The Voice is already receiving the first micro-stories that will compete in the 13th edition of this literary contest. On this occasion, the contest pays tribute to the Canarian writer Alexis Ravelo, who died on January 30. As in previous editions, the maximum length of the stories will have to be 100 words, including the title if there is one.
Once again, the Tourist Centers will collaborate with the contest, whose participation period will extend until August 31.
Likewise, all the stories will have the same title: "A character loses his author" and the same beginning: "Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51..."
From this beginning, the participants must imagine the reaction of Eladio Monroy, the protagonist of the six novels in the series dedicated to the adventures of this character, upon learning of the death of his creator.
Each author may send a maximum of five stories, which may be signed with a pseudonym, although they must always indicate a name and a contact telephone number. All those who wish to participate can send their stories to concursorelatos@lanzarotemedia.net.
The stories will be read in the "Reading on the Radio" space of Radio Lanzarote (90.7), and published in La Voz de Lanzarote. Both the publication and the reading will be subject to the space and time availability of both media.
The decision of the contest, which will be made public in the second half of September, will be made by a jury made up of journalists from Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero and La Voz de Lanzarote, who will choose three winning stories and seven finalists.
The winner of the first prize will get a dinner for two at the restaurant of the Castillo de San José, while the second prize is one of the unusual experiences for two people from the Centers of Art, Culture and Tourism of the Cabildo de Lanzarote. Finally, the third prize is a lunch for two at the restaurant of the Monumento al Campesino. All prizes are for adults.
A character loses his author.
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: "Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51..."
His cortado was getting cold, his eyes were filling with tears and he panicked. "I'm dead too!"
He became aware of what his existence had always been, linked to the desires of his
creator.
Eladio paid for the cortado and left the bar crestfallen.
One day, a student decides to participate in a series of micro-stories in homage to Alexis Ravelo and begins to read the Eladio series. Monroy comes back to life and is aware that when someone reads his books, he will live again and in a different way according to the imagination of each reader.
A character loses his author.
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: "Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51..."
Eladio pushed the cortado away. He had lost his desire for it.
With deep sadness, he saw his life pass through the books. Suddenly, he could not reach the brilliant world of ideas from where he had been created. His world, increasingly distant, was closed and dark.
He didn't know what was happening to him.
He felt dizzy, his vision was blurred, he had trouble breathing. He was drowning.
Suddenly, a smiling Alexis Ravelo held out his hand and hugged him like a son.
"Where are we going?" Eladio said, between grateful and relieved. "Wherever the readers take us," Alexis replied.
A character loses his creator.
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: "Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51..."
Eladio paled as he drank his coffee. He remembered his birth in the imagination of a self-made writer. All the moments of his life outlined by the pen of his creator, his first breath of life eager for letters, his heart made of paper and ink. His impatient waits between one book and another.
He was a character who existed in the eyes of a writer and his readers, he reflected. And
every time someone reads his books, I will be linked to his immortality as an author and to the
fantasy of his readers.
A character loses his creator
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: "Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51..."
Gosh, he thought, I'm right, I can see it again that when people leave us very soon. I have observed how they have lived their lives with great intensity, it is as if they knew they had to give their all, also without imagining that their time on this planet is limited. But their works are not orphaned, quite the contrary, society makes them its own, and they begin to take life in our environment, all of us ending up benefiting from them, as an example of what I think we have our unforgettable César Manrique, his work is visible and a globalized feeling.
A character loses his author,
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
After the shock caused by the dire news, Eladio continued browsing the newspaper in search of some pleasant event that could alleviate a little the deep sorrow he felt.
Despite knowing that this was an almost impossible task, he did not give up...
However, then, as in his life... beyond, on the horizon, there were only
blank pages...
"A character loses his author"
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news. Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
His large body slumped on the galvanized sheet metal table, as he slapped it loudly.
Immediately, a sepulchral silence took over the place.
He got into his Fiat 124 and headed for the Schamann area. He drove, crying and remembering all the adventures he had lived through. He stopped at Cuatro Cañones, where the entire area of the Port of Las Palmas de G.C. can be seen.
He got out of the vehicle and just then an SUV passed by and ran him over.
The driver got out, smiled and said to him - up to here.
"A character loses his author"
"Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51..."
Suddenly the clouds presaged a storm, in the darkness of the sky, a shadow could be seen. It began to rain cats and dogs, it had been a long time since it had rained so hard in the Canary Islands. In the darkness, shouts could be heard: no, it can't be, Agustín said!
Alexis couldn't have died, he described my character in his novel The Forbidden Miracles like no one else could have. How unfair life is, so full of life, so young. Surely, there will be a place in heaven and he will keep us company. He will continue to tell us stories. No, he hasn't died.
A character loses his author.
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: "Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51..."
Dear Alexis, for you, for me, my ego tells me.
A tribute to the author and the character, his figure and plaque anchored in the ground will remain and will be seen every day.
The works that sprang from his heart to his mind and from there to his hands that gave them life will endure.
