The award ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6th, at 6:30 PM. During the event, Slimani will engage in a conversation with Valencian writer Raquel Ricart, who received the Fair's award last year. The discussion will feature simultaneous translation by Anna Montero, as announced by the event organizers.

Leïla Slimani gained international recognition in 2016 after winning the prestigious Goncourt Prize for her second novel, Lullaby (Chanson douce). This work, a significant commercial success, already explored central themes in her writing, such as class and origin prejudices, family power dynamics, the influence of love and education, and the latent violence within society. Her work has been translated into both Valencian and Spanish.

Recently, Slimani completed the masterful trilogy The Country of Others, inspired by her family and set against the backdrop of recent Moroccan history. This trilogy delves into the social condition of women and the contradictions of Moroccan society. Following the volume that gives the series its title, the trilogy continues with Watch Us Dance and concludes with I'll Take the Fire.

The València Book Fair will also host another international figure: the Turkish writer Zülfü Livaneli. On the afternoon of Saturday, May 9th, Livaneli will visit the fair to present his latest novel, Leyla's House.

Livaneli, also a musician and political activist, is Turkey's best-selling author and is considered one of the most important Turkish cultural figures of our time. His works, translated into 37 languages and recipients of numerous international awards, intertwine various social settings, characters, and historical events, including acclaimed titles such as Bliss (winner of the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award) and Serenade for Nadia. In 1995, he was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for his cultural and political activities and his contributions to world peace.