On a Tuesday, a veteran journalist and editor marked a decade for the publishing house Doce Robles, a project that has won readers over while preserving its Aragonese heartbeat. The celebration includes an award and a glimpse of an upcoming project that has many parts already moving forward.
Doce Robles has reached ten years. Was there a moment when the founders imagined this milestone. The founder recalls a conversation with Jacob Gragera who suggested writing a book about the centennial of the La Peña reservoir. That idea sparked the plan to launch a publishing house, a venture filled with promise. The September presentation drew around 400 attendees, and the imprint had already published five or six titles in 2014. That momentum remains. At the launch, a guiding mentor, Agustín Ubieto, warned against tying the house’s identity too tightly to Aragonese history. Yet time has shown that readers do want to explore their past and heritage through print and page.
In a decade filled with both triumphs and challenges, the atmosphere surrounding Doce Robles has been rich and memorable. The publishing scene is undergoing shifts, and some note that the heyday of the 1980s and 1990s is behind the industry. Still, the publisher has not dwelled on setbacks. There is a personal preference for printed books, maintained not out of nostalgia alone but from a belief in tangible reading experiences. The press remains committed to paper, blending romance, discipline, and a practical sense of purpose. The industry may adjust to digital formats, but the belief persists that good books deserve to be read in print as well as in other media.
Covering a crowded field, the publisher explains that the business must balance ambition with accessibility. The historical focus was never meant to be a dry, academic exercise. Instead, the aim has been to entertain, inform, and engage a broad audience. The History of Aragon series began in 2016, presented as a novelistic approach to history. It has helped broaden recognition of Doce Robles and its dedication to telling Aragonese stories. The publisher notes that when a historical article connects with readers widely, it becomes evidence that the subject matters deeply. Among the successes cited are La Corona de Aragón, a work that delves into manipulation and myth, and El Canfranc, which recounts the tale of a legendary train. Both titles have become bestsellers and emblematic of the imprint’s ability to mix accessibility with insight.
When asked about favorites, the editor speaks with pride about every project. The success of a title is not measured solely by sales but by the care poured into it during production. Months of collaboration between writers and editors help form strong bonds, and those collaborations often yield enduring results. Even titles that perform modestly in the market hold a special place for their authors or the editorial team. The process itself remains a source of good memories, with long hours and a shared sense of purpose shaping each release.
Sales performance is not the sole measure of value. There are titles with limited sales that carry significant personal meaning for the team. In the end, the work is about more than numbers; it reflects a commitment to culture, history, and storytelling. The editor notes that disappointment might arise when a book does not find an audience, but it does not erase its value or the learning gained during its creation. The belief remains that a book’s worth can be found in the conversations it starts and the ideas it sparks, long after its initial publication.
Looking ahead to the tenth anniversary festivities, the publisher confirms there will be a first-place literary award presented during Tuesday’s program. Additional surprises are in store as the team prepares for more announcements. Among the forthcoming projects is Jorge Martínez’s Más Birras, del barrio a la legend, a release anticipated with enthusiasm akin to a major film premiere. The official presentation is scheduled for October 4 at the DPZ, and early reactions suggest strong public interest in the book. As plans unfold, readers are reminded of the deep affection the press holds for Aragonese culture and the enduring appeal of well-told stories about place, history, and community. The wave of excitement reflects a broader love for memória and the way it can be transmitted through literature and shared experience.