La Voz is already receiving the first short stories that will compete in the XIII 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 must 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.
Also, 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: The writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51..."
From this beginning, participants must imagine the reaction of Eladio Monroy, 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" section of Radio Lanzarote (90.7), and published in La Voz de Lanzarote. Both publication and reading will be subject to the availability of space and time 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 formed by 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 Art, Culture and Tourism Centers 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 cortao and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: The writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51..."
I can't believe it and I thought that when this moment came I would feel an enormous pleasure, and I would say to myself, great one less, but no, right now I am in an internal struggle with my demons, for years we were great rivals, colleagues? And now I have mixed feelings, I wonder if she is there, accompanying him, will she want to see me? Damn, Alexis, couldn't you have left in a more discreet way?
"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: The writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
The cup stopped halfway shows the impact. -Don't screw me Ravelo, how do you do this to me? Now that I have the anarchist baker issue in my hands. He puts the cup down with such force that a coffee stain erases "has died" -I warn you, I'm going to continue without you. He needs to smoke. While he inhales the smoke he meditates Who would think of dying so young and with so much to say?
"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: The writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
He reads with an astonished look while waiting for the coffee. The outside drizzle dampens his soul. He runs his hand over his bald head.
-Who is going to question me from now on? Here ends our friend's story. The sleepless nights and the unease are over. He will warn Gloria, they can't miss the funeral or whatever the hell is done... Before disappearing forever.
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: The writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
He headed dejectedly towards his house. The sensation he felt minutes later when he looked out on the balcony was one of vertigo. But he knew that he had no choice but to do it. Soon everything would be over. He leaned on the railing. He had to be brave. To top it off, his ex, Ana María, always told him that he was no longer needed at home.
He filled his lungs and sighed deeply. It's over. He dipped the brush and applied it to the bars. After all, if he didn't look down, the painting work helped him not to think about Ravelo.
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: The writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
I understood that if Alexis had died my existence had no meaning.
-Eladio, don't be scared, I'm already disembodied, but I'm still alive.
-What happened?
-My heart chose an early end point, but I will return in other forms. And you
with me.
Cheer up man, I'll let you choose your next character.
-I don't care, well, to have hair.
-Hahaha. I'll write it down.
And I began to fade, to erase myself without pain. Converted into Alexis' ink heart, my Alexis, integrated me into his essence.
Everything is fine, I'm back home.
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: The writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
He dropped the newspaper in disbelief and a deep sadness invaded him. He looked for Yersey. She was at another table with her hands covering her face: she had also read it. Both knew that their story, that of so many marginalized people, the fight against corruption, their most intimate writings or their impossible love were shown thanks to Ravelo.
They merged into an embrace and she commented:
- What he wrote remained forever... it is his legacy.
Eladio, nodded his head, but was assisted by anguish: he knew that he had many things left in his pen to say.
A character loses his author
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He asked for a
cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: The writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
"But we were chatting all night about future projects... He looked so
excited..."
Eladio took a sip of the coffee which, suddenly and surprisingly, tasted like nothing.
"I can't believe it... This must be a nightmare..."
Suddenly he began to perceive the environment blurry, turbid... As after a thick
fog...
Everything seemed so far away now... As in slow motion the cup faded
of coffee between his fingers, and then his hands, his arms... And everything turned black...
"Thank God... It's just a bad dream... But... Who the hell is dreaming me!?"
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: The writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
He covered his face. The coffee seems to be looking at him. A loud and mournful cry came from within. Bea died the same day as Alexis. Eladio had followed very closely the adventures of this girl, the protagonist of Alexis' first two books. With them both, he felt that he too was dying.
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: The writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
"Wow... I don't even know what to say. I can't find words to express what I feel..."
"I don't know what..."
"I can't find..."
"..."
A character loses his author
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He asked for a
cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: The writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
"Damn it! I knew it. This day had to come. How many times have I told him? Don't hang out with bad company. Those little characters you frequent are very dangerous.
Let me be the one to deal with them. I know how to handle them well."
Eladio continued reading and realized that the death of his "friend" had been due to heart failure.
"It also makes sense. Alexis had a heart that wouldn't fit in his chest."
" A character loses his author
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He asked for a
cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: " Has died
at the age of 51 the writer Alexis Ravelo..."
He jumped so hard that the spoon fell to the ground, and the freshly sipped sip of coffee flew towards the waiter's jacket, who, red with rage, shook himself vigorously without understanding.
That steely temper of Eladio, forged in so many storms lived on the high seas, softened before the impact of such news. Watery eyes and a lump in his throat prevented him from continuing to read. Coat in hand, confused and scared, he left the bar without saying a word, heading down the street, aimlessly, while those two heartbreaking words echoed furiously in his head: "has died, has died..."
A character loses his author
Eladio Monroy entered, as almost always, at twelve, in the Casablanca bar. He asked for a
cortado and sat down to read the newspaper. On the cover was the news: Has died at the
51 years old writer Alexis Ravelo...
Leaving the following script unfinished:
A computer scientist aspiring to the Nobel Prize lost to Dalila, the artificial intelligence also proposed that helped him win the lottery.
The envious took revenge by favoring Dalila, who increased her merits and falsified his.
Soon they found a corpse at the foot of the leaning tower of Pisa that they were trying
to straighten using Dalila's calculations.
