Photography: Víctor Fernández Correas, courtesy of the author.
Victor Fernandez Correas, Born in Saint Denis, he considers himself from Extremadura and Cuenca by adoption. He is a journalist and is dedicated to communication in general as a manager of social networks or writer of press releases and releases, and incidentally, he writes historical novels. In this interview He tells us about his latest novel, Muhlberg, and some other things. I was lucky enough to meet him personally in the past Madrid Book Fair and I thank you very much for your dedicated time and kindness.
Victor Fernandez Correas—Interview
- ACTUALIDAD LITERATURA: Your latest novel is titled Muhlberg. What do you tell us about it and where did the idea come from?
VICTOR FERNANDEZ BELT: Muhlberg is recreation of the famous battle in which Emperor Charles V defeated the army of the Schmalkaldic League, a union of German Protestant cities and princes. But, beyond the battle, my purpose was to tell it from the point of view of different historical and fictional characters who, in one way or another, are related to the same battle, with its causes, or simply fell there, in the place Where did it happen. Ultimately, one choral novel, of characters with their vital load on their backs, and with much to tell.
The idea itself came about ten years ago, when I wrote a historical account for an anthology that was going to be published at the time for charity. Unfortunately, the anthology did not finally see the light and the story ended up in a drawer, although the idea remained in the head. In 2019, for work reasons, I was lucky enough to visit the place where the battle took place. It was there, crossing the plain that extends along the banks of the Elbe River, where I began to imagine the plot, its characters and the story of this novel that is now a reality.
- AL: Can you go back to that first book you read? And the first story you wrote?
VFC: The first book I read I remember perfectly: an illustrated edition of The last days of Pompeii, by Edward B. Lytton, which I still have. And the first story I wrote, too: a story qualified Uncle Matthiasback in the year 1999.
- AL: A head writer? You can choose more than one and from all eras.
HRV: Three: Miguel Delibes, Stephan Zweig and Arturo Perez-Revertand. From the first, everything. And within the whole The disputed vote of Senor Cayo y The road. of the second, Stellar moments of humanity y Magallanes; by Perez-Reverte, The tango of the old guard.
- AL: What character in a book would you have liked to meet and create?
HRV: Al Mr Gaius de The disputed vote of Senor Cayo. A man of an indeterminate time, self-sufficient and full of common sense.
- AL: Any special habits or habits when it comes to writing or reading?
HRV: To read, a quiet place, without noise, to better enjoy reading. And to write the site it does not matter to me. As long as you have the right equipment—computer or notebook, books or supporting documentation, and headphones to listen to music, preferably Vangelis—, I can write anywhere. In fact, I have, especially when you have a notebook handy and you come up with a certain dialogue or an aspect of the plot that you have been thinking about for a long time.
- AL: And your preferred place and time to do it?
HRV: For the night, apart from the fact that, for work reasons, it is the only time of the day that I can do it. But, it is curious, there are days that I may have ended up tired after a day of those that you do not wish even to your worst enemy, and then write what you have planned or planned that day in a way and with a quality that even reaches me surprise. Mysteries of life.
- AL: Are there other genres that you like?
VFC: I really like historical novels, but I also usually read crime novel, essays, and also romantic novel. I know several authors who handle their records in an exceptional way. To name a few, Mayte Esteban, April Laínez, Pilar Muñoz or Carmen Sereno, for example, and it's always good to read everything to broaden your vision and, sometimes, incorporate those things into what you later write. You cannot close yourself off to a single genre. You have to read everything.
- AL: What are you reading now? And writing?
VFC: Reading, two books: Pennsylvania, by Juan Aparicio Belmonte. An autobiographical novel edited by Siruela in which he recalls his year as a student in the United States. Y Carlos V, emperor and man, by Juan Antonio Vilar Sanchez.
And writing, I'm structuring some proposals that, I hope with time, will be transformed into novels. Always within the historical genre.
- AL: How do you think the publishing scene is and what decided you to try to publish?
VFC: I would be lying if I said that it is not complicated, although, when has it not been? I am of the opinion that there are gaps, there are topics that can have an editorial output, so why not give it a try? In any case, alternatives have been developed over time and are developing well. However, it would not hurt to encourage reading a little more. There are genres such as history that, a priori, may seem dry, but told in an agile and attractive way, they could attract quite a few readers. It's all about testing, right?
- 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?
VFC: The moment is not easy for anyone, but it is possible to get ahead, yes, spending many hours a day. In my case, writing is a way to enjoy leisure time, so I try to stretch it as much as possible. In any case, history teaches us that good times, what is said to be good, can be counted on the fingers of your hands and you may have plenty of them. Consequently, always there is something to learn from everything that surrounds us and, if possible, why not transfer it to paper.