remember that everything, except the workshop, will be broadcast live on the Facebook of @esvistasMX_ pic.twitter.com/QtPZRPIHtu
- Mexican Writers (@escribrasMX_) December 8, 2020
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