What happens before a story reaches its readers? How is a literary voice born? What encounters, rejections, choices and turning points accompany the journey of a writer? “Esordi”, the new project by Avvenire e Mondadori Store, stems from these questions. A collaboration that brings together two organizations united by the desire to create opportunities for meeting, discussion and cultural exploration, bringing the public closer to stories and the people who make them possible. Avvenire and Mondadori Store thus combine complementary experiences and perspectives, giving life to a project that expands the forms of cultural storytelling, supplementing content with the opportunity to get to know their protagonists up close and what lies behind their journey.

The “Esordi” project offers, from October 2026 to June 2027, eight live events to go behind the scenes of publishing and tell everything that precedes the publication of a book.

Moderating the meetings, which will be held at 6.30 pm at the Mondadori Bookstore Crocetta library in Milan (corso di Porta Romana, 80), will be Eugenio Giannetta, a journalist for Avvenire. Each evening will bring together two guests, an established author and a debutant, called to share the journey that led them to publication, amid rejections, editing, decisive encounters, insights from editors and scouts, awards and magazines.

The appointments will also be live podcasts: the conversations, lasting about an hour, will be recorded live and will become the eight episodes of the video podcast “Esordi”, available on avvenire.it and on the main audio platforms.

The first appointment, titled “Il libro nel cassetto”, is scheduled for Thursday 15 October at 6.30 pm. Protagonists Fabio Geda, author of Cencio (Einaudi), and Maria Ausilia Di Falco, author of Immacolata (Einaudi), to discuss how a publishing idea is born.

Thursday 19 November, also at 6.30 pm, “Il ruolo dell’editor” will be explored, from which the meeting takes its title, with Matteo B. Bianchi, author of La vita di chi resta (Mondadori) and Riccardo Lupi, author of Erba Grama (Accento). A discussion dedicated to a central, and often little-seen, figure in the journey that brings a text to become a book.

The cycle will resume Thursday 14 January at 6.30 pm with “Scrivere ieri, scrivere oggi”. Alessandro Zaccuri, author of Le ombre (Marsilio), and Caterina Villa, author of Misurare il vuoto (Lindau), will compare experiences of different generations to tell what changes and what remains in the journey of those who choose writing.

“Esordi” will then continue, on a monthly basis, on 18 February, 18 march, 15 april, 20 may and 17 june. Among the protagonists of the upcoming meetings, the debutant Domenico de Musso will present his Milano siamo noi (Nottetempo), while Roberta Recchia – author of Tutta la vita che resta (Rizzoli) – and Martina Renna – author of Sciame (Rizzoli) – will dialogue on the theme of “Formarsi alla scrittura”. All other protagonists and themes of the upcoming meetings will be announced over the months on the dedicated landing page (https://mn.avvenire.it/esordi), where it is possible to register for scheduled events.

For more information: eventi@avvenire.it

Avvenire Avvenire is the Catholic-inspired national daily newspaper distributed throughout Italy. With great attention to societal evolution, news, and current economic and international affairs, it stands out for its extensive in-depth analysis thanks to numerous editorials, rich sections of the newspaper and periodic supplements.
Avvenire is today at the heart of a true publishing system that includes, in addition to the daily newspaper, with its supplements dedicated to specific topics, a website with a voice-reading service for articles, reading accessibility for people with disabilities, thematic weekly newsletters, social media with a high engagement rate (Facebook, X, Instagram, Linkedin, YouTube), a podcast channel with dedicated mini series, a WhatsApp channel to receive real-time updates, an App where to consult the digital daily newspaper and all its local (diocesan) editions, the monthly Luoghi dell’Infinito, which covers art, culture and itineraries, a book production, which also includes a series in collaboration with Vita e Pensiero, the current affairs newspaper for children Popotus, unique in the publishing landscape, with wide distribution in Italian primary schools; Pop Up, the current affairs newspaper for young people (11-14 years old) and the cultural supplement Gutenberg.
The 101,698 average daily copies (July 2026 ADS data), the highest percentage of subscribers among all Italian daily newspapers and the trend of growth in circulation, constant and uninterrupted since 2002, demonstrate that readers recognize in Avvenire a very high level of quality, backed by a relationship of trust that few other daily newspapers can boast.
Avvenire Communications Directorate: Debora Spadoni | +39 338 7191513 | d.spadoni@avvenire.it

Mondadori Store represents the largest bookstore network in Italy, with over 500 sales outlets spread from major cities to smaller towns. Active cultural hubs throughout the national territory, under the Mondadori Bookstore brand, in direct management and in franchising, and with the MA Libraries, Mondadori Duomo and Rizzoli Milano. Mondadori Store is active online with the e-commerce website Mondadoristore.it and the bookclub formula.