Public and authors are looking forward to the 28th Pan-Amazonian Book Fair on Saturday (16)

For Paulo Garcia, 34 years old, journalist and writer, the 28th Pan-Amazonian Book Fair and Multivoices will have a special meaning. He is eagerly awaiting the programming, which takes place from August 16 to 22 at the Hangar Convention Center of the Amazon in Belém. For the first time, he will participate as an author in an event he has followed since childhood.

“I have always participated. I remember loving to walk among the stands, follow the programming, discover new books, and meet authors. I would imagine, deep down, what it would be like to be on the other side, not just as a reader, but as someone who could also share their stories,” says Paulo.

This year, he is one of the 100 authors who will participate in the Author's Point, a well-established space at the Fair dedicated to launches and relaunches of Pará writers. Paulo was selected during the accreditation process and will be presenting his debut book The Dragon Who Didn't Want to Be King on August 19 (Tuesday), from 3 PM to 4 PM.

Since he was little, Paulo has been writing scripts, comic stories, and creating characters. Now, he will present his stories to the general public, just as he imagined when he was a child. “I am very emotional. It is the realization of a dream that started in childhood, wandering among the shelves of the Fair, and is now coming true in such a beautiful and natural way,” he affirms.

Another person who is looking forward to the opening of the Fair this Saturday (16) is Mauro Tavares, 21 years old, a university student. He recounts that he discovered the Fair in 2018, brought by a friend, and since then he has only missed it in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“When I went for the first time, I realized it wasn't just about selling books: there were debates, shows, and much more. I was euphoric. Every year it’s this mix of anxiety, happiness, and anticipation to know the date and who will be there,” recalls Mauro.

For this edition, he has already organized himself: he set aside money, made a list of books he intends to buy, and wants to take the opportunity to learn more about the honorees — Master Damasceno and Wanda Monteiro — in addition to seeking works by regional authors.

“I have two national authors that I really want to find on the shelves: Rafael Montes, whom I started following last year, and Clarice Lispector, because The Hour of the Star enchanted me. But I also want to leave space to discover new names and genres,” says the university student.

Busca Livros and mobile planetarium are among this year's new features

One of the new features of the Fair will help Mauro on this journey: the Busca Livros. The resource will be available at four electronic totems installed at the Hangar, in partnership with the National Association of Bookstores and RPS Events. There, visitors can type the name of the desired work and find out at which stand the title is available for purchase.

Another new feature is the mobile planetarium installed by the State University of Pará (UEPA), which will bring immersive projections of the sky and astronomy content in an inflatable structure to the public. The space will be located between the event pavilion, where the book stands will be, and the Multivoices Arena, which this year will operate in Hall B.

The 28th Pan-Amazonian Book Fair and Multivoices is organized by the Government of Pará, through the State Secretariat of Culture (Secult), and opens to the public this Saturday at 9 AM. The event features around 200 stands and an intense cultural program, always from 9 AM to 10 PM, until the 22nd. Public entry to the Hangar for the Fair is until 9 PM.

Service:
28th Pan-Amazonian Book Fair and Multivoices*
Date: August 16 to 22
Hours: 9 AM to 10 PM (entry until 9 PM)
Location: Hangar Convention Center of the Amazon – Av. Dr. Freitas, s/n, Marco, Belém
Free entry