Book fairs cancelled, bookstores closed, book launches postponed … these are but some of the consequences suffered by the publishing sector during the coronavirus pandemic and which have had a direct impact on writers. On the other hand, writers usually favour working in isolation. Three well known Spanish writers review how they have faced this period of confinement to continue carrying out their work and what the outlook facing the world of creation is.
They are Carme Riera, writer and academician at the RAE (Spanish Royal Academy), with a long history as an essayist, short story writer and novelist whether in literary fiction or in historical or detective genres. She has garnered numerous awards such as the Nacional de las Letras in 2015. A bilingual writer in Catalan and Spanish, she translates her own work, among them Naturaleza casi muerta, Tiempo de inocencia (autobiographical), La voz de la sirena or Vengaré tu muerte, the most recently published.
Julia Navarro is a journalist and writer. She came to the fore in literature with La hermandad de la Sábana Santa which was published in 30 countries and swiftly became a best seller. The success of her books, which became regular in the best seller lists, drove her to set aside her very successful career in journalism. Among her novels are Dime quién soy, Dispara, yo ya estoy muerto or the most recent, Tú no matarás.
Care Santos is a writer and literary critic, who won the Nadal prize in 2017 for her novel Media vida. She has garnered awards and distinctions for both her work as a writer of adult fiction as well as children and youth. Habitaciones cerradas (which was adapted for television), La muerte de Venus or El aire que respiras are some of her work. Todo el bien y todo el mal is her most recent novel.
Daniel Fernández, Publisher and President of CEDRO, moderates the debate.
Photography of Carme Riera: © F.Moreno
Photography of Julia Navarro: © Juan Manuel Fernández, courtesy of Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial
Photography of Care Santos: © Joan Cortadellas Huguet
Photography of Daniel Fernández: © P. Moreno
