Getting to Know Spirals (Episode 2 of 5)

We're going to continue with the radio interview that Pablo A. Bravo, author of Espirales, El Juego del Poder, gave last week. In this second installment, Pablo tells us about his creative journey. Let's get to it...

• Tell us now about the title: The novel's title, Spirals, is very evocative. What symbolism were you seeking with this word, and how do you think it encapsulates the structure or message of the story?

  Actually, that wasn't the novel's original title. In fact, it was born without a title, then had a working one, and halfway through the story, "Spirals" came to me. The idea arose from the story itself. A story that began with that idea we discussed earlier, of evolution and resilience, but which has a plot of suspense and dark romance. A story where the lives of two very different people intertwine, and together, bound by an invisible tie—first passion, then love—they find themselves caught up in a series of circumstances that send them spiraling into suspense.

• How difficult was it to create the protagonist? Are there any secondary characters who "stole the show" or surprised you during the writing process by taking an unexpected turn?

  
  The main characters weren't difficult for me to create. That stage of development was like a puzzle, building my own "monsters," like Dr. Frankenstein in Mary Shelley's novel. Their personalities are a combination of many people I know, so they're unlike anyone else, but everyone will be able to find something in them they can relate to.

  Regarding the secondary characters, I feel indebted to two of them: Yamil and Matlock. They're two characters with a lot of potential. I could have elaborated on them much more, but they would have unfairly stolen the show.

In the next post, we'll learn more about the journey of creating Espirales. So much anxiety!