What edition do you have?

There were four editions between 2005 and 2008. Then there was a cut and in 2020 we wanted to recover it, but the pandemic came and it was made two years later, in 2022. This will therefore be the sixth edition. Since we restarted in 2022, we have changed the format: before it was in the plaza, in a simpler way. It has now taken another level, in our view, both in programming and in resources, it has been consolidated. Now we do it in a closed room, in the College Hall of Acts, in the room called “village square”.

On the one hand, it is nice that these initiatives are carried out on the street, but last year we decided to bet on the warmth of a covered place, and during those days it was cold and a huge hail and we thought “less bad than we have done inside”. We believe that inside it takes another seriousness, whoever wants it, does not catch you in the street in a walkway.

The name “Continuity Gela” makes a gesture, but if not, they don’t say it’s a women’s book fair. Why do they choose not to speak?

We organized it with the Equality Department of the City Hall. In 2005 this issue was quite special. And we don't talk about the word, because there are things you don't have to explain. We don't say it's in Basque, and we do everything in Basque. The one who does the fair in Madrid does not have to say anything, and we always instead of explaining everything: “It is in Basque and links women and literature...” What does our Chamber mean? Unfortunately, women still need a single space to achieve equality. We want to take gradual steps towards equality.

Last year, they began to recognize a long-standing writer.

Last year we paid tribute to Arantxa Urretabizkaia. It was very nice. This year will also be round: the path of Mariasun Landa will be recognised, in the words of who and Arantxa Urretabizkaia. We would particularly like to mention that we have always had a very positive attitude on the part of the writers. They've always shown availability and ease.

For all ages there is an offer in the program you have prepared.

Last year we saw a vacuum, we didn't put anything for children and young people. What is an improvement or complementation of this year is that children’s literature will have its space with the Amaia Egidazu Storyteller and Collage workshop. And juvenile literature, with the roundtable by Jasone Osoro and Alaine Agirre.

Leire Ibarguren, author of the book Petare, who explains the experiences of a mature woman, interview Miren Egiguren, protagonist of the book. What interesting people are, if those who remain anonymous are not listed in a book...

The two authors of the book M ama eme ume, Estitxu Fernandez and Erika Lagoma, present in the colloquium the background of their work. It's being quite successful and we wanted that vision to exist as well. We are very happy to be there.

A special book will also be presented at the fair, Ibilbidea.

Although Maite López is a young man from Las Heras, as he has studied Latin and Greek, he tends to translate classical literature. The first traveler reported it in letters and translated it. It is believed that the woman left Galicia, arrived in Jerusalem and turned around and you can read the things that happened to her on the way.

“Reading texts written by women in the voices of 20 people.” This event will close the fair.

It's our favorite event, which is also our feature. It is a very nice act, but it costs a lot to link 20 citizens who read it there. We try to balance participation and link men, as it is observed that reading is more evident among women. We also seek the participation of young people. Everyone chooses the text they will read and, if not, they can take it from the texts we offer. Each reads in an interval of 2 minutes.

The book fair will be open during the weekend. In the first editions the publishers placed tables in the book fair, but this year you organized it differently, right?

Yes, there will be all the editorials, but in the stalls will be the three shops of the town: Amaitz, Hizki and Lujan. Through them the fair will be supplied and the productions in Basque of the writers will be shown during the last two years, as well as the most significant books of the trajectory of the writers participating in the program.

Do you intend to continue organizing each year?

The City Hall has stated its willingness to do so every two years, but our intention is to give it an annual follow-up. We did it last year, we will do it this year, and we believe that the breakdown of an initiative that is being consolidated is not good. We will make a special effort to make it annual. If this year’s result is positive and has a certain impact, we hope that the City Hall will also see the need to do so annually.