Juan Granadas. Interview

John Granados He has a degree in Geography and History, specializing in Modern History from the University of Santiago de Compostela and is author of books and essays on history and novels of the genre like those carried out by Brigadier Nicolás Sartine, in others. In this interview He tells us about them and many more topics about his writing process, the literary scene or other genres he likes. I really appreciate your time and kindness to serve me.

Juan Granados — Interview

• ACTUALIDAD LITERATURA: The Grand Captain, the Bourbons, Napoleon, Sir John Moore... Do the real characters surpass the fictional ones or do they coexist without problems with them?

JOHN GRANADOS: In my first two novels for EDHASA, Sartine and the Knight of the Fixed Point y Sartine and the War of the Guarani, the main characters, generally fictitious, lived with other very real ones such as the Marquis of Ensenada, José Carvajal, Farinelli or King Fernando VI himself. This way of doing helps to frame the historical novel in its time in a very fluid and believable way. 

In the case of The big captain, the approach was right to the reverse, very real characters, who accompany the historical chronicles, along with fictional characters, who help to "fictionalize" the story and allow the introduction of events that have not actually happened. Both methods are very rewarding.

different thing is the historical essay (The Bourbons, Napoleon, Sir John Moore) there rigor must prevail historical.

• AL: Can you remember any of your first readings? And your first writing?

JG: Since there was no internet back then, as a kid I read all the time and I think about everything; from usual (Salgari, Dumas, verne…) to the encyclopedias that were at home, from abacus onwards. Also many history books that my father used to read from.

• AL: A leading author? You can choose more than one and from all periods. 

JG: There are so many… It's hard to keep two or three. In recent times, trials of Antonio Escohotado and the novels (not all) of Paul auster. But at all times, I think Flaubert, Stendhal And of course, JL Borges.

• AL: What character in a book would you have liked to meet and create? 

JG: Here I am going to sweep home, Brigadier Nicholas Sartine. It's still my favorite, that's why I created it.

• AL: Any special habits or habits when it comes to writing or reading? 

JG: This is already known to be a matter of heat the chair, there is no other. Always coffee and sometimes a rum and coke.

• AL: And your preferred place and time to do it? 

JG: The truth is that between work and parenting, one has always written to jump of kills and when it is possible. I have only had some continuity in vacation periods.

• AL: Are there other genres that you like? 

JG: As you know, I cultivate the historical novel and also the historical essay. Lately I work a lot on political philosophy (Brief History of Liberalism). This year there will be a chapter of mine on Isaiah Berlin in a collective book on Jewish philosophers. Also a History of Crime in Spain, based on my latest work in my teaching at the UNED. 

Out of this, I like the theater seen, not read and the poetry in small and subtle doses. Two places he would never break into as an author, that's for sure.

• AL: What are you reading now? And writing?

JG: After some time, I am with a new historical novel project, is what touches this year. Read, I read a lot political philosophy, I have become fond of this subject, also history of law in Spain, for pleasure and for professional reasons. The last thing I've taken to the beach this summer is a reissue of the classic The decline of empires, coordinated in his day by Carlo Cipolla. Also Hayek's fatal arrogance, very appropriate for the times that make us live.

• AL: How do you think the publishing scene is and what decided you to try to publish?

JG: In my case, 22 years ago, it's dizzying to think about it, I spent an idle summer writing my first pan. Then, searching the Internet, I found a series of literary agents, I sent the novel and from there, the publication with EDHASA. Since then, fortunately, I have had no problems publishing in the different publishers with whom I have worked and continue to work. 

There was a time when we all thought that the digital book would do away with paper, but it seems that it would not, publishers in Spain are resistant and very professional. Yes, the lack of money is noticeable in cardinal issues such as having a desk editor, which for me is an essential figure in the process, which unfortunately has been dispensed with a lot lately. This has a very negative effect on the result of a publication. A professional editor is a luxury It helps a lot to straighten wobbly manuscripts. What will come now in the advertising field, nobody knows, but it does not look exactly good, I have friends who are charged for publishing, something absolutely insane, unthinkable for me.

• 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?

JG: There is often a tendency to say, almost rhetorically, that something good always comes out of great crises. Well, I highly doubt it. I think we will live worse than before, with luck, but worse than our own parents who have had at least a horizon of reasonable and comfortable progress in their life trajectory. The only good thing, maybe, someone will write something even close to The grapes of wrath.