Photography: Cris Mandarica, IG.
Cris Mandarica lives in Galicia and signs his novels with the surname Grela. She already has three: behind the gun, The mother of all sciences and the last one, You do not know who I am. En this interview He tells us about her and several other issues. Thank you so much your kindness and time spent.
Cris Mandarica — Interview
- ACTUALIDAD LITERATURA: Your latest novel is titled You do not know who I am. What do you tell us about it and where did the idea come from?
CHRIS MANDARICA: It is a country noir novel and rich, because yes, there is a crime, but the reader does not have to have a bad time all the time. The novel tells the story of six friends who do the Camino de Santiago and, before reaching the destination, a theirs is murdered while he sleeps.
La idea arose during the confinement, when a person who worked in a sector that had an overload of work, was very overwhelmed because he had a lot of work and worked a lot of overtime. At one point, a person asked him about his order and told him that they were processed in order of arrival, and then came the dreaded: "Put me at the front of the queue or don't you know who I am?"
So I wondered what would happen if one of those people who hear that phrase often they got tired of being told. And that's where the idea came from. The title is a clue to find the killer.
- AL: Can you remember any of your first readings? And the first story you wrote?
CM: The first book was adventurers of the air, de los fruits. I turned the pages over and over again imagining what the letters would say, because I didn't know how to read yet, so I had no choice but to make up the story.
The first story I wrote was about a grelo with legs that solved a kidnapping with the blow of a machine gun. As you can see, I was always the criminal world.
- AL: A head writer? You can choose more than one and from all eras.
CM: Without a doubt. Charles Laredo, author of the series of novels Corporal Holmes, a civil guard corporal who is nicknamed Holmes because he is very smart. When I read it I knew that was what he wanted to do.
And, since I can choose more than one, I don't want to forget to mention the author of Cold-blooded, Truman Capote, one of those artists capable of keeping you on your toes despite telling you the ending right at the beginning of the novel.
- AL: What character in a book would you have liked to meet and create?
CM: I would have loved to create Dracula, but, for obvious reasons, better not to have him around, ha ha. So for a coffee I stay with César Santos, the detective who accompanies Corporal Holmes, by Carlos Laredo, in many of his adventures. I'm sure I'd have a good laugh listening to his anecdotes.
- AL: Any special habits or habits when it comes to writing or reading?
CM: Writing-wise, I love having the text with the well-defined paragraph styles as I typeBecause I can't stand clutter. And as for reading, I like read in silence and not start a book until the current one is finished.
- AL: And your preferred place and time to do it?
CM: To write I do not care any moment that I know I'm going to have a long time, because it's hard for me to concentrate and get down to it. And I usually write in my desk, which is in the living room right now, but when I move I'll have a space of my own. If I am very tired, but I still want to write, I also usually do it lying on the sofa.
Y to read, on weekend afternoons, and I don't care about the place. Many times I am lucky enough to read sitting on the beach while I watch the sunset from time to time.
- AL: Are there other genres that you like?
CM: I read everything, but I especially love the feelgood, it is advisable to rest between so much crime.
- What are you reading now? And writing?
CM: Right now i'm reading the magic is overby Borja Ribera; is the first 2022 Amazon Literary Award entry novel that I have read.
As for writing, I'm resting, I always do when I publish a novel, because I like to take some time to make it known and, incidentally, take the opportunity to oxygenate the mind.
- AL: How do you think the publishing scene is and what decided you to try to publish?
CM: Conclusion hard times in all sectors, in publishing too. I love to self-publish because I am convinced that if this option did not exist, my novels would not see the light of day.
- 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?
CM: During the pandemic I have tried to learn to take life more slowly, to accept that I cannot control everything or help those who do not want help, and to think a little more about myself. And I hope that this philosophy of life will accompany me over time, because it has brought me peace of mind. And the good thing about that peace of mind is that the ideas flow, although I don't think it integrates anything related to the pandemic into a story, I've already had dystopia for a while and I prefer to read about the classic normality.