Milli mála - 2020, Síða 210

210 Milli mála 12/2020
MULTILINGUAL WRITING IN ICELAND

10.33112/millimala.12.7
Cova asserted the significance of multilingualism and immigrant
outreach within her foray into the Icelandic publishing scene. Cova
confirmed that, as of April 2020, she has distributed 305 Icelandic-
language, 71 English-language, and 46 Spanish-language copies
within Iceland.59
Cova sought to partner with an Icelandic publisher, though fund-
ing the publication herself as a means to ensure her children’s book
would be published in three languages and disseminated within the
Icelandic market. After self-funding the project, Cova has now recu-
perated the printing costs through book sales. After the books’
launch, Cova received invitations to read at literary events organized
by the Akureyri library Amtsbókasafnið (Akureyrarbær, 2019) and
Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature.60 She also participated in a
radio interview via the national broadcaster’s program KrakkaRÚV.61
Iceland’s national broadcaster, RÚV, also interviewed Bjartsýn’s pub-
lisher Sunna Guðnadóttir about Cova’s book.62 It is notable that Cova
herself was not interviewed, but rather the publisher spoke in Icelan-
dic about the book’s content and resonance with young readers. The
choice of Icelandic media to interview the publisher, rather than the
author, of a new book is non-standard. The interview, though, led
with a photo of Cova next to her books.
Through their self-initiated forays into the Icelandic literary in-
dustry, both Marcinek and Cova have been invited to participate in
numerous events emphasizing multiculturalism in the arts. In 2019,
Cova and Marcinek read at a literary translation event organized by
Reykjavík City Library.63 The following year, Reykjavík City Library
again invited Cova and Marcinek to collaborate on an inclusive public
spaces project.64 Cova was further invited by the Menningarhús (Cul-
59 Cova, Helen, 2020, personal communication, April 8–9.
60 “Lesum Heiminn / Read the World”, Bókmenntaborgin, 2018, https://bokmenntaborgin.is/lesum-
heiminn [accessed 28 April 2020].
61 “Sögur – Snúlla finnst gott að vera einn”, Útvarp KrakkaRÚV, 2019, https://player.fm/series/
utvarp-krakkaruv/sogur-snulla-finnst-gott-ad-vera-einn [accessed April 28, 2020].
62 Einarsdóttir, Júlía Margrét, “Skrímsli kennir börnum kosti einverunnar”, RÚV, 2019, https://
www.ruv.is/frett/skrimsli-kennir-bornum-kosti-einverunnar [accessed April 28, 2020].
63 “Lesum Heiminn / Read the World”, Bókmenntaborgin, 2018, https://bokmenntaborgin.is/lesum-
heiminn [accessed 28 April 2020].
64 “Cultural Narratives”, Borgarbókasafnið, 2020, https://borgarbokasafn.is/event/welcome/postpo-
ned-cultural-narratives [accessed April 28].