A journalist and author collaborated on a noir novel, a project finished from start to finish under the working title Unknown Woman, crafted together with a French journalist and Quais du Polar laureate as a cross-border collaboration.
It’s a throwback to a peculiar strain of noir fiction. What feelings emerge about the published work already out there?
It was a very enjoyable experience. Neither writer expected to produce four manuscripts. Yet the collaboration ran smoothly, built on a decade of acquaintance through a shared French publishing house, which created a deep mutual understanding.
How did the joint offer come about?
It originated from the detective fiction festival Quais du Polar. Each year, the event invites a country on the European continent to co-author a novel with a French writer as part of the Polar à 4 mains program, which aims to foster Franco-national partnerships. This year Spain was chosen, and a prompt was requested in August of the previous year.
And how did that reaction feel at the moment?
There was a certain allure, but also several obstacles. The project demanded completion within three months and a week, in a strict format with eight chapters of twenty thousand characters each. The narrative was slated to unfold between Lyon and Barcelona, and the authors of the chapters had to work in alternating order, with double episodes assigned to one writer and single episodes to the other.
Was this constraint compatible with other duties?
Clearly not. One writer was promoting a different novel, while the other was covering major international news for a major newspaper. Free time was scarce, and the team had to write during transit on planes and trains. Moreover, the story could not be paused until a chapter was completed.
How did the early stages of the project unfold?
The core idea for the plot emerged first, and the collaborating writer graciously accepted it. From this central theme, both authors began shaping the work. The festival’s guidelines suggested a playful and surreal approach, but that tone could not be the whole engine of the novel. Instead, the structure needed to function like clockwork: tight, precise, and with a strong ending. The tension had to rise episode by episode while remaining cohesive. Despite the fatigue of the process, the adrenaline and excitement carried the writers through.
With the expansion limits in mind, were there any regrets or elements left behind?
No regrets. The result is satisfying. The two writers, each with a distinct voice—one more reporterly and the other more literary—found common ground in their love for the story, its characters, and the journey between worlds. They committed fully to the narrative, letting the characters drive the experience and ensuring the story felt lived-in and true.
How did the cast of characters come together?
The female protagonists were built around a lead inspector and an unknown woman, while the male lead and supporting figures came from the other writer’s perspective. The process involved stepping into each other’s characters and weaving in a natural, coherent voice. Waiting for each new episode felt like waiting for a Christmas gift, a constant tease about what the other author would reveal next.
What about the dynamic between the heroines from the outset?
Their personalities clash: one character emerges as fragile and scattered at first, gradually revealing deeper defenses and resources. The other presents as tough, focused, and with a dry sense of humor. The pasts remain shrouded for the most part, underscoring the contrasts that drive the plot. The decision to keep certain backstories deliberately vague was a conscious artistic choice, designed to heighten mystery without sacrificing momentum.
Would a second installment be considered?
There is talk of a possible sequel, but not in a rushed way. If time, space, and energy align, a second entry could happen, though no concrete plans exist yet.
And what projects lie ahead for the creators’s future?
There is gratitude for this year’s work, seen as a professional high point. At the moment, there is a pause to recharge and refocus. Two book projects are in the works: the fourth episode of a series featuring Bruna Husky, and a contemporary novel that is being developed with some preliminary notes. Yet for now, a breath is necessary to regain perspective and momentum.