Redaccion
Jon Bilbao is the next guest on Escritores en su tinta. The event will take place on March 18th at the Salvador García Aguilar Library (Avda del Chorrico, 44) at 8:00 PM. Bilbao will discuss some of his short novels such as ‘Los extraños’ and his American universe where stories from the Wild West, feared bandits, and legends forged during the gold rush converge, with his trilogy composed of ‘Basilisco’ (2020), ‘Araña’ (2022), and ‘Matamonstruos’ (2024).
This trilogy is characterized by a hybrid narrative that blends autofiction, western, and psychological thriller, exploring themes such as fatherhood, latent violence, and the construction of masculine identity.
Through the author’s alter ego, Jon, Bilbao reflects on his own fears and insecurities, while incorporating elements of classic westerns, such as the figure of gunslinger John Dunbar, who acts as a symbolic mirror of the protagonist’s internal struggles.
‘Escritores en su tinta’ has been in existence since 2007 and was created for the inauguration of the library. Since then, it has been organized by the Department of Culture of the Molina de Segura City Council and coordinated and presented by journalist, writer, and cultural manager, Lola Gracia.
Over the past 18 years, the most important authors of Spanish-language narrative have participated, including Ana María Matute, Antonio Muñoz Molina, Eduardo Mendoza, Luis Landero, Enrique Vila-Matas, Rosa Montero, Almudena Grandes, Ian Gibson, Manuel Vicent, Javier Cercas, Juan José Millás, Carmen Posadas, Luis García Montero, and the French writer Michel Houellebecq, among many others. These encounters allow readers to interact with their favorite authors.
Author Jon Bilbao (Ribadesella, 1972) is a mining engineer and a graduate in English Philology. He is the author of short story collections such as ‘Como una historia de terror’ (Salto de Página, 2008; Premio Ojo Crítico de Narrativa), ‘Bajo el influjo del cometa’ (Salto de Página, 2010; Premio Tigre Juan and Premio Euskadi de Literatura), and ‘Física familiar’ (Salto de Página, 2014); as well as novels like ‘El hermano de las moscas’ (Salto de Página, 2008), ‘Padres, hijos y primates’ (Salto de Página, 2011), and ‘Shakespeare y la ballena blanca’ (Tusquets, 2013).
His stories have been included in anthologies such as ‘Siglo XXI. Los nuevos nombres del cuento español actual’ (Menoscuarto, 2010), ‘Pequeñas resistencias V’ (Páginas de Espuma, 2010), and ‘Cuento español actual (1992-2012)’ (Cátedra, 2014).
He has published ‘Estrómboli’ (2016), ‘El silencio y los crujidos’ (2018), ‘Los extraños’ (2021), and the novel cycle comprised of Basilisco (2020), Araña (2023), and Matamonstruos (2024) with the publisher Impedimenta. He currently resides in Bilbao, where he works as a translator.
