Phenomenon footballsimolarIt became one of the best-selling collections of children’s literature of all time in Spain. The longest sentence in the world, Nominated for Goya or Ivan’s dream, wrote, directed and filmed in the state, including Ciudad de la Luz, Roberto Santiago There is a feverish cinema, literature and theater activity that jumps from young audiences to adults without any fear. His second novel for adults is Rebellion of the good guysfor which he won the 2023 Fernando Lara Award and is now in its fifth edition. He will tell this story about the power of pharmaceutical companies at the Maestral Literary Evenings in Alicante on Friday.
After that motherThe series, which was converted into the main Tramel series, continues the noir genre. Rebellion of the good guys. Why do you think there is so much black literature and why do readers love it so much?
Let’s see, I think this literary fashion thing is a cyclical thing. I’ve been reading detective novels all my life. I discovered Patricia Highsmith in college and she became my favorite author. I’ve written a lot, but it took me a while to get to this type of writing because it gives me so much respect. It’s true that both are crime novels, but I don’t believe in formulas or explosions. For those of us who love crime novels, there’s more to choose from, but when there’s so much going on, there are bad stories too.
Lawyers, detectives, a corrupt pharmacist, say some sort of double agent, and someone who chooses to do the right thing. Mix your cocktail and go out Rebellion of the good guys.
The novel was born out of the need to talk about, first and foremost, probably most importantly, health and how we have left it in the hands of a handful of huge multinational corporations; Pharmaceutical companies that do great things to advance humanity but also profit at the expense of everyone’s health. When healthcare becomes a business and the legitimate goal is to gain more benefits, something will go wrong. After six years of research and documentation, the last of which I wrote, I interviewed many people working in pharmaceutical companies. This showed me that people are willing to open their hearts and tell you things. I write fiction and novels, so I changed all the names. However, although it is one hundred percent fiction, it is based on very real data.
Indeed, the power and interests of pharmaceutical companies are an issue that worries society very much. Even more so after Covid.
The story takes place in 2018 and 2019 and ends on the very day that Covid appeared in Spain. I started working on the novel long ago, and the characters in the novel have no idea that an epidemic is approaching, but the reader does. I also had no idea what was going to happen. I actually stopped when the pandemic started because I didn’t think it was the time to talk about it, but after a few months I decided to continue.
Pharmaceutical companies are companies, there is no doubt about that. So what do they need to do to ensure that their activities and management are connected to society?
States and governments, as well as pharmaceutical companies, need to do something. I’m not saying they should be public companies, but they should have much more control than they have because every day new drugs appear that have not been adequately tested or have side effects. I think the system is leaky and I am not anti-system, on the contrary, I believe in it very much, but to strengthen this, we need to implement much more comprehensive controls when it comes to health. There are a few people who benefit from the health of the vast majority.
The novel reflects that there are no good good guys or bad bad guys.
Completely. It’s not clear who the good guys are. The novel always progresses in gray, even the heroes cannot be saved, they also have a dark side. And villains also have a human side that does not justify them, but the most interesting thing is to know where the pain comes from that makes them insensitive people and drives them to do what they do. Everyone, without exception, has a good past. Literature must ask questions and the reader must see their answers.
“In any conflict, and we are having a terrible conflict right now, nothing is black or white.”
Speaking of good and bad, we have the current state of war between Israel and Jerusalem.
In any conflict, and we are experiencing a terrible conflict right now, nothing happens in black and white. There are never good good guys and bad bad guys. We now live in the age of networks, where messages are getting shorter and shorter and there is no time for nuances, but everything is subject to nuances.
He won the 2023 Fernando Lara Award for this novel and is currently in its fifth edition. Last Sunday the Planeta Prize was awarded and many voices mention that this prize is always given to people “from home”…
There are many types of literary awards. And of course it’s always better to have rewards. Based on this, we all know that there are awards that reward literature more, and there are awards that reward more commercial side. One is as interesting as the other, not everyone has to read the highest one. I am very grateful for this award. Rewards are welcomed when they are given to you first and foremost.
“We all know that there are awards where literature is rewarded more, and there are awards where more commercial aspects are rewarded.”
He triumphed with footballsimolar, is aimed at children and young audiences. Are you one of those writers who believe that writing literature for these readers is more difficult than for adults?
I continue to change. I only had two detective novels. But I don’t think there is one genre or format that is more complex than another. I write about the topics I need to learn. I learned a lot about writing, about the human condition… I have written 24 novels since then. footballsimolarSince the characters are already part of the family, I spend less time on it. But I still enjoy it like the first day.
Do you think young adult novels are still considered secondary literature?
Prejudices still exist, but they don’t affect me. I wish literature in general and children’s and youth literature were given more space, because there is very good literature for these readers. I’m lucky to dedicate myself to what I love most in the world, and what else can I say?
“When I write, the music needs to echo in my head like a melody. This is the most important aspect of the novel for me.”
He has more experience in the world of cinema than in the world of novels; A Goya nomination for its adaptation is also included. The longest sentence in the world. What do you think about when writing screenplays and novels?
I definitely don’t write the same way. A script is a tool that a very large team will use to create a movie. It is the key, but the novel is both the beginning and the end. Therefore, how it is told is as important as what is told in the novel. As I write, the music should echo in my head as if it were a melody. This is the most important feature of the novel for me.
mother Brought to television as Ana Tramel. Do you see too Rebellion of the good guys Has it been turned into a TV series?
Well, now there’s something… We’re working on it. I designed it as a novel, a literary work, but it is true that I think I have a very visual style and there have been offers to turn it into a series. I would be very excited. I hope with this Rebellion of the good guys The journey that may begin soon is also exciting.
For now, the premiere will be held tomorrow at Maestral Literature Evenings, combining literature, gastronomy and wine with a name related to the novel…
Imagine me combining my two great passions: Gastronomy and literature, on an evening where I was on stage for the first time but was told about wonders. Moreover, my experiences in Alicante were always very good. I filmed in the City of Light Ivan’s dream and outdoor venues in Alicante and Elche.