Photography: Esteban Navarro's website.
Stephen Navarro (Moratalla, 1965) is a very prolific crime novel writer that, one day, he decided to self-publish after having done it with several publishers. Has granted me this interview where he tells us a little about everything. From his work, his favorite writers and books and how he sees the current scene. I really appreciate your kindness and time to attend to me.
Stephen Navarro
National Police for many years, left the profession and he devoted himself fully to writing. He started posting on 2008 and worked with various publishers such as Random House, Playa de Ákaba, or Doce Robles. But it is one of those unusual cases that decided to bet on himself and have control of your production by moving to the desktop publishing.
Among his detective genre titles - he knows the cloth for something - are A year of practice, The altruist, Penumbra or A police story.
Interview
- ACTUALIDAD LITERATURA: Do you remember the first book you read? And the first story you wrote?
ESTEBAN NAVARRO: The first book I read was Logan's escape. My mother bought it for me at the Readers' Circle, when I was between eight and nine years old. I had read before, but I think that was the first book I read in its entirety.
My first story, which I do not keep, was intended to be a comic, since I made an attempt to draw it while writing it. I remember it was titled Her loin, and it was about a white-collar thief who robbed the safes of the rich for sheer amusement.
- AL: What was that book that impacted you and why?
EN: I was shocked Ask Alicia. It is a book written according to the diary of a teenager who died of an overdose and his parents, once they rescued him, wanted his experience to be made public. I read it when I was twelve years old and that is perhaps why it struck me.
- AL: You are a very prolific author. What common point or characteristic do all your novels have?
EN: The first reader of my novels is myself, therefore, they are written to entertain me. I write those stories that I would like to read.
- AL: A favorite writer or writers? You can choose from all eras.
EN: Georges Simenon, without hesitation. And Oscar SavageBy The Portrait of Dorian Gray, which I consider a masterpiece of universal literature.
- AL: What character in a book would you have liked to meet and create?
IN: A Ellery queen. At the time he seemed a very curious character.
- AL: Any mania when it comes to writing or reading?
EN: I never start a novel until I have the title, I am unable to write to a document with the name "Untitled". And I don't have any to read: I read sitting in an armchair, at a table, on a chair, in the field, on the beach and even at my mother-in-law's house, if necessary. I read on paper, mobile, Kindle, iPad or whatever where it can be read.
- AL: And your preferred place and time to do it?
EN: I usually do it in my tiny office from my tiny apartment, where I have an armchair and a lamp, next to the table where I write my novels.
- AL: More literary genres that you like?
EN: I read everything, but I have a special predilection for Science fiction.
- AL: What are you reading now? And writing?
EN: Right now I'm reading Dream story, Arthur Schnitzler. And I find myself immersed in my next novel, which I plan to publish in November this year.
- AL: How do you think the publishing scene is for as many authors as there are or want to publish?
IN: I I self-publish, that says it all. Publishers only look for previously known authors and authors, regardless of whether their works are good or not. The novel, in this case, is the least important.
- 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 novels?
EN: At the moment I have not given up writing about what we are experiencing, but it is certain that in everything that is written from now on there will be some reflection, albeit slight, of this crisis.