Greetings from Spain.
At the beginning of April I spent a few days in Seville, at an annual authors’ conference. The presentations were excellent, but the best thing was seeing colleagues and spending time with them. We caught up, and exchanged ideas and drinks.
The writer’s work life is a bit strange. We do most of our work alone. Events like the one in Seville help us share with other people who know what it’s like to sit in front of the screen for hours, to invent stories and characters.
There are some who are just starting out, and maybe we can offer them some advice, and there are others who are doing very well, and hopefully we can learn something from them.
It’s also a change of scenery, which is sometimes what the doctor ordered.
Madrid, Madrid, Madrid…
Today I am in Madrid, where I spent the week sick. I’m already feeling better, but I was thinking about the marathon runner who runs the last few miles by sheer force of will, and when he reaches the finish line, he collapses.
I think something like that happened to me. I’ve been living under a lot of pressure the last few months, and when I found myself here, my body gave itself permission to relax.
Once I regained my strength, I started walking in the afternoons, but I think I still look a bit like a zombie.
Well. We’ll take it step by step.
The funny thing is that, even sick and alone, I feel grateful for the peace and silence I have been experiencing.
I needed it.
The Literary Quarter
And it turns out that I am in the Barrio de las Letras, the Literary Quarter, where some of the greatest Spanish literati lived during Spain’s Golden Century. Above you can see a photo of one of the quarter’s streets, with a quote from poet Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer.
I can imagine that the ghosts of the great Spanish writers still wander around and cross paths with me, invisible, whispering in my ear while I take my walks.
So, even alone, I am in good company.
I continue to work on my next book. If you haven’t read the previous ones, check them out here.
To correspond with me, just leave a comment. I always enjoy hearing from my readers.
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