María Dueñas: "Against all odds, the pandemic has benefited the literary industry"

When in 2009 María Dueñas (Puertollano, Ciudad Real, 1964) published

, she never imagined that her first novel would become one of the best-selling works of Spanish literature in recent years, translated into more than 25 languages .

But what this doctor in English Philology, professor at the University of Murcia, was not expecting "at all" was the repercussion that she would have on critics and the interest over the years in making adaptations.

Of all of them, two have materialized so far: the 11-episode series on Antena 3, which starred Adriana Ugarte in 2013, and the musical that has just premiered at

in Madrid and has already been performed with success in other cities such as Zaragoza and Valencia.

Were you surprised when you were asked to do a musical? Yes, a little at first.

They had proposed other things to me, in addition to the series.

I got offers to do a movie, then theater... various invitations to adaptations, but never a musical.

But when Iván Macías, the composer, offered it to me, he had such a clear and solid idea that it didn't seem crazy to me.

It was an adventure, but they had everything very well thought out and planned, it gave me a lot of confidence from the beginning.

Once I have seen the result, I am delighted, because they have treated my novel with great respect, which was essential for me.

There is the book with all its argument inside the function and they have not succumbed to the temptation of making showy disjointed numbers.

The entire story arc is there.

Why do they insist now on adapting everything to musicals? Musicals and literature are nothing new, what is new in our case is a Spanish work adapted in Spain for a musical.

It is true that we live in a good time for musicals and, in general, any type of show, but the adaptation of literature to musical theater has almost always had very good results.

by Victor Hugo is a great classic of French and universal literature that became a magnificent musical.

The adaptation of

by Charles Dickens, the same;

, by Noah Gordon... It's nothing new.

Did they ask you for your opinion, any advice? They were very elegant with the novel and with me.

They made me participate at all times.

Iván called me as he was composing and he sent me the mock-ups of the compositions via WhatsApp, and the libretto as well.

But everything was so well done that I barely noted anything, just small details.

Everything they did was with such talent and professionalism that they didn't need my intervention almost at all. Would you have liked to have some piece of paper? No, not crazy (laughs).

Singing, dancing and acting are not among my talents.

I prefer to be in the rear writing.

Scene from the musical 'The time between seams' with Laura Enrech in the role of Sira.

This story that has marked you so much, that you continued with 'Sira', will it have a third part? At the moment, no.

At least immediately.

Later, I don't know because

, which was released last year, is still flowing very well.

It is in its 15th edition.

The translations are already starting, it still has a long way to go, so I'm not thinking of a third part yet.

Is it a good time to write books?

A very curious and excellent thing has happened with the pandemic, which has been dire for almost all sectors.

However, against all odds, it has benefited reading and the entire literary industry.

Having been confined has made many people who had a little abandoned reading have returned to it.

Bookstores have recovered, publishers too.

It has been a good time for reading, writing, for publications and the inertia continues.

Quite the opposite of the previous economic crisis, which gave the sector an ax blow.

It seems that now we have reconciled and rediscovered the pleasure of reading. It seems that the audiobook is starting to take off.

How has your experience been in this sector?

One of the most amazing things for me last year was writing the script for the audio series for Amazon

, which has had great acceptance and criticism.

It is an original script of mine and a series, like the old radio plays, which has a magnificent cast, such as Cayetana Guillén Cuervo, Anne Igartiburu, Lolita... Digital or physical book? Normally physical, although if I need something quick or I don't have a bookstore nearby, I use the digital one.

It all adds up, but I prefer paper.

I remember when I started in the literary world about 14 years ago, when the digital book began.

There were almost apocalyptic perspectives that said that the paper book was going to disappear, and that has not happened at all.

The Madrid of Maria Dueñas

The writer currently lives between Madrid, where she has been for more than half her life, and Cartagena (Murcia), a place where she

when she writes or is in the creative phases.

In the capital, she lives in the neighborhood of

, where she loves to walk.

"I like the center, all of Madrid de los Austrias, the most traditional and historical. It is my neighborhood," she says.

A bookstore to recommend:

"My friend Andrea Stefanoni, who is an Argentine writer and journalist, has just opened a great one next to Puerta del Sol. It's called

(Travesía del Arenal, 2; telephone: 914 44 19 61) "She ran another wonderful one in Buenos Aires, the Ateneo Grand Splendid, which was an old theater converted into a bookstore; I present my books there when I go to Argentina. Now she has embarked on an adventure in Madrid and it has been beautiful. It has two floors , the upper part for a bookstore and the lower part for cultural activities".

A library to get lost in: "

I go a lot to do book presentations and cultural events, to chat in reading clubs, to conferences to promote it... There are wonderful libraries. I was in a wonderful one in Fuenlabrada. But to get lost in it, I love the

(Pº de Recoletos, 20-22)".

A restaurant

: "The other day I was in one in the heart of the Rastro that I like more every time I go. It's called

(Juanelo, 23; Telephone: 910 41 44 39). It's an informal fusion place of Latin American and Asian food, with good wines, excellent cuisine and young people. It's my latest discovery."

Toga Restaurant.

What stores do you like?: "

I like the small neighborhood ones. In La Latina many were lost and are now being recovered. It is no longer the old store, but there are young people who are reinventing themselves and are bringing new and wonderful things, like cheeses, wines... For example, I buy a delicious ham at

(calle de la Cava Baja, 41; Telephone: 913 66 15 24)".

"I also love the

bakery (Carrera de San Francisco, 14; Telephone: 911 29 17 56), which has the best bread in Madrid, and the

(Carrera de San Francisco, 14, Telephone: 910 00 03 00). When I can, I also go to the Barley Market."

The workshop of San Francisco.

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