Ask the Author: Edgar Cantero
Answered Questions (27)
Edgar Cantero
Hi Carly. I get this question a lot, but now I do have an interesting answer: last year I pitched and wrote out the first forty pages of a follow-up to Meddling Kids, and Doubleday responded that they were not interested in a sequel. ¯\_(�)_/¯ Sadly I hear it's difficult to sell a sequel to publishers other than those of the original, so I had to store away that project to focus on something with better chances.
Edgar Cantero
Hi, and thank you for hanging on!
I have never stopped writing new material, including new novels; I just encountered tremendous obstacles to publish again. In a month I'll be launching a new novel in Catalan, RÃ dio Free Camaco, my first published work in six years, and I have not given up on English either: I completed another manuscript last month.
You can follow my personal blog ( punkahoy.blogspot.com ) for updates on what I'm working on. You'll see I haven't stopped trying since This Body's, and I'm not planning to stop any time soon.
I have never stopped writing new material, including new novels; I just encountered tremendous obstacles to publish again. In a month I'll be launching a new novel in Catalan, RÃ dio Free Camaco, my first published work in six years, and I have not given up on English either: I completed another manuscript last month.
You can follow my personal blog ( punkahoy.blogspot.com ) for updates on what I'm working on. You'll see I haven't stopped trying since This Body's, and I'm not planning to stop any time soon.
Edgar Cantero
Hi Montzalee. Glad you enjoyed A.Z.'s romp. Sadly I don't see any new Kimrean books in the near future. There is a *slightly* bigger chance you'll get to see Kimrean on a different medium though. :)
Edgar Cantero
Hi, Melinda! I don't think I'll write a new novel with Andy or Kerri (they deserve a good rest after their last case), but do not lose hope. There might be new adventures for the Blyton Summer Detective Club beyond books. Thanks for reading!
Edgar Cantero
Hello. It's unlikely Vallvi will be translated to any language. First of all, it's an old book and I wouldn't feel comfortable if it resurfaced without me having a chance to fix it first, maybe even to rewrite it. Second, I don't think it'd be too interesting for foreign audiences to begin with. The geography, the backstory, and many of the characters belong to Catalonia; to outsiders, the context is not familiar enough. I prefer to leave that book behind in the hazy past and to keep telling myself it was really funny. Thanks for the interest though.
Edgar Cantero
Hello. We might see more of them. It depends, among other things, on the performance of this first novel. Thanks for reading!
Edgar Cantero
Hi, Adam. If I'm not mistaken (I moved, so I don't have the album with me), Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables opens with "Kill the Poor"? Well, that's the one. Thanks for reading!
Edgar Cantero
Hola, Santiago. Meddling Kids estará en español en 2019, de la mano de la editorial Insólita. ¡Saludos!
Edgar Cantero
Hello, Jason. Thank you for such support! I doubt you'll see my Catalan novels translated. Even if a publisher were interested, Dormir amb Winona Ryder is over 10 years old, Vallvi is almost 7, and I might feel more embarrassed than proud if I reread them. I do have very fond memories of Vallvi and I'm certainly NOT over Winona Ryder at all, but I can write much better today. I'd rather spend time producing new material than rewriting what already had its chance. Hope you enjoy the rest of MK!
Edgar Cantero
Hi, Shannon. So glad you're interested! I do make appearances, but I don't manage that myself. You have to contact the publisher of the book you're interested in (Doubleday - Penguin Random House) and they will address you to the publicity department, who will inform you about availability, rates, etc. Thanks!
Edgar Cantero
Message received, messengee flattered. :) Thanks a lot!
Edgar Cantero
Hi, GJ. Neither of my two novels in Catalan has been translated. The first one, Dormir amb Winona Ryder, doesn't live up to my standards anymore, so I wouldn't publish it again. The second, Vallvi, I'm still fond of, but it had a distinct Barcelonan flavor that might not translate well to another language. Maybe a publisher someday thinks otherwise.
My only piece of Catalan writing that's ever been translated is a short story featured in Best European Fiction 2016. Thanks for the interest!
My only piece of Catalan writing that's ever been translated is a short story featured in Best European Fiction 2016. Thanks for the interest!
Edgar Cantero
Oh yes. At least one. Starring the character from Meddling Kids you least imagine. :)
Edgar Cantero
This answer contains spoilers�
(view spoiler)
Edgar Cantero
Hello! Thanks for giving TSE a chance. Answering your questions: 1. No, the role of Host is permanent, but Leonidas is an assignment; they draw lots each year. 2. I guess it's not compulsory to travel: most years, a member doesn't get as far as to choose a country. On the other hand, in some circumstances you might identify somebody from home. See you in question #3!
Edgar Cantero
Hello! I allowed this question to cool down for a few days so you could finish the book and see if you're still eager for more. :D There are ideas for several loose sequels to TSE, but I haven't started writing any. My editors at Doubleday are the ones who pick which of my projects I should develop, one at a time, and so far they've always gone for non-Eye-related ones, such as Meddling Kids, and the one after that, which is well beyond the draft stage now. I'm not closing the door to a TSE series, but there's so many other doors I want to open. Thank you so much for your kind words, and I really hope you like whatever comes next.
Edgar Cantero
Well, thank you very much. :) Does July 2017 sound right?
Edgar Cantero
Hi, Eoin. I am a big fan of Poe, but I am not sure how much I knowingly borrowed from him while writing TSE—especially from "Usher", which I haven't reread in a long time. But sure, they both share a few cliches. The most obvious would be the haunted house, often humanized by the narrator in description, so as to turn it into a distinct character. Another would be the cursed family: both Roderick and Ambrose Wells were ill because of a history of illness in the family. Both are aware of it, and yet they cannot prevent their doom; their death is in some way a self-fulfilled prophecy.
I hope this helps; I know I'm just scratching the surface here, but feel free to e-mail me if you have any follow-up questions. Regarding sequels, there's ideas for them, but I'll only write them if TSE proves popular enough. Thanks for reading it.
I hope this helps; I know I'm just scratching the surface here, but feel free to e-mail me if you have any follow-up questions. Regarding sequels, there's ideas for them, but I'll only write them if TSE proves popular enough. Thanks for reading it.
Edgar Cantero
Hello, M. Translations of my work in Catalan may happen eventually if a publisher is interested, but they're definitely not my priority. For one, I'd rather spend time creating new material. Also (and I think this is a common problem), the older the material gets, the more disaffected I grow with it and the less inclined I am to show it to new people. Not many of those stories make me think today, "Wow, I wish this had reached more readers." I recommend that you look ahead instead; better stuff is yet to come. Thanks for your interest though. :)
Edgar Cantero
Hello, Miriam. I am not aware of a Borellus-Zelazny connection. That excerpt in pp. 261-2 tried to emulate the kind of overpopulated paragraph on hard-to-verify history that I enjoy reading in J.L. Borges' stories, with too many names that ring a bell and titles that *seem* to belong there. That's why the author of that excerpt is named Burgess. Borellus' appearance was most likely a reference to Lovecraft, who also mentioned Borellus (and used fake quotes) for flavor and verisimilitude in his own work. The quotes in that excerpt are all made up. I promise you that researching too much is not one of my flaws.
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Apr 10, 2024 12:26PM · flag
Apr 10, 2024 12:26PM · flag
Can't wait to read ...more
Apr 10, 2024 12:59PM · flag