Ángela Banzas Presents Planeta Finalist *Cuando el viento hable*

Ángela Banzas, born in Santiago de Compostela in 1982, recently presented her novel Cuando el viento hable. This book made her a finalist for the 2025 Planeta Prize, and its presentation offered a chance to understand her writing style and creative process. The event took place last Wednesday at the El Sauzal Theater in Tenerife. Juan del Val, who won the same prize with his novel Vera, was also there. According to DIARIO DE AVISOS, Banzas used the opportunity to explain what inspired her story, which explores how imagination helps us face tough times and how love can be a final hope.

Banzas' novel is set in post-war Spain, seen through the eyes of its main character, Sofía. During these "grey times" of forced silence, books become a vital escape for Sofía. Reading works like Marcus Aurelius's Meditations and Alice in Wonderland doesn't just offer an escape; it also builds her character. These stories give her a strong, resilient spirit and the power to use her imagination to rise above her reality. By telling the story from a child's point of view, the novel shows how Sofía deals with a world that offers no clear answers. She tries to find meaning in the quiet moments and faces the fears that held people and society back during that period.

A key part of the story is Sofía's time at the Royal Hospital of Santiago de Compostela. Banzas has said that this experience in the book reflects some of her own personal memories. The hospital, built in the 16th century, is more than just a building; it represents the era's struggles but also surprisingly becomes a source of hope. There, Sofía forms a deep friendship with Julia. They help each other: Sofía uses her imagination to bring joy and color into Julia's life, and Julia, in turn, gives Sofía a strong sense of optimism, helping her believe in a better future despite their difficult situation.

Banzas' strong connection to her homeland, Galicia, is always present in her writing. She says her novels, including Cuando el viento hable, draw from her own childhood and the feelings of the region. She aims to give readers a full sensory experience, making them feel the dampness, cold, and Atlantic mist of Santiago.

In her career, Banzas has published five novels in the past five years. This productive streak really took off after her first book, El silencio de las olas (2021), was well-received. For her, writing isn't just a job; it's a calling, a way to understand and influence the world. She structures her creative process into three "layers": the "soul," which is the main theme and the emotion she wants readers to feel; the "heart," which focuses on developing characters, something she sees as the foundation of every story; and the "skin," which involves creating suspense, intrigue, and mystery to keep modern readers hooked.

Even after the busy time of being a Planeta Prize finalist, Ángela Banzas is already deep into writing a new novel. She has many ideas and characters ready to come alive, promising more stories from her distinctive literary world.