The author is convinced that «someone» is already writing a thriller set in the Vatican
César Pérez Gellida, the writer, concludes in Valladolid the universe that began with his novel ‘Bajo tierra seca’ (Destino) — the winning work of the Nadal Prize 2024 — in the «bloody» book ‘Nada bueno germina’ (Destino). «I want to keep killing everything the law allows me,» the author stated in a press conference in the city.
The author wraps up in his hometown the story of Sebastián Costa and Antonia Monterroso, two robbers from the early 20th century who arrive in Valladolid fleeing from the Spanish capital. In this sense, he acknowledged that his intention is to «unsettle» the reader with these pages.
«I have a certain obsession, because as a reader, I am concerned that the plot may be anticipated and the reader knows what is going to happen. For me, it would be a real pain if a reader told me they knew how it would end. It’s true that there are twists that can be anticipated, but usually — and I hope this doesn’t sound arrogant — this is a sleight of hand. You are showing things, but what you want to hide, you hide,» he explained.
‘Bajo tierra seca’ is the novel that created this universe and earned the author the Nadal Prize last year. In this sense, although he boasts that it is a «bloody» plot, he admits that the desire to submit it for the award may have unconsciously caused him to hold back on adding violence.
The author explained that he had always known that this story had to end in Valladolid and asserted that characters are «killed» much better from «home.» «You kill much better, of course, at home. You also kill in a different way. When one knows their surroundings — and this happens to predators, they often try never to stray from their hunting grounds because they know the terrain very well — it greatly facilitates success. In my case, coming to Valladolid and ending the novel here — let’s say it’s my natural territory — was not a coincidence, it was a necessity,» he emphasized. In connection with the start of the conclave in the Vatican to elect the next Pope after Francis, Pérez Gellida stated that «someone» will already be writing a ‘thriller’ set in the Italian city because «everything that moves» generates a story. «Someone will already be writing it, no doubt about it. Recently, I told my producers that I was absolutely convinced that many projects related to apocalyptic scenarios, situations like that, would start coming in. And indeed, that’s the case. Just as many novels, many manuscripts will arrive at the publishers with stories of this kind. Because ultimately, everything that moves us or touches us creates a story. Many times we think that we should tell what others want to read, certainly you won’t find me in that,» he explained. ‘Nada bueno germina’ has already arrived in bookstores this Wednesday with an initial print run of 40,000 copies, in which the author — who has the habit of getting up before dawn to write and needs the white noise of an Italian hair dryer to work — has made it clear that his main goal is to «generate a hostile atmosphere.»
«SOMEONE» IS ALREADY WRITING A ‘THRILLER’ IN THE VATICAN