The Argentine novelist and screenwriter is most renowned for her bestselling crime and mystery novels in Argentina …
ON HOME: I live in the city of Buenos Aires. My apartment is in a neighbourhood called Palermo, and from my window I can see the botanic garden and city beyond. It’s lovely to have this green space to look at while I write. This part of the neighbourhood is very quiet, but not far away there are nice bars, restaurants and bookshops. It is also close to museums and the National Library.
ON ROOTS: I grew up in Burzaco, a town to the south of Buenos Aires. At that time, it was a very peaceful area. My primary school was named Gabriela Mistral, in honour of the Chilean Nobel Prize-winning author. My grandparents owned a bakery in town, and taught me how to make bread and pastries.
I’ve written ever since I learned to hold a pen. But to imagine that I could be a writer took me a long time. There were no writers or artists in my house, so I assumed I would take on another profession and write in my spare time, because it was like a necessity for me.
ON WRITING: When I was nearly 30, I was a finalist in a competition where I sent a novel, and I began to think that if I made more effort, and began to work with another writer or creative writing group, then perhaps one day I could become a writer. A few years later, I published my first book, which was for children. I have an initial image going round in my head for a while before I sit down and write. When it starts to take shape, the characters reveal their conflicts to me, moving within this same image, and I work out who would be the best person to narrate the story and from which perspective. That’s when I start writing.
ON SUCCESS: I distrust that word. I see people being categorised as successful when, in my eyes, they aren’t. Perhaps the key is for there to be harmony between your professional and private life, that you feel comfortable in both, depending on the kind of life you wish to lead. For me, friendships and the people I love are essential, so it is not all about books published, festivals, or prizes. Though, at the same time, I’m glad that my career as a writer is going well. It’s a balanced mix of the two.
ON MY DESK: A lot of books, ordered in piles, pens, pencils, notebooks, my computer, iPad, phone, mug of coffee, fruit juice. I write for several hours every day, usually starting early, sometimes as early as six in the morning because I can’t write at night. I fall asleep easily!
ON READING: I read widely, from novels, short stories and essays to histories and plays. Some poetry, probably less than I would like. I often return to the novels of Natalia Ginzburg. Right now, I’m reading Grave Goods by Peruvian writer Fernando Iwasaki.
ON BOOKSHOPS: Eterna Cadencia, a bookshop in my neighbourhood, though not so close to where I live. It has a great selection of books from different publishers, as well as a lovely café and wonderful roof terrace.
Claudia Pineiro: Time Of The Flies (Chapters, €16.90)
Claudia was the International Author of the Day at The London Book Fair.
