Participating in the closing of Festival de la Palabra at the Americas Society on October 18, author Eduardo Lalo spoke about Puerto Rico's historical background and how it influences the island's literature now. The author, who is the winner of the Rómulo Gallegos International Prize for his novel Simone, spoke about less visible nature of Puerto Rico and smaller countries and how this condition can produce a privileged space for cultural production, resistance literature, and more interlocution with the rest of the world.

The Festival, presented annually in San Juan and New York, celebrated it fourth year and featured writers from throughout the continent in discussions, readings, and book presentations.