Almansa has witnessed an emotional and crowded presentation of the novel «La Mala Hija,» by local writer Pedro Martí. The event, held at the Teatro Principal, was attended by a large audience, demonstrating the interest and support of the community towards their fellow citizen. The day, presented by Almansa’s film director Mario Hernández, began with the author himself expressing his gratitude for the warm reception.
«I still can’t believe it. Today, beautiful things have happened. They send me pictures of bookstores from all over Spain with the book. It’s a leap in my career and it’s very exciting, but I wanted the first day to be here, in my homeland,» Martí said visibly moved.
The novel, set in Almansa, tells the story of the disappearance of Belén Villalba, a 16-year-old girl and daughter of a prominent shoe businessman. The plot revolves around numerous characters and poses a mystery in which everyone seems to be a suspect. «I wanted to write my own ‘Twin Peaks’ or ‘Monteperdido’ in Almansa, because I believe the setting is perfectly suited for this type of stories,» explained the author.
Published by the prestigious editorial Destino, «La Mala Hija» represents a significant advancement in Martí’s career, who expressed gratitude and surprise for the qualitative and quantitative leap this publication represents. «Being in Destino is a dream come true. It is an editorial where great authors have been published, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of it,» he stated.
On her part, the Mayor of Almansa, Pilar Callado, emphasized the importance of supporting local talent. «It is a pride that Pedro wanted to present his novel in our city. Just by listening to him talk about the plot, it makes you want to start reading it this very night,» she affirmed. She also encouraged the people of Almansa to acquire the book, not only because of the connection with the author but because «it’s a great novel that promises to captivate from the very first page.»