Ana Merino’s name has been at the forefront thanks to her prolific output in poetry until the release of her novel El Mapa de los Afectos which earned her the most recent Nadal award. The story delves into the daily mysteries of a small rural community. A member of the Generación Poética del 2000 she has garnered prestigious awards such as the Adonais (Preparativos para un viaje), the Fray Luis de Léon (Juegos de niños) and has been a runner up for the Gil de Biedma (Curación). She obtained a PhD in Latin American and Spanish Literature from the University of Pittsburgh with a thesis on comic books in Latin America. She established the Master of Fine Arts in Spanish Creative Writing programme at the University of Iowa where she’s a professor.

The Colombian wordsmith Ángela Becerra has received critical acclaim for her creative output, whether in advertising, in which she worked until 2000, or as a writer to which she dedicates all of her time now, except for the occasional foray into drawing, painting or playwriting. Her literary work falls in the realm of magic idealism. As a novelist, she has just been awarded the Fernando Lara award for Algún día, hoy. She explores the life of Betsabé Espinal who at the age of 23 became the heroine of one of the first feminist strikes in history. Other celebrated works include Ella que todo lo tuvo (Planeta-Casa de América Award), El penúltimo sueño (Azorín prize) or Alma abierta.

Ana Merino and Ángela Becerra talk with the journalist Jesús Vigorra, director and presenter of Canal Sur Radio’s Las mañanas programme.

Ana Merino’s photography: © Xavier Torres Baccheta, courtesy of Grupo Planeta

Ángela Becerra’s photography: © Arduino Vannucchi, courtesy of Grupo Planeta

Jesús Vigorra’s photography: courtesy of Grupo Planeta