The second edition of the Ponta Lopud Book Bridge will bring a nuanced creative buzz to Lopud exploring the relationship between Literature and social controversies such as gentrification.
We will have entertainment in the form of Poetry and Short Story readings, ancient style (Sean Nos) Irish singing and drama. We are honoured to welcome the return of renowned author Wendy Erskine from the Island of Ireland and new faces such as Ivana Bodrožić i Lidija Deduš.
When: 18-20 September 2025
Where: Lopud island Croatia
Ponta Lopud Book Bridge Writing Competition
The idea for this year’s competition theme came to us while observing the fate and state of the Grand Hotel on the island of Lopud.
Does a house consist only of walls (as we are often told when struggling to decide whether to sell our own home or apartment), or is it made up of the souls of the people who have lived in it? Do we want our newly purchased home to be free of other people’s spirits, prompting us to call in alternative cleaners to remove the energy of previous residents— the energetic imprints left in the walls, floors, and ceilings? Do walls suffer when those within them hate each other, and does the entire house then fall ill?
The concept of one’s own home has been a cherished literary motif throughout time, from Greek tragedies to the present day. Hotels, in turn, offer a temporary refuge—a place of warmth without judgment. But what do their walls feel, and what stories do they long to tell? Do their owners, managers, and staff sense the soul of a hotel?
The Grand Hotel on Lopud can serve as the subject of a story, a cycle of poems, or an essay. Its history is woven with both curses and blessings; its aesthetic has been award-winning, while its changing ownership reveals different chapters of its life—often in decline. Just as a human life has both bright and dark moments, the Grand was once a paradise for foreigners and locals alike, a place of joyous summer adventures, but also a hell for the unfortunate souls marked by the Star of David on their armbands (during the Independent State of Croatia/NDH in WWII era, it was a transit camp for Jews). For nearly 30 years now, the Grand has been out of use. Perhaps it seeks a well-deserved rest before beginning a new life?
Thus, for the writing competition within the Ponta Lopud Book Bridge festival, the chosen theme of all works submitted should have the Hotel as a key element.
Submission is free of cost.
Submission deadline is 30 June
For more information go to https://pontalopud.hr/book-bridge-2025/
