Photography: author profile in X.
Marina Tena was born in Madrid, although he has roots in Extremadura and has been writing for a long time, especially about horror and fantasy. He has participated in many anthologies of the genres, among which Triskel's II Ripley Award stands out. He signs titles like Feather Legacy a novelette nominated for the Baskerville Awards, and Don't listen to the Moon, winner of the 2021 Ignotus awards for best children's novel, both published by Literup. She has also written several novels such as Sand Witches, Dream Travelers y damn curses. His last work on the market is Si a tree falls in the forest. In this interview He tells us about her and many other topics. I appreciate her time and kindness.
Marina Tena. Interview
- ACTUALIDAD LITERATURA: Your latest novel is titled If a tree falls in the forest. What do you tell us in it and where did your inspiration come from?
MARINA TENA: I really wanted to write a thriller because it is a genre that I really like and for which I had a lot of respect. The inspiration it comes from me my own environment and what my parents have told me about when they came to the mountains of Madrid from Extremadura: how they saw everything, how they felt, how they were treated... It is a mix of my experiences with my environment and stories heard from my family.
- AL: Can you remember any of your first readings? And the first thing you wrote?
MT: A saga that fascinated me since I was little was The little Vampire. I devoured it and have reread her books hundreds of times. She was also a big fan of Traditional tales, and even more so when the original versions fell into my hands!
The first thing I wrote was a story in primary school that didn't make much sense about abandoned children and vampires.
- AL: A leading author? You can choose more than one and from all periods.
MT: I have a hard time choosing some. Stephen King It has always been one of my favorites, although I also really like everything they write. Catriona Ward o Grady Hendrix. I also love classic writers like Poe and Bécquer, and perhaps the one I like the most is Shirley jackson. It's hard for me to keep one!
- AL: What character would you have liked to meet and create?
MT: I would have loved to write Coraline, it is a book with everything I like. And as for my characters, I would love to take a secondary character out of the book. sand witches Who is called Lanea, the queen of the desert.
- AL: Any special habits or habits when it comes to writing or reading?
MT: I'm not particularly manic, but I have to have lyrics Calibri and justified, and the zoom in 90/80%. Also, I have a hard time writing with music if it has lyrics, so I usually write with soundtracks or environmental noise. I am very dispersed and I function better in short sessions than not spending a lot of time in front of the computer.
- AL: And your preferred place and time to do it?
MT: Early in the morning. I like to get up at 6:15/6:30 and thus have some time to write without anyone bothering me before going to work.
- AL: What other genres do you like?
MT: Horror and fantasy, are my two favorites by far.
- AL: What are you reading now? And writing?
MT: I'm in the middle of the saga Blackwater, and I'm hooked! AND writing the second part of The three daughters of the dead king, because it is not a self-contained book.
- AL: How do you think the publishing scene is?
MT: It is true that there are many new arrivals And I think this overwhelms us as readers, since we don't have time to read everything, and as writers, because it gives the impression that books last very little on the market and are quickly forgotten. Besides, If there were not so much abundance, we would not discover many new voices. I think it is easier than ever to publish, but it is difficult to sell many books.
- AL: How are you handling the current moment we live in?
MARINA TENA: I am very lucky and I can't complain about anything, although sometimes I get overwhelmed by the crazy pace of work that is easy to fall into. I love being a teacher and I love writing, and I don't want to give up anything, but it is true that I have two jobs that both require a lot of dedication and it is very complicated to manage my time.
I also struggle with my presence on networks, which, if not demanded, is taken for granted. I am a very open person, but also very reserved with certain aspects of my private life, and I find the networks a little intimidating. I allowed myself not to be so attentive to them and it may have affected my career, but in my case I was afraid that it would end up having an impact on my mental health and my privacy. Exhibition is complicated for me, and I am too passionate: I can tell when I'm fine and when it's hard for me to smile, so I limit what I show.