Meet Begoña Quesada - Novelist, Journalist, Diplomat and Cyclist
Begoña Quesada Navigating in Germany’s Bicycle Traffic
Begoña is currently caught up in the whirlwind chaos of promoting her latest book Nacidos después de muertos (Born After Death), as well as doing the research for her next novel.
She has been the runner-up for the prestigious Felipe Trigo Award in 2017 with her thriller Crows and her book Alemania, el pass imprescindible (Ediciones Nobel, 2016) is one of the best-selling Spanish language, non-fiction works on Germany.
Her background is in journalism, communication and diplomacy (Reuters, Columbia University, Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
You can visit her Author Website at: bequesada.com and connect with her on social media on Twitter and Instagram.
A fairly common thread in the SWF community is that many of us have dreamed of writing for years before we ever had the time, resources, or ability to sit down and actually do it. When did you first decide writing was something that you wanted to actively pursue, and then how long was it before you started writing seriously?
Writing seriously? Since I could hold a pen. I remember being six years old, reading Lorca (not understanding anything) and wanting to be a poet. Then a writer, then a journalist, then a journalist who writes fiction…
Begoña Quesada at Book Signing Event
I started to actively pursue being published when I had lived long enough to consciously choose where I could get, and produce, more joy. This was about eight years ago.
What is your primary creative writing genre, and did this change over the years, or has this always been your main focus?
It has changed, metamorphosed and budded. I basically want to tell interesting stories well. These stories are sometimes reports, sometimes op-eds, essays, podcasts, fiction... I’ve even flirted with illustration!
Can you tell us about some of your favorite SWF moment(s) and what really stuck with you after the festivals?
In three words, people, people, people. As beautiful as Stockholm is, as practical and well-prepared the venues (even the online ones! #covid19), what has stuck with me are the stories of my fellow participants (the coffee talk, the pre-event salutations...), the friendly team and the gentle, inspirational leadership of the captain.
Begoña Quesada Book Signing - Madrid
What would you say were the biggest takeaways for you from SWF?
I’ll take it from one of the big ones and say: “Go then, there are other worlds than these” (Stephen King, The Gunslinger). This is the most important learning from SWF for me, followed by the idea that the path is not as lonely as it seems.
Do you recall any moments that helped clarify things in a new way, or provided new insights into specific areas of the craft?
Most of the workshops have been inspiring and/or useful. I particularly remember one with Cassie Gonzales and another one with Jess Lourey.
How have you evolved as a writer since attending your first Stockholm Writers Festival, and what part did the festival itself play in that evolution?
Yes - I am a more confident writer. My horizon has expanded. My scenes and dialogues are more explosive. And I have new friends!
Can you tell us a little about a piece you’ve written in the past that you are particularly proud of, published or not — just something that still moves you every time you revisit it?
Actually, the first chapter of my last book!
Overall, has attending SWF helped you in pursuing the “path to published," and if so, how?
It has helped me in many little things - improving my writing and my contacts - but mainly in giving me the stamina to persist and the confidence to enjoy it.
If you plan on attending SWF22, (and we certainly hope you do) is there anything specific that you hope to learn more about this time around?
The month of August doesn’t really work well for me, but I do hope I can attend and make my writing even stronger. Right now, I am particularly interested in developing unique and memorable characters.
Begoña Quesada Book Signing - Madrid
Begoña’s latest novel, Nacidos después de muertos (Born After Death) is a novel based on the life of Elisabeth Nietzsche - she was not just the sister of Friedrich Nietzsche, but also the architect behind the publication of the philosopher’s most influential book - a book he never actually wrote.
The story delves into the life of this early fake news pioneer, and examines her manipulation and perversion of Nietzsche’s thinking, and places her in historical context, shedding light on key ideas of the contemporary world around us.
Rumor has it that there is even a shout-out to the Stockholm Writers Festival in the acknowledgments on page 2 of the book, so be sure to get your copy of this intriguing novel!