Spotlight: Local Writers
So, You Want To Support Local Creatives?
A Collection of Local Writers
Following my latest blog post compiling a collection of local artists and small business from whom you can buy gifts this Christmas, I have decided to write a similar post. This time, however, I wanted to shed light on local authors and writers. Every single writer in this post has published work that you can purchase and either gift at Christmas, or read over the holidays! What could be better than supporting our writers and enjoying their magnificent stories, many of which include tales related to Gibraltar itself?
Thank you to all of the amazing writers who have contributed to this post. As always, I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to support our local creatives and put back into our culture. I hope to continue featuring our local creatives on this blog, so if you’re interested, follow me on Instagram (@intotheindustry_) or Facebook (‘Into the Industry’) to keep updated!
Humbert Hernandez
Humbert started writing in earnest in 2002 when her retired from teaching. Within a matter of a few years he wrote some 40 short stories in Spanish, all centred on the bygone patio culture in Gibraltar and the nearby reaches of Spain. For his first publication he chose 20 of these stories and they were published in 2014 in a volume entitled El Acordeonista y Otras Historias. This was followed by a collection of his poems entitled Paisaje Interior. His memoir, Conscript or Convict?, on the 1970 anti-conscription campaign followed in 2015. In 2019 he collected all of his short stories and brought them out as a series subtitled ‘Historias de Gibraltar’ in four slim volumes: 1 - El Agente Aleman; 2 - La Higuera del Muerto; 3 - El Abuelo Ateo; 4 – Atado y Bien Atado.
In spring 2021, Humbert with publish A Time Remembered. Here he has focussed on another slice of our cultural history with a comprehensive biography of Cecil Gomez, our doyen of the amateur theatre in Gibraltar, who has also been an enormous contributor and innovator in education. The text, covering over 220 theatrical productions and poetry recitals, is accompanied by more than 700 photographs and illustrations providing a unique record of his drama group’s achievements in the last seven decades. 2021 will also see the appearance of a bilingual collection of Humbert’s poems: Against the Grain - A Contrapelo This will include his latest poems in English and in Spanish.
You can find out more about Humbert on his Facebook page ‘Humbert Hernandez Author’ and all the above publications may be purchased from Amazon and from the Heritage Bookshop in Gibraltar.
Jackie Anderson
Jackie Anderson was born in Gibraltar in the 1960s and spent many years living and working in Kent, England where she still has many family members and friends. Jackie, as she is known to most, works as a freelance writer and journalist, contributing to numerous print and online publications. She writes on a wide variety of subjects, from parenting to business development, from health issues to local history, from exploring local culture to delving into the world of technology. However, poetry and fiction are her favourite forms of writing and she has won a number of awards for both her poems and short stories. Jackie is involved in supporting the development of creative writing in Gibraltar through Gibraltar Writers. She has served on a panel of judges in a poetry competition and from time to time runs workshops on various aspects of writing. Her collection of short stories The Last Lullaby is inspired by Jackie’s fascination with the telling of ghost stories which was a favourite activity in Jackie's family on those intensely dark nights of winter before the world glowed with computers and mobile phones and more street lights than ever before. She recalls huddling in a darkened bedroom with her sisters, telling creepy tales to explain the creaks and groans of the century-old house where they grew up; picking her way through old graveyards wondering if the old yew trees at the entrance really could keep the spirits of the restless dead from wandering towards the nearby houses; and many fun times taking her own children on 'ghost treks' into the Kent countryside, or trick-or-treating around the town where they lived. She has also published a collection of poetry entitled Of love and Shadows.
Both Of Love and Shadows and The Last Lullaby can be purchased on Kindle or paper back on Amazon, or by contacting Jackie via email at jackiegirl@hotmail.co.uk.
