Photograph of (c) José Ramón Gómez Cabezas.
Marto Relative has won a few days ago IV Black Novel Prize in Cartagena Negra, a festival that could be held in person in this fateful year. By chance I found the Madrid author, settling in Guadalajara, on Twitter and we crossed some messages. The result, this interview that I thank you a lot of. For his kindness in assisting me and his quick response.
Black Cartagena 2020
It has been one of the few festivals of the genre that has been held in person this fateful year. His finalists for that IV Novel Prize were all heavyweights:
- The last shipby Domingo Villar
- The smoke lordsby Claudio Cerdán
- The melody of the darkby Daniel Fopiani
- Before those who do not love dieby Inés Plana
- The idiot's sanityby Marto Pariente
And the winner was Marto Pariente with a story starring Tony Trinidad, that atypical village policeman, who does things his way and leads a more or less quiet life in the peace of the Guadalajara countryside. Until, due to his sister's debt to a drug dealer in the area, he finds himself in trouble up to his neck.
Interview with Marto Pariente
- Do you remember the first book you read? And the first story you wrote?
MARTO PARIENTE: First of all, thank you very much for the interview. The first book I read, away from children's and young people's literature, was The mystery of Salem's Lot, Stephen King, a classic story of vampires in a small Maine town. And the first story was called Enhanced Target, he was in school and he got an award. I was going from an alien invasion in Mejorada del Campo and, of course, the kids of CP Europe saved the town and the world.
- What was the first book that struck you and why?
MP: The road, by Cormac McCarthy. I was struck by its rawness, its realism and its existential doubts about good and evil. "Dad, are we the good guys?"
- A favorite writer or one who has especially influenced your work? You can choose more than one and from all eras.
MP: Many. The imaginary of each one is made up of a multitude of authors, books, films, series ... Here are a few: Ken bruen, JamesSallis, James EllroyDonald Westlake, Jim Thompson, James Crumley, Tarantino, the cohen brothers. Guy Richie, Jose Luis Alvite, Luis Gutierrez Maluenda.
- What character in a book would you have liked to meet and create?
MP: The characters in the novels that I normally read are not highly recommended when making friends with them. I would have liked to meet Tom Z Stone and Mati, two characters from the saga with the same name as Joe Álamo. To create? Here I go to the movies and to the series. I would have liked to create any character in the universe Fargo.
- Any mania when it comes to writing or reading?
MP: I just write in the morning, very earlyBefore the kids stand up Read, anywhere. I usually carry a novel with me everywhere.
- And your preferred place and time to do it?
MP: My writing corner is a corner table in the living room. I try to make it a personal space, but the truth is that I share it with books, school and institute homework, a cactus and Lego figures and pieces.
- Your favorite genres besides crime novels?
MP: Horror and science fiction.
- What are you reading now? And writing?
MP: I am with The heavenly banquetby Donald Ray Pollock. Dirty, messianic realism of the United States set in the early years of the XNUMXth century. I am now reviewing the draft of my third novel (a Black twilight) that will see the light at the beginning of the year.
- How do you think the publishing scene is for as many authors as there are or want to publish? And any advice you want to add to these new authors?
MP: Publishing under a publishing label is complicated, but that is nothing new. You have to work hard and trying to do things right and still does not guarantee the desired results. I'm not giving advice, but I can tell you that I started self-publishing and that, little by little, the doors were opening.
- Is the moment of crisis that we are experiencing being difficult for you or can you stay with something positive personally and for future novels?
MP: The crisis is going to leave a trace of unease and bitterness that, in one way or another, will end up seeping into all areas of life in general and culture in particular. This has always happened after the great wars and financial crises. Personally, it has been a painful stage, of family losses. Professionally, unbeatable.
Greetings to all readers and thank you very much again for the interview.