Elia Giner began writing her first novel, the first installment of a fantastic trilogy titled Black King, white butterfly, in 2010. After writing the first two volumes of this trilogy, changed gender slightly and wrote Highlights, a romantic youth fantasy novel that won the Literary Networking award from the AEN Writers Congress in 2018. Thanks to it, The work has recently been published with the Versatil publishing house. He grants me an interview about this award-winning novel. GINÉS J. VERA
In horror novels, to the S. King, usually appears “something” accident in the basements. In this case, much less sinister, and in the attic, What Carla finds is… a large mirror, with mahogany frame, sober, no frills, except at one point where there are three Latin phrases. How did you arrive at this element as a common thread for Highlights?
The mirror has such an entity in that novel that it could be said that it is a more important protagonist., like Carla herself. It is not only the common thread of the story, but also the great catalyst for the change that occurs in Carla. The adventures that Carla lives thanks to the “Speculum Veritatis” accelerate her evolution to the point that we can see a big difference between the “Carla” at the beginning and the end of the novel.. The “Carla” of the last chapters is braver, She has more confidence in herself and feels that she has found the path that will lead her to feel more and more comfortable in her own skin..
Mystery and intrigue undoubtedly form the backbone of this novel.. From the origin of the very particular mirror that Carla finds, to certain events that happen around their lives and that of their family and that sooner rather than later end up catching them. Is there clearly much beyond romantic readings when it comes to addressing the conflicts that assail today's young people??
Clearly, The young adult romantic novel is very fashionable and has many loyal readers.. However, I don't think it's the only genre from which you can capture the attention of readers of that age.. Highlights, For example, It is working very well being a crossover of genres: on the one hand, is a contemporary youth novel that addresses very real adolescent problems; for another, It is an adventure and fantasy novel; and finally, It also has its share of romance. In this sense, I would highlight that, although romance is very present in the novel (since Carla is going to experience first love, with everything that this brings with it), It's not the main plot, but a subplot that provides the story with a very addictive component for young people.
I would like to know about one part, What were your favorite reads at Carla's age?.
At Carla's age I was already a compulsive reader who read all types of genres without caring what age they were aimed at.. My parents went crazy when they saw the books I checked out from the library., ¡and,and! But if now I had to recommend readings to kids from 15 years, I would tell them to read Michael Ende (Momo y The never ending story They are simply great). And if you want something more current, I would recommend John Green or Rainbow Rowell, two authors that I love.
Y, from another, What opinion do you have of mirrors in general and this one in your novel in particular?, Would you have liked to have one like this when you were a teenager?? And in these moments?
I love mirrors. Unlike Carla, I am flirtatious, ¡and,and! As for entering the “Speculum Veritatis”… I couldn’t have resisted!, neither in adolescence nor now! I have never known how to say “no” to a good adventure…