Julian Felice
Julian Felice is Gibraltar’s first ever internationally published playwright. He has had four plays published and performed in the United States, and a collection of Gibraltar-themed plays published locally. He has also had a number of plays performed by professional theatre companies in London and as online presentations. Julian has won Best Original Play at the Gibraltar Drama Festival on five occasions and was awarded a Governor’s Coin in recognition of his achievements in play-writing. He also won Cultural Ambassador at the inaugural Gibraltar Cultural Awards.
You can find out more about Julian on his Facebook page ‘Julian Felice - Playwright’ and can purchase his plays by messaging him directly via his Facebook page.
Mark Sanchez
M. G. Sanchez began writing when he was a doctoral student at the University of Leeds. To date he has authored thirteen books with Gibraltarian themes, among them novels (Jonathan Gallardo, The Escape Artist and Solitude House), journals and memoirs (Bombay Journal, Border Control, Past: A Memoir) and collections of short stories (Crossed Lines, Rock Black, Diary of a Victorian Colonial and other Tales). His books are often satirical in tone and feature Gibraltarian misfits and outsiders; they also explore issues related to borders, colonialism, and the relationship between Gibraltar and the UK. International critics have written extensively about Sanchez’s work, and he has also spoken about his writing at universities in the UK, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and Switzerland. Gooseman, his latest novel, was published at the beginning of December 2020 and follows the misadventures of a young Gibraltarian man in the UK in the 1990s. The author describes it ‘a comedy, but of a very dark sort – laced with copious amounts of drugs, violence, alcohol and sex.’
Mark’s books can be bought from Amazon as well as from the Gibraltar Heritage Trust’s bookshop in John Mackintosh Square. More information about his writing can be found at his personal website: https://www.mgsanchez.net/. He also posts regular updates about his writing on his Facebook page ‘MG Sanchez’.
Giordano Durante
Giordano is a Gibraltarian poet. After years of reading, studying and enjoying poems, he started writing some of his own in 2016. These early poems attempt to conjure the past with a lyrical focus on childhood memories, adolescence and odd nocturnal escapades. His work also brings to life the sights, sounds and images of London life and the nearby cities of Andalucía. The first forty poems he was happy with were brought together and published as ‘West’ by the Dabuti Collective in late 2017. Since then, Giordano has been busy preparing a second collection which will be ready in 2021. This autumn, he also launched the e-pamphlet Machotes, which examines notions of Llanito masculinity.
‘West’ is on sale directly from the author who can be contacted by email: giordano@yourgibraltartv.com ‘Machotes’ can be sent as a .pdf for free to anyone who requests it.
Gabriel Moreno
Gabriel Moreno is a singer songwriter and poet with more than 10 poetry books published in both Spanish and English from 2007 to 2015 with Omicron Publishers and Annexe, London. He has released two albums with Amber Records, UK, Love and Decadence in 2015 and Farewell Belief in 2017, expressing creations of his own strand of Alternative Folk with a Mediterranean touch. Winner of the Introducing Stage at the The Great British Folk Festival, he has just released his third record, Whiskey with Angels in December 2020. He is also artistic curator of The Lantern Society, London and The Poetry Brothel, London (two high acclaimed nights of music and poetry in the UK). He currently resides in London where he performs and curates music and poetry nights.
You can find out more about Gabriel and purchase his work from his website www.gabrielmoreno.co.uk.
Lowri Madoc
Born in 1974 to actor parents, Ruth and Philip Madoc, Lowri was aware that parts of her childhood were quite different to those of her friends. Back in the early 80’s there were only 3 TV channels and her Mum regularly appeared in sitcoms and various light entertainment programmes. Her Dad was also well known for both classical and comedy roles, on TV, film and radio.
Back then, there were no ipads, iphones and very few electronic distractions, so the TV was very much the centre of family entertainment, which meant her parents were highly recognizable at the time. As a child she spent a lot of time backstage, in studios and on sets. There was a lot to take in, which she did and loved it. So much so, although never wanting to perform herself, she loved her parents’ business and knew she wanted to forge her own career within it. She went into Stage and Theatre Management, and ended up working at the wonderful The Lyceum, Covent Garden.
