La Voz continues to receive micro-stories that will compete in the XIII edition of this literary contest. This time, 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 submit a maximum of five stories, which may be signed with a pseudonym, although they must always indicate a name and 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 Castillo de San José restaurant, 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 meal for two people in the restaurant of the Farmer's Monument. 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: The writer Alexis Ravelo has died at the age of 51...
-I get up early and my only hardship is deciding whether I prefer coffee with or without sugar. Today I need it, I'm a little tired.
For me, I wouldn't be any older than I already am, nor would I grow old. I would sit, around dusk, in my comfortable armchair, with the light of the table lamp and a glass of wine,... that's how you read a good book. I would retain in my exhausted pupils the lines...
-Who are you?- Eladio asks annoyed.- You've sneaked into my story.
-I'm so sorry, sir.
-Forgive my tone, madam.
-Miss...
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...
Overwhelmed, he thought, well, I'll have to go to the writer's funeral. It's what you have to do when there's a dead person. Even though a tough guy like me isn't grieving, it's all been so fast. At the worst time, because I already liked being that "black market detective". Now I'll continue to be the navy pensioner of little value. What a future for 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 felt like he was drowning, he raised his head to get air and saw Pepe Carvallo at the back table smiling reassuringly at him, he tried to get up but his strength failed him, then he felt a firm hand on his shoulder, it was Javier Falcón whispering to him "calm down Eladio, we were waiting for you, you are not alone, Ravelo warned us" it seemed like a bad dream!. He looked towards the bar and recognized the ruthless Rogelio Tizón in the waiter. They were all there!
He understood that Alexis had left, but that his place was there, surrounded by the best hounds, solving cases for Alexis' readers. It would be his best tribute.
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...
and he could no longer continue...just him, the bad guy of the moment, who had let his hair grow, had changed his appearance, even erasing his classic tattoo, had changed his vision with respect to the LGTBI movement, to women, to abortion... he had just lost his mentor. No one knew how, but when the waiter went to charge him as usual, the glass of cortado only retained the coffee grounds, on the chair he had occupied moments before, scattered...ashes and the same clothes he had entered with, arranged in a disorderly manner, very close to that table he occupied for the last time.
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 coffee stayed cold in the cup, with glassy eyes and his gaze fixed on the headline he murmured between his teeth, "I told you, make me a magician or a genius, and you won't regret it" but you only made me a sailor pensioner, now you, Father... assimilate your mistake.
And he let the tears run from his eyes.
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...
Eladio reread the news, if Alexis had died he would have to find another author. But Alexis was his alter ego, they had shared mysteries and solved murders, and they had fallen in love with the same redhead a la Barbara Stanwyck, the one who made fun of
both of them predicting an early death for Alexis...like his characters.
A character loses his author
He thought about his orphanhood, that he would have to warn Rick and Ilsa of the loss. He had never spoken to the charismatic Rick; Alexis would not have allowed it.
Now Eladio would take revenge on the author, he would run to Rick to tell him that this time he would stay with the girl. He knew that Alexis hated that ending.
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...
Squinting his eyes, he read the article carefully. "So, now an orphan...good turn of events, yes sir, although, to be honest, not very original, I'll tell you that, just like this damn presbyopia, it's normal at my age. In fact, I'm so old that it was about time I flew solo to finally do whatever I want." Alexis had done a good job, that attitude of apparent coldness was an imprint of the house. In his honor, and to celebrate, he would buy bread, chopped meat and liters of beer...as if there were no tomorrow.
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 couldn't believe it. First he was scared, suddenly he stood up and spilled the coffee. Then, he got angry, but not because of the coffee, but because of the news, he clenched his fists and jaw and cursed the sky. Finally, an immense sorrow completely overwhelmed him and he could not hide two thick tears that clouded his story.
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 understood what that implied. He always knew it, the moment had arrived, but he didn't think it would be so soon, so fast. He looked at his hands and could clearly perceive how they were fading away. The end had arrived, it was cruel but it didn't hurt. He saw the light and he saw the tunnel and he saw Him, waiting for him.
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...
Eladio, reread with black tears.
Someone approached him with a liter of beer in his hand.
Damn, Fradejas! Have you been released from prison?
There was no conclusive evidence... - he articulated, taking a sip -
You'll see... -he continued. -I know you'll wonder what will become of you from now on- Or, why
why haven't you disappeared? Actually, Alexis Ravelo was your Creator, but I was the one who wrote all the novels in which you appeared.
You have deceived us all!!! -Eladio exclaimed.
Cold mind, warm heart! Alexis was your Creator, I was the Writer and above all is God!
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...
Eladio muttered a word that he retained between his repressed lips. He left the money on the table to pay for the coffee. The waiter, disconcerted to see the big bill, was going to ask him to come back for the change, but the man had crossed the door. Outside it was raining. Then he cried, without anyone noticing that tears were running down his face.
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...
I couldn't help but remember.... "we'll always have Paris"... and when a body dies, it happens that same night in which its soul detaches and returns to where everything is energy.
There I was, waiting for that moment. Just seeing this process... made me, Eladio Monroy... start a new life. Energy... Paris awaits 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...
-Oh master, it's only a matter of time before some "smart aleck" has the
happy idea, to pay tribute to you I suppose, that anyone with a little imagination can get into my skin, I will go from being the "tender" heartthrob of your novels, to fluctuating between hundreds of short stories. At the end of the day I will end up exhausted, yes, if someone has the idea of bringing me a coffee, I will beat him to death. Although I will give everything for well employed if we manage, wherever you are, to entertain you for a while, as you did.
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 newspaper listed the author's novels and described Monroy's main features. He nodded almost imperceptibly as he recognized himself in almost all of them, feeling a certain blush when reading the mention of his modus vivendi, always swimming in the murky waters of the underground economy.
Eladio told himself that, unlike his human creators, fictional characters are immortal. And with his proverbial temperance, he prepared to enjoy one more day of his eternal life. It would surely be more entertaining than that of Guk, the unfortunate camel in the story of his admired Cortázar.
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...
"It must be a dream because we were together yesterday," he thought to himself. Without a word, he left the cortado, left the bar and entered the sea. He took advantage of a wave, wrapped himself in it and went with it. It was difficult to overcome the death of his great friend and brother.