In 2023, it will be 100 years since the birth of Alka Zey. The writer, beloved by young and older readers, passed away in 2020, but her work and memory of her are alive, as the leaders of the Metaihmio publishing house confirmed to us yesterday at a short presentation held in the cafe of the Byzantine Museum. There, editors Nontas and Eleni Papageorgiou told us both about the many events that are being prepared for the (now official) Alkis Zey Literary Year, and about their other plans on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Metaihmios himself.

Starting from the second holiday, Metaichmio will organize for the first time a special educational program called “Make Your Own Book!”, which will be free of charge and designed for children in kindergarten and primary school, the purpose of which is to introduce them to the world of the book. and activate your imagination, eventually creating your own work. Adults are also invited to write through a short story competition that will be organized around the theme of a story unfolding in a publishing house and ten winners whose stories will be published in an e-book.

On the side of readers now, especially detective fiction fanatics, Metaihmyo is preparing a 10-month reading marathon in which the detective’s friends will be asked to read 10 books, one per month, and then answer related questions. Finally, the publishing complex will host a series of 1930s exhibitions inspired by the book covers of those three decades.

As we said, of course, in 2023 Alki Zey basically has his honor. The Metaichmio, logically, focuses its sister activities mainly on schools where children and teenagers grow up – or deserve to grow up – with the books of a Greek author. The educational program, developed by the museum specialist Kalliopi Koutrubis in collaboration with Zeya herself before her death, will be addressed to elementary school students. At the same time, there will be an essay competition for children and teenagers, again through schools, on the topic of immigration, which is often found in her own books, and the publications are establishing the Alki Zey Children’s Literature Prize. which will be awarded to emerging authors through a competition.

“We are also calling on schools across the country to name their school libraries Alki Zey. After the lottery, Metaichmio publications will send all the works of Alkis Zeis, as well as dozens of books to replenish them, to 20 such primary and secondary school libraries,” Eleni Papageorgiou concluded. Metaichmio is releasing five new hardcover editions of Alkis Zey’s books this year, including the widely read Showcase Chaplain, Peter’s Big Walk, and the more grown-up Bride of Achilles.