Hetty Backstage is the first in a series of semi-autobiographical stories. She is an 11 year old girl who happens to have famous parents, although doesn’t always like the attention this could bring, she does enjoy the colour, character and charm she experiences. With 3 children of her own now, Lowri wanted to tell her stories from the child perspective, with the hope of resonating with the reader’s experiences with their own parents and influential people in their lives. she drew on her childhood and theatrical career to create authentic and genuine settings and characters.
Having read many children’s books over the recent years to her own kids, together with assisting in the school library for a number of years, Lowri wanted Hetty to appeal to boys and girls, and encourage reading for all junior school ages. Chapter books at around 12,000 words they will hopefully appeal to enthusiastic 6 year olds readers and, interested 11 year olds.
Hetty Backstage is available at The Gibraltar Heritage Shop, John Mackintosh Square, and on Amazon.
Sam Benady and Sarah Devincenzi
A Pictorial History of Gibraltar: The first 200 million years, by Sam Benady and Sarah Devincenzi would make an ideal present for any child over the age of six, but it is designed to appeal to all ages, and provides a reliable but light-hearted history of our Rock in Sam’s words and Sarah’s brilliant pictures. It is history made easy, but not dumbed down. Even if you hated history at school, this book is designed to make you change your mind.
Sarah is an illustrator but also makes mixed media art, bowls, and jewellery from repurposed materials using inks and acrylics. Her work can be found at the Gibraltar Arts and Crafts Association (above cafe Solo).
Sam retired from the GHA, where he was the Consultant Paediarician, in 2002, and since then has been busy writing books and articles about Gibraltar.
Sam has also published a number of other books; if you like detective fiction, try the Bresciano mysteries – seven novels (written with the late Mary Chiappe) which take their engaging Gibraltarian detective from youth to middle age (1780 to 1820). Then there’s The Keys of the City for the historical fiction buff. It is set in Gibraltar and Spain in the fifteenth century, and is an exciting and romantic story based on real historical events. Sam has also written factual history books, and his biography of Sir George Don is also available.
A Pictorial History of Gibraltar: The first 200 million years is available in the bookshops of the Gibraltar Museum and the Gibraltar Heritage Trust, and in the Gibraltar Arts and Crafts shop, and can also be ordered from the Heritage Trust website. Other books by Sam can also be found in the Gibraltar Museum and Gibraltar Heritage Trust. You can find out more about Sarah on her Facebook page ‘Sarah Devincenzi Arts’.
Rebecca Calderon
Rebecca has published Renault 5, a novel, and ‘he Civil Garrison, which is an historic play about Gibraltar. She is also just about to punish a book of ten short stories; each one is identical in that it has 1000 words exactly. She completed her last three stories during lockdown. She wishes she could write more and has two unfinished novels on her laptop, but never has the time or space to work on them. She has a big family, works long hours, and as a writer she cannot just sit down and ‘switch it on’ of an evening. She needs to at least have a day of solitude to get into the creative zone, and once she is there it will flow. She finds this frustrating as she has unfinished business! Regardless, she manages to write the odd poem and won the Gibraltar price this autumn, so some creativity is flowing. Rebecca can only dream of a room of her own in an empty house with good wifi!
You can find out more about Rebecca on her Facebook page ‘Rebecca Calderon’. Her work is available on Amazon Kindle, or physical copes can be brought from her directly via her email rebecca.calderon69@gmail.com.
