also a healing and necessary There was nothing in it except a international, yet it remains very process. As a writer I'm not rotten mattress and a bucket. I Spanish. There's a lot of art and content with simply relaying my felt like I'd been there, but it creativity here. The welcome experience. I care very much wasn't me. I was someone else, we've received has been so about the language, about someone whose story had to be warm. We've only been here crafting the words. This is what told.' since July and we already feel makes life writing something 'Can I read it?' we've made life-long friends.' quite different to penning one's 'No, no one's ever reading it. I 'So Andy, tell me about the journal, which is naturally much was still cutting my craft.' courses you're running. What will more freeform. A memoir doesn't 'But I understand you've written they entail?' have to be about the sum total of a novel?' 'Well, the first course is an your life, it can be about one 'Yes. Fi encouraged me to apply introduction to creative writing episode that whilst deeply for a place at City University in and will cover the basics of personal, also says something London. They boast the only writing fiction, poetry, memoir about the universal human creative writing MA in the and more. Each week there will experience. If it works, it triggers English-speaking world that be a short writing exercise and a empathy and gives the reader requires a complete novel as a chance to share your work. We lots of 'aha' moments.' submission. I hadn't been to also have plans to do more 'Can I read it?' university before that, so I could specific courses, including one 'Yes, when it's published. It's on hardly believe it when they said for life writing, one for nature the shortlist for the Pat yes. I finished it over the writing and one for writing a Kavanagh Prize and is out with summer, here in Cómpeta.' short story. ' agents. It's a long process from 'What's it about?' 'Who is the course aimed at?' writing to publication.' 'It's a thriller, set in London about 'It's aimed at English speakers, 'Do you only do life writing?' fifteen years from now. It takes but English doesn't have to be 'No. Nature writing is an what's happening your first language and you don't extension of life writing that is technologically, environmentally have to have done any creative very special for me. It can be and politically, and speculates on writing before. You just need writing that is about or is inspired what could happen next. It's a some curiosity and a willingness by nature or using nature as a dark vision, so I hope we don't to have a go.' metaphor to convey emotions, go there. ' 'When does it start?' characters and experiences. I 'Is it a political book?' 'Tuesday 7th February, from 7would also like to write more 'No, it's a human story about a 9pm, upstairs here at Casa fiction. It would make a nice woman who becomes a prime Paco.' change for me to step out of my target for security services. It's a 'Will you be running a course for head and into the head of a tense drama because the fate of creative writing in Spanish?' made-up character. I also love to the world is at stake. It's mostly 'We'd love to. Estamos write and read poetry.' told through the eyes of a young aprendiendo Español, pero poco 'You said it took you a long time policeman, but it's her story, hers a poco. So, not yet, but hopefully to realise that you wanted to are the choices that really soon.' write full-time. What did you do matter.' before that?' 'So, Fi, you've also just finished By the time I get up to leave, the 'All sorts of things. I studied an MA, did you write a thriller?' rain has cleared completely. The philosophy at University and 'No, my piece was very different. storm clouds that had sat dark trained as a yoga teacher, but for My MA was Creative and Life and heavy over the pueblo are the past two decades I've been Writing at Goldsmiths College, rolling away towards the coast, working in the arts in the UK as a London, and I wrote a memoir revealing a low white winter sun, producer and fundraiser – all the about the death of my first suspended in a cobalt sky, that is behind the scenes stuff that puts husband.' already beginning to warm the performances before audiences. Home 'That sounds intense.' Plazacooked Almijara.foods Yes, I think to My job has involved a lot of Friday &myself, Saturday Specials, 'Yes, but I wanted to write the this night is definitely writing, so maybe I've been come along and enjoy traditional book I wish I'd been able to read Andalucía, notthe Abergavenny. honing my craft without even at the time. It explores grief and Spanish There food must prepared be a story I could realising it.' loss through an account of his by Maria, our guest write about that. cook. 'How did you and Andy comeOur to new menu is available from last day.' live in Cómpeta?' 'It must have been difficult to advert on 31 theSee beginning ofpage June, 'We came here on holiday and write.' lots of tasty snacks, starters, main courses 'Yes, of course it was, it was We now but accept credit loved cards.it. The community is and homemade puddings.
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