A character loses his author
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a
cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
That same day, at the same time, on the other side of the Universe, Alexis Ravelo entered
the Reflection of Casablanca bar (acnalbasaC, in the local dialect), ordered a newspaper and, as every morning from then on, sat down to read the coffee grounds. He needed
several cups, and a mirror, to complete the day's news: "Eladio Monroy, retired sailor, has died. He was not a policeman, nor a detective, not even a writer. And, although he was a tough guy, he was a good person. We all loved him and went to him when we needed help. One of our own has left us."
A character loses his author
"Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51..."
A chill ran down his spine, what would happen now? He felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. It was Casimiro who looked at him sadly as he handed him a brown envelope.
"Someone left this for you at the counter."
It would be some small job like so many others, but what did it matter? At any moment the world, without an author, would disappear and... Then he saw the sender: Alexis Ravelo.
He tore open the envelope. Papers fell out from inside. There were only letters on the first one and Monroy read like someone devouring a masterpiece: "Now you will write your own chapters, Eladio."
A character loses his author
Eladio Montoy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51 ...
I had a feeling it would be like this. Good people leave without saying goodbye. Now I'll have to improvise. Alexis was better at it. As he let his coffee cool, between the heat of the day and the bustle of the crowd, he wondered what everything would be like from now on. I was never too bad at it. Traveling to places without direction and falling in love with whoever I wanted. And the most real thing, dying without a destination. Life should be lived without any scruples. But Ravelo had already planned it this way. He would leave without warning.
and, Alexis, now what???
A character loses his author J
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
He didn't have much time left and he had to act fast so he came up with the contest idea.
The idea of a handful of "wordsmiths" playing with his name without having a clue didn't appeal to him, but at least, he thought, taking a sip of coffee, he could keep going until the end of August.
"A character loses his author",
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper, on the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
That revelation hit him like a slap in the face, violent and unexpected. He reread the chronicle, it couldn't be right now that his author had foreseen that he should meet Eleonora Ribes, who would eventually become his future wife and mother of his children. Behind him, leaning on the bar, a woman ordered a black coffee, no sugar, that conveyed sweetness to him. On her wrist she wore a bracelet with her initials engraved E.R. Eladio got up, ordered two glasses of pear liqueur, and left the rest in the hands of fate.
"A character loses his author"
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
I was about to cry when I felt as if he put his hand on my shoulder. It's the first time I've felt that. He was never intimate, physical or sensitive. Neither was I. I had lost everything. I only had him and now I'm alone, with the company of my shadow and some other entities that lived in the office we shared.
"A character loses his author"
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
How did I now find solutions to the problems in my life that I was too scared to do anything about? I could ignore the world! Of course, that kind of thing, Alexis would write! Suddenly I felt a weight lift off my shoulders just thinking about it. It was as if Alexis's thoughts scared my problems away. This made it seem like a good idea after all.
"A character loses his author"
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a
cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: "Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of
51..."
Well, my dear friend, well! Everything is going according to plan, even the news is already out in the newspaper, they bought it! On the agreed day, I will meet you at the place we agreed that afternoon, while we savored a chopped sandwich and a cold beer. There we will start our adventures again but with a different identity. I hope this time you have chosen a villain role for me, or maybe a conqueror, I don't know...you're the boss.
Everyone here is mourning you, I actually feel a little sorry for them, anyway...
it's collateral damage
See you soon!
"A character loses his author".
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51"...
He settled into the stool, began to read, his attention dulled by emotions that were not his own, that were there, already written, unleashed now by the death of his friend, he let himself be carried away. Alexis embodied the ideal of male beauty, with his sculpted face and nascent wrinkles, his premature alopecia never corrected or attenuated with unworthy procedures imported from Turkey. At 44 he gave up his pretension of being James Bond, because he felt too old and conventional for the role. And now he has died, as a last resort, so as not to grow old.
"A character loses his author".
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51"...
He continued reading, but only in appearance, Eladio thought, he knew that his friend would have preferred to be always young, his soul mate would use any method to disguise the ravages caused by the three horsemen of the biological apocalypse: jowls, baldness and wrinkles. Even optical illusions that mask flaccidity, such as fake chest shirts or so-called booty pants, trousers that enhance the buttocks. Alexis never skimped on his own image, he liked to be liked.
"Dying young was part of your lifestyle, my friend," he said aloud. To be heard by the other customers, who silently approved his words.
"A character loses his author"
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
He ran to the Funeral Home
"Alexis Ravelo's room?"
"25!"
He saw him behind the glass.
"You'll end, Eladio, when I vanish, or the ink runs out" -he remembered his last words.
He walked towards the elevator.
It wasn't working.
He ran to the stairs to get out.
Around him, beams falling on the tiles, walls cracking. The collapsing floor revealed an infinite darkness beneath his feet.
"A character loses his author"
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
You were my creator. I will love the being you were. We lived different lives but connected beyond what words can explain. I knew I would cease to exist when you did. The pain, I doubt it will completely.
I will open that window. Not for the air to rush in. But for your imagination to rush into the air.
"A character loses his author"
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He ordered a cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
Let's be honest Alexis, sometimes couples die. Everything dies. There will be no seventh novel. I would like to start writing a letter. Especially if it is of this kind, it hurts and relieves. As the end of this letter approaches, I can't help but feel a full stop. I have the rope right here in my hand, I think it's time to use it.
