Meet Loreto ML | Writer & Translator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Loreto ML and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Loreto, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve been surrounded by art all my life (books, music, painting…) and I think it was inevitable that I would end up dedicating myself to something creative. And although as a child all what I did was draw, when I was thirteen, I decided to write my first story and that’s when I knew it. I wanted to be a writer.

Creative careers are very hard and demanding; you never know when your moment will come and all your effort will be rewarded. But for me, it’s worth it. I wouldn’t know what else to do. Writing stories, whether they are novels or short stories, allows me to express myself and tell all the stories that I’ve always created in my mind. In addition, I love knowing that with my books and short stories, I have managed to make someone laugh or simply forget about their life for a moment.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My first novels were drama and, honestly, I thought that I would always stay in that genre. They talked about the problems of teens, women and other issues. And I liked writing about those because I felt like I was doing something important. But when the coronavirus started, I felt like I was overwhelmed with negative emotions, so I wrote something that was out of my comfort zone.

I wrote a funny story about a lady and her husband, and I laughed a lot while I was writing it. So, I realized that I wanted to create stories that would amuse people, as well as make them forget about all the bad things that are happening lately.

I have been experimenting with different genres and tones all my life, hoping to find the one that suits me best. And between that story and reading the Libby Page’s novels, I realized what kind of books I want to write. Of course, I will continue to write other genres because I love to experiment (I also write horror and mystery), but I have found one that makes me feel really comfortable.

In the ten years that I have been in this profession, I have learned that the most important thing is to write about what you want and not be afraid to experiment.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Although I don’t live in Santander, I spend most of my free time there and there are some places that I love. It’s a coastal city, so there are plenty of places where you can sit, close your eyes and listen to the sea. One of my favourite places is an area of ​​El Palacio de la Magdalena, where you can sit on a bench and watch the sea, the boats…

But my favourite area is the city centre, with lots of beautiful buildings, places to eat delicious food and special little corners. There are exhibition halls where you can discover local authors, bookshops and a couple of libraries where, sometimes, there is an interesting exhibition or event.

To eat, I would have no doubt. One of the best places is La Braña, a bar where they serve craft beer and great hamburgers. In addition, the owners of the bar are charming and make you feel very comfortable, as well as being interested in art. They usually hold a lot of events and talks.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Although I have always liked to achieve things alone, I know that without the support of my parents, this path would be very different. They’ve been supporting me in this since I sat in front of them at the age of thirteen and said, ‘I want to be a writer.’ They have always read, we have a house full of books, so it didn’t seem strange or a bad idea. My mother, especially, was delighted with the idea.

And over the years I have been meeting people like my best friend, who is an illustrator, who has been supporting me in every project I have published. Another friend, who died in 2021, was also there since I was a teen, supporting me and giving me a space to place my works, among other things. And finally, my boyfriend, to whom I dedicate myself to telling every story that comes to my mind to know what he thinks, and get excited together.

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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loretoml/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoretoML__