Photography: Juan Torres Zalba, Facebook page.
Juan Torres Zalba is from Pamplona and works as lawyer, but in his spare time he dedicates himself to historical genre literature. After posting Pompelo. Abisunhar's dream, last year presented The first senator from Rome. Thank you very much for your time and kindness dedicated to this interview, where he talks about her and several other topics.
- ACTUALIDAD LITERATURA: Your latest novel is titled The first senator from Rome. What do you tell us about it and where did the idea come from?
JUAN TORRES ZALBA: The novel narrates the events that took place in republican Rome between the years 152 to 146 BC, a time in which an event of great relevance took place, the Third Punic War and the final capture and destruction of Carthage.
This is the main thread of the work, through which we will be able to know first-hand the great historical figures of the moment (Scipio Emiliano, an old Cato, Cornelia, who is the mother of the Graco brothers, etc.) , the most relevant battles, the campaigns in Africa and Hispania, the political affairs of Rome and Carthage, festivities, customs, daily life and much more in its eight hundred pages.
After the first novel, which was linked to the Roman foundation of my city, Pamplona, I wanted to face a bigger, more ambitious narrative, History in capital letters, and this time of the Republic of Rome I was passionate about its characters, all of them first class, its epic and its political dimension, a prelude to the revolution of the Graco brothers. And so, little by little, the idea of the novel emerged, which I liked more and more as I progressed through the documentation. Only the final assault of Carthage by the Roman troops and how this political situation is reached is worthwhile. It was a huge city with an intimidating wall system and a huge population ready for anything. But the Romans entered. What happened in there had to be terrible.
- AL: Can you go back to that first book you read? And the first story you wrote?
JTZ: The truth is that I don't remember which was the first book I read. I'd say one of The Five. My sister had them all and I loved them.
A little older, not much, I have a special fondness for one entitled Edeta's Hill, a children's novel about the Second Punic War. It is possible that it marked something in me, a desire or a passion for History and for living History.
However, I do remember very well (and my father does) the first story I wrote. It was an imitation of the narratives of "The Five", very short, but written on my own initiative. And the truth is that when I read it today it seems to me that it is not bad at all (said with a smile).
- AL: And that head writer? You can choose more than one and from all eras.
JTZ: I really like powerful novels, and not figuratively speaking, but because of their volume. I like Posteguillo, of course, but especially Colleen Mccullough, who is outrageous. His novels from ancient Rome are impressive. Creation, by Gore Vidal, also left its mark on me.
And if we leave the historical novel, I am passionate about The Lord of the Rings. It is one of the few works that I have read more than once (I am not a repeat reader).
- AL: What character in a book would you have liked to meet and create?
JTZ: I would have loved to meet many, and see them walking around Rome, such as Cato, Scipio Emiliano, Cornelia, Appius Claudius Pulcro, Tiberius and Gaius Sempronius Graco, Sertorio, Pompey the Great ... and I am fortunate to have already created them. I lack others, but time to time.
- AL: Any special habits or habits when it comes to writing or reading?
JTZ: The truth is, no. I have thought about this question for a while, but I see that I do not have hobbies or habits. I write when and how I can (more at night than during the day), but with nothing special to tell other than that I need a lot of silence. In my house they are already instructed that when I am writing it is better not to look at me (I exaggerate it a bit).
- AL: And your preferred place and time to do it?
JTZ: Wow, I've already answered that. My favorite time is at night (I am a very owl), and as for the place, I change it at times, sometimes in my bedroom, others on the kitchen table, others in a room that serves as an office ... according to me give and how I feel most comfortable.
- AL: Are there other genres that you like?
JTZ: The genre that I like by a landslide is the historical novel. Outside of it, the fantasy genre also attracts me, but as they say, the goat pulls the mountain.
- AL: What are you reading now? And writing?
JTZ: Right now I am immersed in the continuation of The First Senator of Rome. Reading for the pleasure of reading I don't have time right now. My job already requires a lot of dedication, and the space I have is to write. In summer I did take a break with El Conquistador, by José Luis Corral.
- AL: How do you think the publishing scene is?
JTZ: I believe that it has not been written and published as much as it has ever been, both in paper and digital format. It is true that for new authors, accessing a publisher is really complicated, as well as selling, since the competition and the quality is very high. In my case, I am extremely lucky to have a publishing house that takes great care of me (The sphere of books). I also see that there are many literature blogs (like this one), reading groups, groups on social networks with thousands of members, etc., which in addition to giving visibility that is very welcome, show that interest in reading it is in full effervescence.
Another thing is the damage that piracy does, which seems to be rampant. The effort that goes into creating a novel or any literary work is enormous, and it is very frustrating to see how pirated books circulate.
For the rest, we have recently seen how large publishers sign authors, which indicates that the publishing world is moving, that it is very much alive.
- AL: Is the moment of crisis that we are experiencing being difficult for you or will you be able to keep something positive for future stories?
JTZ: In my case I have not lacked work (quite the opposite) nor have I had painful experiences, so I think I have no reason to complain. Even so, it is true that, like everyone else, I have a great desire to recover the previous life, its joy, have fun, travel or be able to be with family and friends without fear. Anyway, I don't think I will get anything positive for future stories. It has been a long and hard time that is best left behind.