Photography: José Luis Gil Soto, FB profile.
Jose Luis Gil Soto He is from Badajoz, from 1972, studied Agricultural Engineering at the University of León, and has a doctorate from the Polytechnic of Madrid and the University of Extremadura. It wasn't until 2008 that he published his first novel, The betrayal of the king, a fictionalized biography of Manuel Godoy. Then he followed with The hill of white stones o The lady from Saigon. The last one is titled Blue sap wood and in March it will arrive Golden tears. In this interview He tells us about all of them and much more. I appreciate the time and kindness of her to assist me.
Jose Luis Gil Soto — Interview
- ACTUALIDAD LITERATURA: Your latest book is titled Blue sap wood. What do you tell us about it and where did the idea come from?
JOSE LUIS GIL SOTO: It is the story of a town forced to exodus, of its people, of a master carpenter and his son, of a woman who keeps a great secret... In short, it is a great medieval adventure, entertaining and emotional whose pages are a permanent surprise. The idea came in fragments, a lost child of his father, a reunion, someone who loses his voice due to an emotional shock. They are the ingredients of an epic legend that leaves its mark.
- AL: And in March you publish your new novel, Golden tears. Can you tell us something about her?
JLGS: Sure. A necklace goes missing from a rural church. It is an Inca jewel. The Civil Guard opens an international operation to recover it. It is believed that the necklace belonged to the treasure of the Incas. And that treasure has a history: the conquest of the Inca empire by Pizarro.
So it's a novel told in two parts, which recreates the world of the Incas, the encounter with the Spanish, the clash of cultures, love and war. And, at the same time, in our days, a thriller, the search for a self centered thief and lover of pre-Columbian art.
- AL: Can you remember any of your first readings? And the first story you wrote?
JLGS: Actually, I couldn't say which was the first book I read, although I always say that Michael Strogoff, by Jules Verne. What I am very clear about is that it was The road, by Miguel Delibes, the one who pushed me definitely reading.
As for the first story I wrote... I would say that a Short story about the life of Marie Curie. Although it was not until my first novel, The Betrayal of the King, that I fully entered the narrative.
- AL: A head writer? You can choose more than one and from all eras.
JLGS: The realist novel, especially the Russian, with Tolstoy to the head. And here in Spain Delibes. That, making a tremendous effort of synthesis.
- AL: What character in a book would you have liked to meet and create?
JLGS: I would have loved to meet Daniel the Owl and would have wanted to create Diego Alatriste and Anna Karenina.
- AL: Any special habits or habits when it comes to writing or reading?
JLGS: None. I am versatile, I adapt well to any environment and I never go blank. Of course, I have a preference: I love it write before a deep landscape.
- AL: And your preferred place and time to do it?
JLGS: In my property, when everyone sleeps, without prejudice to the sunset in a pasture in Extremadura.
- AL: Are there other genres that you like?
JLGS: The historical novel well documented, and contemporary narrative diverse (Barnes, O'Farrell, Winterson, De Vigan, Muñoz Molina, Landero…).
- What are you reading now? And writing?
JLGS: I'm reading Weapons of light, Sanchez Adalid, and I am writing the story of someone who saved many lives (so far I can read).
- AL: How do you think the publishing scene is and what decided you to try to publish?
JLGS: Actually, I don't know how he is publishing scene, I hope you enjoy very good health and I wish you a long life.
As for what made me decide to publish, it was the encouragement of those who read my first manuscript. They, much more than me, believed in my possibilities. From there, a path of obstacles: a publishing house that closed, a publisher that left... until things definitely straightened out to get me fully into the literary world. Here I am, thanks to the readers, to the critics, to the publishers, to my agent, to my family, to you...
- 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?
JLGS: I am optimistic by nature and that is why I believe that there is something good even in the greatest misfortunes. However, it is hard for me to see anything useful in a pandemic, regardless of the fact that each of us has had happy moments, despite everything.
Personally, although I am tired of restrictions, truncated trips and moments of anguish, I have not seen my literary path hampered or been harmed in any way. I continue with the same illusion and with infinite desire, yes, to meet the readers. A beautiful spring is coming.