As I’m typing this, I’m eying a majestic pile of books towering on my desk. Oh, the happiness, the joy! They all landed here on Friday morning, straight off the press. Don’t you just love that fresh smell of printer ink and paper?

I look at the books – some are beautifully illustrated children’s stories, others amazing teen adventures, and others still riveting, thought provoking stuff – and more than anything else, I’d love to take the week off, flop on the sofa with a cup of tea and read through them, fondly, one by one.

These books are our babies: we chose them attentively a year ago when the authors approached us with their manuscripts, we edited them with love, and we designed their book covers with artistic care. And now, suddenly, our babies have grown, and we’re ready to show them off.

Which we will – every so eagerly – at the Malta Book Festival in Valletta this coming week. Starting from Wednesday straight to Sunday, you can come and meet us and our newly launched sets of books, on our new-look, colourful stand at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

This is the part of the year that all of us Merlini look forward to; the time when we get to interact with our readers – young and old. It’s terribly exciting for us to share our books with you – to see your reaction, to hear your feedback and to gauge which are your favourites.

There is nothing that gives us more delight than the knowledge that you would be returning home with a pile of books and you’d be flopping on the sofa with a cup of tea and enjoying the read!