Tenerife Noir Spotlights Canary Women Crime Authors for Women's Day

The Tenerife Noir festival will host a special discussion about the role of women writers from the Canary Islands in crime fiction. This event is part of the celebrations for International Women's Day on Sunday, March 8. Organizers say the goal is to shine a light on female authors in crime and mystery novels. This genre has changed a lot, now including new viewpoints on violence, memory, and social issues.

The discussion, called ‘Islands in Black: Crime and Female Writing from the Canary Islands’, will be held at the CajaCanarias Cultural Space auditorium in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It starts at 12:45 PM. Entry is free, but space is limited.

Four authors will join the panel. María del Mar Rodríguez Pérez will talk about ‘La viuda blanca’ (The White Widow), published by Baile del Sol. This book is the final part of her trilogy, ‘Relatos de unas islas desamparadas’ (Tales of Forsaken Islands). It looks at "white widows"—women on the islands who are defined by absence and silence—with a story set between La Palma and Tenerife. Ángela Pinacho will discuss her first novel, ‘Los Llanos de Troya’ (The Plains of Troy), from Real Noir. Her book explores the less-seen parts of southern Tenerife, where tourism and tough realities of survival and poverty exist side-by-side. Laura Delgado will share insights into her romantic thriller, ‘Cuando el cielo era azul’ (When the Sky Was Blue), published by LXL. Lastly, Elena Villares will introduce ‘El juego de la justicia’ (The Game of Justice), her third novel from Mercurio, which features a legal mystery spanning the Canary Islands and Gijón. The discussion will be led by journalist and literary critic Eduardo García Rojas.

Before the main discussion, a short video will be shown. It will feature excerpts from Anne Frank's diary, along with images from World War II Europe and civil rights movements, like the Minneapolis protests. This aims to encourage thought about memory, resistance, and women's voices when facing violence and unfairness.

This event is designed as a space for discussion and analysis, led by women who write crime fiction in the Canary Islands. It offers a chance to explore the creative process from a female point of view, in a genre where women's involvement has greatly increased. The 11th Tenerife Noir festival encourages critical thinking, seeing crime fiction as a rich cultural form that goes beyond just books and can influence many different areas.

The festival receives support from several organizations, including the Ministry of Culture, the Canary Islands Government (through its General Directorate of Cultural Innovation and Creative Industries), the Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo de Tenerife), Turismo de Tenerife, and the city councils of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Additional partners include the University of La Laguna, the CajaCanarias Foundation, the DISA Foundation, and Volcanic Xperience. DS Automobiles is the official vehicle sponsor.