“Life should be taken seriously sometimes, but not always…” In conversation with writer Yauci Fernández Ingles

We’re all acquainted with Mark Twain’s Golden Rule when it comes to putting pen on paper: “write what you know.”

But in a world where creatives currently want to be anywhere except what is familiar, indulging in the genre of magical realism has become a refreshing way to balance the authenticity of our personal experiences, with the allure of the unknown.

From just one glance of his latest book, Melodías en el tiempo, it is clear that Canarian writer Yauci Fernández Ingles has mastered such a task in his own work. He honours the universality of the human condition and the emotions that come with it, whilst also daring to explore what might happen if we delve just a bit further. So how does he do it? We sat down with Yauci to learn more.

Could you tell us a bit about where you are from, and what got you interested in writing in the first place?

My name is Yauci Manuel Fernández, and I was born in the Canary Islands, where I still live (and which I don’t want to change!) My interest in writing emerged during my adolescence as a way to bring out what I had inside. In other words, it is a way for me to vent.

We’d like to know a bit about your writing style, and the themes you are most interested in exploring.

I think one of the themes I most enjoy discussing is the passage of time. I love thinking about it as a kind of ‘machinery’ that never stops, and that works the same for everyone, having so many consequences in people’s lives. It’s something as wonderful as it is destructive on all levels: in love, in family, in offspring, in friendship… However, I also have a great sense of humour, and like to reflect it in my books. In fact, some of them are very funny. I’m not always so intense, I promise!

Why is humour so important to you in your work, and what do you think it can achieve that other literary techniques can’t?

I see humour as a tool to make people laugh, or that’s what it seems like at first. But in reality, for me, it’s a way of life. Humour is what we have to face life in the most beautiful way possible. It allows us to experience certain events that could be tragedies, but we turn them into comedies by changing our perspective. We can alter what we see and feel by looking at it from a different place. Don’t you find that magical?

You describe yourself as an ‘escritor Mindundi.’ What does this mean?

In Spanish, the term ‘Mindundi’ refers to a person without success. I myself was a writer who started from scratch; as low as one can get, with print runs of 100 copies… and little by little, I have grown. When I refer to myself as a ‘mindundi’ writer, it is to always remind myself of where I started so I don’t make the mistake of looking down on anyone. Besides, it’s a word that I find very amusing, and it reminds me that it’s also healthy to laugh at ourselves from time to time! Life should be taken seriously to a certain extent, but not always.

Do you have any specific writing influences?

At first, I believe my main influence was Nicholas Sparks. He writes love novels with a tender touch that I’ve always enjoyed, where he also often talks a lot about the passage of time, love, and life in general. Gradually, I’ve moved away from romantic love and shifted towards more family-oriented themes.

Thanks for sharing, Yauci! Where and how can we follow your updates?

I have an Instagram profile where I’m very active: @yaucifer (I’ve got a great sense of humour and a friendly vibe!), and a website where I send updates about my books and possible offers (only a couple of times a year, I don’t like to be pushy) through a newsletter.

Have you got anything else to tell us about your work?

Yes! My books are not only available in print. All of them (except the latest one, which will also be soon) are available on Kindle in Spanish. There’s also one of them, ‘Emma’s Library’, which is translated into English, so you can read me. It would be an honour!

Those interested in learning more about Yauci’s latest work and updates can find more via the following handles:

Website: https://yaucimfernandez.es/