Alejandra G. Remón dissects her new book, 'In spite of everything, I think of you'.
She today she arrives at the bookstores In spite of everything, I think of you , an epistolary novel woven from a collection of delicate photo collages , typewritten letters and pressed flowers. With the author of it, Alejandra G. Remon , we know all the nooks and crannies of her pages, without moving from her room: the author's room.
“WRITING IS SAVED. WRITING IS SAVED”
"The presentation of the novel was scheduled for early April . It didn't seem appropriate to me to do it in the midst of a crisis. When you publish a book, you want to celebrate it in good company . Now is the time. And soon I will be able to share it with you. In the process of reopening, with a title that invites you to lock yourself up without haste and in company, Alejandra G. Remón (La Rioja, 1985) She opens the screen of her Skype for us to receive us at her house in Madrid. From the hand of the author of when no one is looking Y All those times and other unfinished business (Lunwerg), we travel to your precious universe truffled with works of art, mysteries, wild flowers, Polaroid snapshots, emotions and one epistolary love story in the time of Tinder. Almost nothing.
THE PATH OF ROMANTICISM
“I often insist that I am not romantic . Later, they give me some flowers and my principle falls of its own weight. It is true that romanticism, as a concept, is hackneyed. As can happen with an 'I love you', which has more to do with emotions that, on many occasions, we do not even control. A 'I think of you', apart from the purely emotional, is perhaps more rational, more mature”.
the path of romance
ROAD AND MELANCHOLY
“I like to give myself enough time to reflect. With my books, it works like this. First I think about the story and, in the end, comes the title . In this case, it is a phrase that comes out at a key moment in the book. It is a headline that speaks a little about me, it exudes melancholy, optimism and romanticism”.
Road and melancholy
AN ESCAPE INTO LITERATURE
“I have always fantasized about make a novel about a love relationship via postcard . After trying poetic prose, I decided to transfer my fantasies to this reality. I am very happy with the result".
A trip to literature
GUIDE TO FALLING IN LOVE WITHOUT TINDER
“We live a moment of rush in social relations . We are going at such speed and there is so much noise that we do not stop to think about what we want. I have lived long-distance relationships I miss discovering a person slowly. Writing a letter is a thoughtful gesture , a close, organic and measured mode of communication. For the novel, I let the story between the characters come naturally. First, I wrote the letter and printed it. Later, I would answer it the same day or let it rest for a few days to think about the answer. I didn't know how the end was going to be until almost the last moment."
Guide to fall in love without Tinder
ENCOUNTER IN THE PAST
“Martina and Gonzalo are the characters in the novel . Martina Gonzalo is my grandmother's name. This is a tribute to her, as I never got to meet her. Martina has a lot of me, since she exudes insecurity and courage in equal parts. Gonzalo, although he breathes with his own personality, remains in the same register. I wanted to be seen in both characters”.
encounters with the past
DAYS OF LOCKDOWN AND ROSES
“The first week of confinement I was very scared and my nerves were on edge. Gradually, I gave myself mental truces. The head is quite wise. What are you missing, I told myself, Watch movies? Read? Well, now you have the opportunity. I have allowed myself to enjoy time freely and I even started with a script for my book”.
Days of confinement and roses
ROUTE TO CREATIVITY
“When it was already written, it occurred to me insert graphic elements created by me . I printed to actual size cards and all images I had (in Polaroid size and life size). So I used the walls of my house to hang all the material. The book is a compendium of letters, collages, visual references of each character (I assigned, for example, different fonts to each character: Martina, Remington and Gonzalo, Olivetti). An important part of the creative process were collages. Especially laborious was the gluing of all that incredible collection of organic elements from Taller Silvestre, which is dedicated to the noble trade of flower pressing”.
path to creativity
ON THE PATH OF WRITING
“This book, with this very special format, has arrived now because I think I have that security as a writer. The first book came out like an illusion . I am often asked, "Didn't you want to be a writer?" I come from a town where I was taught that you had to work to earn money. In my family, I couldn't state that I wanted to be a writer. But writing has been my outlet for as long as I can remember. . I started when I was eight years old with a diary. It seemed like a romantic idea to me."
On the way of writing
A WALK THROUGH INSTAGRAM
“After the diary, I moved my notes to the photolog, then to the blog, and finally to Instagram. My books work very well on social networks, since followers tag each other recommending me. Instagram is a very powerful tool where the image plays an essential role, as happens with my graphic and written work. Everything is part of my universe . That a person dedicates his time to read me is fascinating and if, in addition, he takes the trouble to tell you about it, it is already a dream.
A walk through Instagram
THE NEW TRAVELER
“I think this crisis will definitely change the way we travel. Having less time will make us a little more responsible when moving around the world . And I think that we will concentrate on less distant and longer trips to take advantage of that displacement effort.”
the new traveler
START OVER
“I would love to go back to Mr. Ito (Pelayo, 60), is one of my favorites in the neighborhood, and fismuler (Sagasta, 29), for his cheesecake and for all his letter! I also dream of Sala de Despiece (Ponzano, 11). I love to walk and that's what I'm doing these days, but I miss Retreat so much! Every time I go, I find new trails and paths. I always find myself walking out a different door. And, of course, I would love to return to La Rioja and Santander to see my family, the sea and eat wonderfully".
Start over