I met my publisher as he was looking for a translator. He asked if I had ever thought of writing a novel and I said no, adding that I had already written a number of separate texts, and something else, which he read, and deemed not up to the standards of Eukalypto, because it was not a novel, or anything he could fit into any of Eukalypto’s categories. Still, he praised the quality of my writing. We had numerous phone and Zoom conversations and started discussing several matters, my opinion on some of which tilted his interest. And so he encouraged me to start writing a novel, offering to coach me through it as I had no idea how to proceed. He did, and, with infinite patience, put up with the first months of complete chaos; I just couldn’t follow the rules! It took me almost two years to finish Black Hole. Choosing the cover was an obvious choice; a photograph I had seen some twenty years earlier was stuck in my mind. So I contacted its author who, after a brief discussion about the concept behind my novel, sent me other photos he had taken, and I chose one of them that was later re-worked by a talented graphic designer. Black Hole was published a few months ago, and I still haven’t gathered enough courage to open the first page, and read it. It is normal, I am told... Anyhow, if I go back in time now, what I remember the most is focusing my attention on remembering particular details about the people who have inspired my characters, which some noticed and sometimes got very annoyed with. The second thing I remember is my sister bursting out laughing when I told her, halfway through writing Black Hole, that I was going to publish a novel (She loves it and is very proud of me, by the way).
It is all still very unreal to me; but I did it!
PUBLISHER’S NOTE:
While Hhala was translating a novel for Eukalypto, we discussed her personal writing projects. She knew she wanted to write but was still wondering what. After reading some of her work, I immediately fell in love with her style. So, we began brainstorming together about a potential subject.
Based on the intensity and the emotion she invested in her descriptions, I realized those alone could be the basis to build a captivating novel, and the idea of the story started to materialize as we discussed.
Hhala started to write this novel. She hesitated for a while on the points of view and voices needed to tell the story and eventually concluded that mixing and alternating both protagonists was necessary. Once she settled on these voices and I read them, I immediately thought of Alberto Moravia’s Contempt, which further heightened my enthusiasm.
Working with her on the architecture was quite a challenge because she often refused the necessity of a rigorous structure, but it remained enjoyable nonetheless. It also instilled in me a sense of confidence: If I could go through that with Hhala, I believed I could do it with almost anyone.
Black Hole is an intimate exploration where every detail can be analyzed, is important, or prompts contemplation. It immerses one in the intricacies of two individuals who were never a couple, leading the reader through a maze of questioning and failure without ever offering a real answer. Yet, it leaves one with a strong sense of having experienced, from deep within, someone else’s, both unstarted and unfinished, love story.
ABOUT THE COVER:
As soon as we spoke with the author about the cover, she knew she wanted to use a specific artistic photograph taken by one of her friends.
The author’s friend gave us permission, and we then shared the photo with the graphic designer, who elevated it into the final result.