Sabina Prestipino He taught for thirteen years in a high school letters. And after meeting her, I assure you, we regretted not having had as a prof.
E 'Alicia Gimenez Bartlett, one of the guests tip of the 20th edition of the Book Fair in Turin. At the booth
Sellerio, the Italian publisher of the writer, readers browsed his books, but can not seem to notice it, while journalists are queuing up to interview what has become known in Italy as a sort of Camilleri in a skirt.
At first glance it seems to me that the two writers have in common only one thing: "cigarillos", as would Camilleri.
Time to shake hands and introduce ourselves and Bartlett invites me out of the warehouses of the fair to smoke. Between a puff of smoke and the other, we begin to chat. What a relief, the creator of Petra Delicado is a small woman with intelligent eyes and full of irony, a true sly storyteller from the air. A sharp wit. It 's very happy with this his promotional trip in Italy. It asks the ladies of his entourage to take it at night in a place where you can enjoy a good brandy.
His latest work, "Empty Nest", is climbing the charts. Shelling his big hazel eyes and is almost shocked to stress in Italian: "Before me, there is only the Pope." In fact, Italy, along with Germany, is the country he loves the saga of Petra Delicado and her assistant Fermin Garzon.
To break the ice begins to take off some little curiosity. I do not know if he would have the courage to ask certain amenities, Once back on the sofas of the stand Sellerio.
E 'content or annoys be called the "English Camilleri? "It 's a simplified schematic, easy to understand, to be representative of a certain genre. But it does not bother me, rather it is an honor. " He adds in his own language: "Bueno, es Camilleri Camilleri."
think about it, Inspector Montalbano would make a good couple with Delicado. "In fact - says the author - Although Montalbano is too macho to Petra. If the two were engaged, would be a great pitched battle. " Second
curiosity among a little 'meet Daria Bignardi space authors. That 'interviewer barbaric "has ruined me, like so many other readers, the pleasure of discovering the end of the book, revealing the columns of" Vanity Fair ". Gimenez Bartlett not to say it, but I am sure that our Petra would have done the hair and against the nap.
I am curious to know what he would do to the writer Bignardi. "If you can calm, after the journalist revealed only a small part of the finale. It tells us only that Petra is married for the third time. "
Indeed, had the good taste not to introduce the identity of the murderer, but marriage is a shot of Petra the scene is not just that we would like to find out solo. After two double experience after having filed and made to believe to be difficult to make a single chapter, not a spinster but a real Amazon, Petra convoluted for the third time at the wedding.
We return to the stand, is now of serious questions.
From "A Room of others," his debut novel published by us only four years ago, and then arrive at the saga of the Commissioner Delicado, in all his books reflected an almost meticulous documentation. How important to you as a writer, the preparatory work of investigation and documentation before the actual writing? "Every My novel has required a very large task of documentation. Not only contact the specialists according to the subjects treated, but I'm interested in visiting places and to consult statistics. As regards the preparation of novel, starring Petra, typically working closely with the Police in Barcelona, \u200b\u200bthe city where I reside. And not only. For 'Dog Day', for example, I interviewed specialists in animal behavior and veterinary products. For 'A vessel full of rice' I worked in documentation phase with the social services and social workers, who have allowed me to better understand and be able to describe in a realistic environment of the homeless. Each book takes one or two months of preparation e di raccolta d’informazioni”.
Negli ultimi anni in Europa si è registrato un revival del genere giallo e del noir. Tuttavia grazie a lei e ad altri suoi colleghi, anche italiani, che avete riscritto e rinnovato le regole del genere, il giallo made in Usa, che ha avuto sempre un grande seguito, è stato relegato in secondo piano, è stato quasi spodestato nelle preferenze dei lettori. Come se lo spiega? “Premetto che questa che le sto per dire è una teoria del tutto personale. Secondo me, la cosiddetta letteratura seria, di genere, oggi si è sempre di più allontanata da quotidiano. Ci fornisce insomma una realtà edulcorata e spesso pittoresca. Ed oggi il pittoresco non gode good account either with the critics, nor by the player. In my opinion, today's literature must be adherence to the facts or at least at the time in which we live. The kind of cock European-day is the one that offers quest'aderenza, what we talk about the reality in which we live and which also provides us with clues for reading. In an age like ours, it is important for the reader to identify with what is happening around us every day. "
Another trait that we find in the yellow and the European continent is very much appreciated the irony .
"Yes, I think. In particular, I believe that humor and irony of the peoples of southern Europe are much more subtle and strong. This is a comical little obvious. "
tell us how was the saga of Petra Delicado. "My first novel 'A room for all the other' I had taken a great effort and a different kind." The writer had concocted the diary of Nelly's maid Virginia Wolf, which gives us a cross between true history and invention, a kind of docudrama on the Bloomsbury group. "Thus, by the end of that novel I needed a break and wrote the first novel starring Petra. It was an unexpected success. Neither then I could imagine that the Commissariat would become the protagonist of a series of volumes. English was my editor encouraged me to write a second episode. And there's this character came to life again and now leads me to write stories. "
So much so that forced her to become a writer full time ... "Yes, after 13 years of teaching in 1991 I left the school system. I was a teacher rather irregular, if an inspector had gone out of my class I would certainly have thrown in the street. To tell the truth, often regret the time when I was teaching, because I was in contact with the children and even if sometimes come to school in a bad mood, I always came back home tired, but refreshed and full of positive energy. But then I became a writer full time. It 'been almost a necessity, because the promotional tour of my books are difficult to reconcile with my teaching profession. "
And how he expresses his day of full-time writer? "To be honest, I lead a very normal life. I write every morning. When I'm writing a novel, after breakfast, I head straight to work. Then mid-morning I give myself a break. I'm interested in small committees, go to the grocery store. I like going to buy a newspaper in the same place for two talk to the newsagent and eventually I give myself a cup of coffee in the same bar. I like the contact with people. For me it is essential. For those who invent stories is almost a matter of mental health do not lose touch with reality that surrounds us. Besides, my husband has very strict working hours and I must also occupy the house. My children are now adults and living their own way. So lunch alone and often in the afternoon I go to the gym. For me, the life of a writer is much easier than you might imagine. "
The Inspector Petra Delicado was the star of a TV series in Spain, not to mention that all His novels have been optioned by various filmmakers. In short, the movie world seems very appreciative of his works. He never thought about the writer? "Actually yes, I tried it once and I do not think I will ever in my life. I intend to write such a lonely job, and the scripts come from teamwork. Furthermore, the writer must be continuous interference from the production or the director. Not for me. I find it really hard to have to discuss and share with others the fruit of my work or having to switch my stories to command. "
And what movie dabbled in the craft of a screenwriter? "It was for 'Tiempo de storm', released in 2003 in Spain. But I tell you already that I left half the job and the script was finished by others to irreconcilable disagreements with the production. I was writing about a woman tormented, but the producer insisted that a woman can not be tortured without a practical reason. But you think? And then insisted that I include in my story, a fact that gustificata its torments. In practice, the protagonist had to be tormented by the loss of his son. At that point, could not resist and asked him: Oh yeah? And how would this child? Flaming, spotted, rare or undercooked? Well in short I left the job. "
Back home I could not do without to investigate a production house which Mrs. Gimenez Bartlett had given the well-served. After careful research, it turns out that this is the Lolafilm, which in recent decades has worked with directors such as Fernando Trueba, Pedro Almodovar, Carlos Saura, and Vicente Aranda de la Iglesia.
Petra would do the same.
Marzia Apice 
