Eva García Sáenz de Urturi takes inspector Kraken to Venice in a new story of intrigue called E.angel of the city It put the author back on the top of the best-selling books since it came out just a month ago. A story full of mysteries, artworks and old books. Winner of the 2020 Planeta Award, the Alicante-based author is proud that her novels are considered “educated and quality literature”.
How calmly Kraken retires, lectures and confronts the figure of his mother. black book of hours and now inside angel of the city She makes him go to Venice to follow in his footsteps and also to Vitoria to follow in his father’s footsteps, albeit at two different times. Will you let him rest?
Every novel requires a conflict, so a hero always has to face a challenge to start the premise of the thriller. In this case, Inspector Kraken faces the double challenge of investigating the death of his father in Vitoria and the burning of a palace in Venice, involving his mother.
Why would Venice develop this new story of intrigue?
In my novels, it is always the plot that leads to the scene. In the case of angel of the city The forgery scheme of some Dalí paintings inevitably led me to Venice, full of galleries and museums.
The places Kraken travels in the novel are real and you have visited them before. What is the magic of this city that inspires you?
Outside of the tourist attractions, there is such a rich and distinctive Venice that it’s bound to be included in a thriller about art fraud.
Whatangel of the city What does the title of your novel mention about a figure representing the good and bad sides of each of us?
It is actually a figure of protection. The Venetians have a very specific way of organizing their affairs outside of the authorities, and a guardian figure has emerged as a logical consequence of the conspiracy.
“I am proud that my books are seen as quality, intellectual literature”
Art, heritage, is always abundantly present in his novels. Inside black book of hoursa bibliographic gem and art at it, great painters and also old books.
I am aware that my novels are referred to as cultured bestsellers. smile name, Tetralogy of Umberto Eco or Carlos Ruiz Zafón. I am proud that my books are seen as quality, intellectual literature. There is also the type of reader who pursues didacticism, and I consciously work in the documentation process so that there is a good dose of learning in my novels.
And on the other side is Vitoria, the ever-present hometown of Estíbaliz, where Kraken investigates the death of his father. Why this reunification with your hero’s past?
Kraken is a deeply rooted character, and that’s part of his core. Its origins are significant and featured in each of his novels. The past always explains where we came from and what we have become.
The plot in Venice begins with a fire in a palace. There are several bodies missing from the wreckage, and Kraken’s mother, who is also a major fraudster, appears to be involved. A complete character. his father too
When I profiled Kraken in the early novels in the Kraken series, it was clear to me that his parents would be a very naive but also tragically epic love story. His mother Ithaca had appeared in the previous novel. black book of hours, and became my favorite character as well as one of the readers. I think that the second person narration makes the reader feel attractive. Kraken’s father, Gael, is a very white, lively character. It’s impossible not to love.
“I focus on writing the best chapter I can every day.”
For some writers, the process of creating the novel is almost more important than the moment of writing it. How did this research process go to reflect that historical information in the book?
Everything matters. When it comes to novels with a lot of documentation and thriller genres, a good upscaling beforehand is essential for the multi-plot to work perfectly. As for documentation, it always includes years of travel, consultation with experts, and an extensive bibliography.
And while you were setting up the plot of the novel, did you go to Venice many times?
More than half a dozen times. I searched for bookstores in less touristic neighborhoods like Dorsoduro and the booksellers gave me advice because I was looking for the most ethnographic area of Venice, the corners of disappearing oral traditions, legends…
black book of hours It was last year’s best-selling book, and this book is following the same path. What does this mean for a writer encountering a new novel?
I am very pleased The angel of the city. It was released just a few weeks ago and has been at national number one for fifteen days and also black book of hours Number one on mobile. Winning the first of two novels by an author is a unique milestone, and Planeta publishing house celebrates it. I realize that my novels are eagerly awaited by millions of people, but when faced with the challenge of writing a new novel, I put all that pressure behind me and focus on writing the best chapter I can every day.
Will he continue with Kraken or does the character have so many places in his own life that he makes the choice?
Remember that it was me who wrote about him. I am very proud that both Kraken and the entire micro-universe created around it is a very rich ecosystem and there are three million readers around the world who want to read more.
In addition to being a best seller, he also won the Planeta Award for the most talented in the country. What do you want to be next?
I am very happy with the life I am living right now, writing is a very suitable lifestyle for me and I love the opportunities this job offers me. The next few years will be very busy and full of innovations and new challenges that make me very happy.