In Alicante, a Friday master class at the School of Creative Writing will explore the journey from real events to fictional narrative through a careful documentation process. Titled From reality to fiction, the session delves into how factual details and historical facts can be searched, verified, and thoughtfully integrated into novels. The event features a conversation between the writer and architect Bego Torregrosa, offering insights into how research informs storytelling. Attendance is free, with prior registration required.
The author, who also works as an architect and visual artist, draws on historical threads to ground his fiction in tangible experience. With multiple novels to his name, he continually investigates how the past shapes present identities and future directions. His work often travels between different eras and geographies, but consistently returns to the idea that understanding history helps people understand themselves and where they are headed.
His approach to historical fiction is to begin with true stories and let them unfold into compelling narratives. In one of his notable novels, he examines the complex bond between a young Austrian figure and a famous inventor and actor of the early cinema era. The narrative traces how early scientific breakthroughs and personal histories intersected, laying the groundwork for later technological advances that influence everyday life, from communications to entertainment.
Beyond writing, the novelist engages with themes of human rights and education, discussing how literature and history intersect in academic settings, museums, and foundations. His past work includes research trips to archives and libraries, where primary sources help shape plotlines and character arcs. In one project, a historical thread centers on a real-world figure connected to the Franco era who faced a violent fate in mid-20th century Valencia, illustrating how political histories leave lasting imprints on local communities and familial memory. The exploration reinforces how archival discovery can illuminate personal narratives and ethical questions within fiction.