Photo of the author: francisconarla.com
Francis Narla He is one of our best storytellers and has a new novel. Lain the bastard was published in March and is the winner of the first prize in Edhasa Historical Narrative. Just be in the past Saint Jordi and is still in the process of promotion. The next stop will be Madrid Book Fair which will begin at the end of this month and where the writer will sign copies already on June 9 and 10.
It is not the first time that Narla chat with us. Now you have been kind enough to answer me these 10 questions about your readings, your authors, your new projects, your writer's recommendations and your opinion on the publishing scene. So again I thank you very much from here for your time and I hope to greet you at that Feria de Madrid.
1. Do you remember the first book you read? And the first story you wrote?
The truth is that no, although I suppose it would be a comic, when I was very little I loved the comics of Mortadelo and Filemon, I still have a huge collection. And the truth is that from time to time I reread some of them and I continue to enjoy their crazy adventures.
Although I suppose that the question refers to the first novel that I read and it is not clear to me either. I vaguely remember some children's books, although I do clearly remember the stories of Sandokan that my paternal grandmother gave me, from one of Jules Verne, as Michael Strogoff, also from the series of the three researchers de Hitchcock, James Bond ... And, of course, the adventure novels of Alberto Vazquez-Figueroa. I read a lot.
As for the first story I wrote, I don't remember it either, the truth is, I've done it since I was a kid and I couldn't be precise. It could only be added that it is something so personal that I can't remember without something pending to put on paper. I started very early, before ten years to always carry with me a notebook in which to write.
2. What was the first book that struck you and why?
I don't remember it either. Books have always been my best friends and I can't tell which was the first one specifically. Yes, I can say that that genre of adventure that I was also talking about in the previous question marked me a lot. He made the desire to travel, to know exotic places, to live incredible experiences, like the heroes of those novels of youth.
3. Who is your favorite writer? You can choose more than one and from all eras.
I never know how to answer these kinds of questions, I have a hard time deciding on one in particular, there are many. Also, in my case, preferences have changed over the years. I suppose that, like many other readers, there have been classics that I have not been able to appreciate until maturity.
But hey, I'll try to give a more or less chronological list with some of them. Of course, a few will remain in the pipeline.
Homero, Julio César, the nun Egeria, Ramón Lull, Erasmo de Róterdam, Quevedo, Rosalía de Castro, Unamuno and for contemporary times I will add a handful of those who are no longer with us, as for those who are still writing we are going to put them aside, so as not to get into too muddy gardens. Let's see, Delibes is undoubtedly a reference, Blasco Ibanez, Sender...
The truth is many and it cannot be said that I am a mythomaniac.
4. What character in a book would you have liked to meet and create?
I don't think I would have liked to meet any of them, if that were possible, it would take away a lot of magic, it would spoil the relationship. But I will cheat to answer, I would have really liked to meet Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which not only wrote the wonderful The Little PrinceInstead, he made himself a character in his play.
As for the character that I would have liked to create, the truth is that I have no idea, but I don't think it's a good way to approach it, any famous person works as a binomial with its author, if they had been written by others, they would not have reached the success or relevance of the original.
5. Do you have any hobbies when it comes to writing or reading?
As for the write: no not at all, I adapt easily to any condition and the truth is that I am only concerned with doing my best. I always try to improve, that each novel is a step forward.
As for reading: either. I just try read as much as possible, even what doesn't appeal to me. I would only add that the writer must force himself to read from a different perspective than the reader who seeks to fill his leisure. The writer, in my opinion, should try to read by analyzing the text, to learn from it.
6. And your preferred place and time to do it?
Not especially, although I really like read outdoors, I live in the country and I really enjoy reading in the forest.
I can also add that, despite the fact that they are beginning to gain strength now in Spain, I am very fond of audiobooks for years, since before this effervescence was experienced. I have been using audiobooks on car trips for many years (I do quite a few miles a year).
7. What writer or book has influenced your work as an author?
Muchos, a lot of. And not only the ones I like, but also the ones I don't. In all cases it serves to learn. They are learned from everyone, even from the unfinished manuscripts of the first-timers. You have to be modest, lower your head and let yourself be taught by what you read.
8. Your favorite genres?
I read everything, and I have no manias. In addition, the genre is only a way of ordering shelves in bookstores, most novels are, as they say, transversal.
9. What are you reading now? And writing?
I am reading a guide to birds of prey from Antonio Manzanares placeholder image, a book on the history of the kings of León de Ricardo Chao Prieto (I just finished Cipotudas Lives by Jorge Robles) and as for novels, right now I'm reading The clockmaker at Puerta del Sol of Emilio Lara and I am looking forward to taking a look at the last of Antonio Perez Henares.
10. How do you think the publishing scene is for as many authors as there are or want to publish?
The publishing landscape is complicated by the shrinkage of recent years, sales have fallen alarmingly and the phenomenon of piracy it makes everything worse. That creates a showcase, full of edges and mirrors, which is very difficult to describe in a few lines.
The truth is, sometimes I have the feeling that people want to write but not read. It's funny, many times I meet first-time writers who hardly read and honestly, I don't understand it.
In any case, as I believe that what is expected of me is to give advice for newcomers, I will say that it is important to persevere; legend has it that Bukowski plastered the bathroom with editorial rejections. Do not give up.
- All about the author in Francisco Narla.com