Stephanie and Lee Dignam
For the last six years Stephanie and Lee have written under several pen names, their most popular and successful being Katerina Martinez. The work that goes into just one book can take months (or in some cases years) of planning, and weeks of writing and editing. More often than not it’s an intense and difficult process that sees them go up against strict self inflicted deadlines, but the end result is always worth it. It's their goal to take their readers on an exciting and entertaining journey that will stay with them for years to come, and once their readers start telling them in the form of reviews, the hard work really pays off. When shopping local this Christmas, Stephanie and Lee would love for you to consider buying books from local authors for the bookworms in your life. They have a large back catalogue of completed series, but their personal favourite (and best selling!) is the Obsidian Order series. These books are ideal for those who enjoy action, suspense, magic, and romance in their books.
You can find out more about Stephanie and Lee on their website katerinamartinez.com. Their books are available from Amazon on paperback, kindle and audiobook!
Roy Clinton
Roy Clinton is by profession a Chartered Accountant and a Banker and holds two degrees in commerce and financial services respectively. In 2015, after retiring, he entered the field of Gibraltar politics as an opposition MP. His inspiration and a love of Gibraltar’s history came from reading as a child the books of local historian, George Palao. He has published several articles in the Gibraltar Heritage Journal and in the past has served as a trustee of the Gibraltar Heritage Trust and the Gibraltar Garrison Library Trust.
His book Elliot’s Gold was printed in a limited edition of 250 copies and is available at the Gibraltar Heritage Trust Shop.
Mark Montovio
Mark’s first short story in Spanish was called Con fe venezolana. He needed to process emotions and very strong feelings, and was driven to make sense of experiences that he found to be challenging. This led him to express himself more and more in the written form. As he wrote bits and pieces, a number of readers related to the content, and he was encouraged to put something together. It is a love story spanning just over a decade full of hope, desire, sadness and loss. What is so central to existence, that we love and are loved, is also a fundamental part of dealing with pain and finality and the process that led to the renewal, is what gave birth to Notas de amor… Con fe venezolana.
Mark’s book, Notas de amor… Con fe venezolana, can be purchased from On Pointe at Casemates Arcade, Gibraltar. Anyone wanting a signed copy is very welcome to get in touch with Mark.
Alice Mascarenhas
As a journalist and broadcaster, Alice does not see herself as an author but as a writer who writes from a journalistic pen. She has been in the industry for over 40 years and in her early career was a presenter, producer and head of the Community Affairs section on Radio Gibraltar as well as presenting and producing several television series on GBC. Taking a break, having worked substantially in theatre on the Rock, she studied Theatre Stage Management at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
On her return Alice found herself back at GBC. She then took a risk, not knowing if she could write, by joining the Gibraltar Chronicle team as its Features Editor, retiring as its first female Deputy Editor more than 20 years later. But just two months into her retirement Alice returned to become a Columnist and for the past two years she has been writing the weekly Saturday Column, Alice’s Table.
This was the subject for her first published book, hence its title, Alice’s Table. This is a collection of the first year of articles in the series which focuses on our history, culture and people, inviting a weekly guest or theme, giving readers a glimpse into the lives of Gibraltarians from across all sectors of the community. A second book, Alice’s Table II, will be published just before Christmas this year and carries the second year of articles. There are now over 100.
You could say this is the next stage in her journalistic and writing career. Earlier this year Alice also published a book on local artist and playwright Elio Cruz of the ‘Lola’ plays. Elio Cruz: One Man Many Talents, published by Gibraltar Cultural Services earlier this year, was the accompanying book of an exhibition she also helped curate.
All books are available at the Gibraltar Heritage Trust Shop. Alice’s Table, is also available from the Gibraltar Chronicle office (as will Alice's Table II). The book on Elio Cruz is also available from the John Mackintosh Hall.
Priscilla Sacramento
When Priscilla was a child she had heard her mother say that she would write a novel. She died young and never wrote her novel, and that prompted Priscilla to decide that she would write a novel - at some point in her life! But it was not until she had retired from her career as a teacher and education adviser that she made time to write her novel. She is now writing her second novel.
