“Joachim” is the first novel about everyday life in Bolesławiec. In working on the book, the author drew on her journalistic experience gained while working in the editorial office of “Istotne Informacje”.
Every character in the book is fictional, but many events are authentic, such as Gliniada and the Blues nad Bobrem festival, which returned to Bolesławiec in the novel. In Grażyna Hanaf’s book, dark clouds hang over Gliniada, and a group of friends tries to do something to ensure that nothing threatens its freedom.
– By publishing a novel about my own city, I learned a few things – says Grażyna Hanaf. – The most important of them is the certainty that if you ask a resident of Bolesławiec for help, you will always receive it. During the promotion of “Joachim”, I received tremendous support from Ewa Lijewska-Małachowska, director of BOK-MCC, while two exceptional employees of the cultural centre, Waldemar Cieślak and Paweł Sponar, made a gondola for the novel’s dwarf. Mirosław Sakowski, director of the II General Secondary School, and Józefina and Marek Witasowie from the Agora bookshop also supported me greatly. I am also grateful to the teachers and principals for inviting me to schools. I visited the II General Secondary School, the General and Vocational School Complex on Komuny Paryskiej Street, and the Construction School Complex – the author adds.
An announcement about the debut of “Joachim” was sent to several thousand booksellers in Poland. Information about the book appeared on 18 portals: MMTrojmiasto, MMWarszawa, MMSilesia, MMŁódż, MMPoznań, MMKraków, MMBydgoszcz, MMWrocław, Independent.pl, lubimyczytac.pl, IRKA, twitter.com, parkliteracki.pl, Wiadomosci24.pl, webook.pl, Biblionetka, nakanapie.pl and ekulturalni.pl. A book competition was organised on Warsaw’s Kampus radio station. The book was reviewed by bloggers. Seven reviews of the book were published. Below are two excerpts from the reviews.
“I did not expect Grażyna Hanaf’s novel to draw me in so much. Really. The story of Joachim, set in a Polish city, makes it even more authentic. Out of curiosity, I ‘Googled’ the town, and all the information in the book is true! I was surprised once again, because I thought the author had embellished the story of this city.” Ivka86’s blog
“I have to say right away that I did not expect it; I did not think the book would draw me in so much or be so good! To be honest, I expected something different, but instead I got a story about many extraordinary people. I also got to know a city with a very interesting tradition and history.” Toska82’s blog
All information about the novel and its promotion can be found on Grażyna Hanaf’s website.
(information: ii)