‘nvisible Threads’ received many good reviews. Pacific Book Review by S. Marie Vernon describes it as “a love story that begins a generation before that of María Jesús and the love of her life, Pepe. Their forbidden love is so strong it will not be denied. It sets in motion a secret that will be carried to future generations before it can be solved. The tale spans the entire twentieth century and is centred in the regions of Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco where the Roman Catholic, Christian and Islamic religions are as strong as they are different .... At the deepest level Invisible Threads is a story about women’s issues, the diversity of people, changing times, and as Priscilla Sacramento beautifully describes, ‘the collective striving of the human species.’”
Many readers have remarked that once they started reading it, they could not put the book down until they had finished!
Invisible Threads is available at the Heritage Shop in Mackintosh Square, or by contacting Pricilla via Facebook, Messenger or telephone (+350 200 72482 or +350 54002840).
Henry Valerga
Enriquito - A Boy From Red Sands
“A book to make you feel at home!”
Henry’s artistic influence stems from the musical revolution of the 1960’s. He is a veteran singer/musician, as well as lyric-writer, arranger and composer of music.
Now in the autumn of his musical career, he has cast a look back over his chequered youth and decided to share his vast experience in music and also in life; experiences which are exciting, revealing, surprising, sometimes frustrating and at times depressing, but always enriching and full of interest.
With A Boy From Red Sands, Henry makes his debut as an author. This is a wide compendium of anecdotes, happenings, episodes, and encounters through which he provides a clear account of his first twenty-one years. It is also a slice of social, local history covering the 50’s and the 60’s written by a lad who grew up in ‘Los Humphrey’s’ and how he wallowed in the lap of glorious luxury and contentment, all the way up Red Sands Road. Within this collection of memories, relevant visual imagery and telling illustrations, lie some of the many stories that go to make up the real story of Gibraltar. It is his contribution to the growing body of Gibraltarian literature, which tells our story, through the stories told by our people.
Sir Joe Bossano, who introduced it at its launch quoted in his speech, that "what Henry has achieved in his book is part of our culture, our way of life and our identity as Gibraltarians. It is a delightful and often extraordinarily amusing, entertaining, and at times, deeply moving read, and wherever in this world Gibraltarians may happen to find themselves, when they read this book, they will feel at home!"
Copies can be purchased for £20 directly from Henry via email, telephone or by messaging him via Facebook: henryvalerga@gmail.com / +350 20043575, +350 54023663. Copies can also be purchased from gibraltarheritagetrust.org
Therese Caruana
Therese is a resident in Gibraltar who is active in both her writing and her finance career. Many say her jobs are like chalk and cheese.
After excelling in her university eduction, she looked for work in Great Britain and found opportunities in Gibraltar. She briefly relocated to live near Marble Arch in London, but quickly realised the work/life balance shifted to eighteen hours of working and commuting with no time to spare for creativity and personal development. In 2007 she relocated back to Gibraltar where the diverse cultures were a large source of inspiration.
Having always been a free spirit at heart, her dream had always been to write fantasy novels where she could have the opportunity to travel and manage her own working hours around family and activities. She also wanted to continue her career in the finance sector which she has done successfully and is now working as self-employed acting as a Finance Director for a private equity investment firm.
Apart from being a full-time worker, student and a mother of a toddler, Therese managed to publish her first fantasy novel Symmetry in February 2014. She has since written five sequels to Symmetry in the Eternal Quest Breaker Series and subsequently wrote The Prophesied Sorcerer Series, The Wolf Fae, The Arakzeon City and started on a novella series about a feisty half-witch/half vampire, Drakella. She has planned to launch more Romantic Fantasy books in the coming years and has also worked on two collaborative projects in the anthologies The Prophecy of Magic and Kisses and Curses. In 2018, Therese wanted to inspire her daughter to write and has commenced her journey down the route of also creating children’s books containing illustrations by her daughter.
You can find out more about Therese on her website https://www.tmcaruana.com and her Facebook page ‘Author Therese Caruana’ and can purchase her books via Amazon!