If I sang, "Summer lovin, had me some fun," would you immediately think of Grease staring Olivia Newton John and John Travolta? I know I do. Today's author interview with Jaime Despree, is going to take you back to the concept... two teenagers falling in love. His book, "Nina and Nano: A Love Story of Two Musicians" is the perfect book to end the summer reading program as we head into fall. Take a look and meet the author.
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| Buy Now on Amazon |
Nina and Nano: A love
story of two musicians Paperback – July 12, 2020
by Jaime Despree (Author)
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| Buy Now on Amazon |
Can a writer
over the age of 70 write a novel about teenagers? My answer is simple: yes, he
can. Because not only has lived his own adolescence, but age allows him to have
a broader perspective of the circumstances that surround the adolescent. In
this novel, which has meant a 180º turn with those previously written, I have
created two teenage characters, Nina and Nano, who will not only have to face
their inexperience in life but also the opposition of parents and educators who
with common sense they will try to convince them with great phrases and
pragmatic arguments that their teenage dreams are just dreams. Nano does not
have the negative influence of family, so his dream of becoming a renowned
classical guitar soloist will progress quickly, but Nina, who dreams of
becoming a creative singer-songwriter, finds herself caught between the
promiscuity of a divorced mother, who believes that she may break all the most
basic moral standards, justifying in a short time what is the sexual and
attractive life of a woman. Nano, who entertains the evenings of a small local
piano-bar with her guitar, will offer Nina the first opportunity to show her
musical talent, and she composes a simple song that is enormously successful,
although she owes it at least half the credit. the magníficos Nano
arrangements. But Nina is not prepared to assimilate her premature success and
falls into the temptation allowing herself to be seduced by another attractive
teenager (her first sexual experience) at a crazy beach party, with more alcohol
than she should for such a young age. As if her foolish act was not enough, Nina
accidentally discovers that her mother leads her to pose for a pornographic
magazine. It is too much, and according to Nano, who has been fired for
neglecting his job because of Nina, they escape and live their lives far from
the influence of adults. The adventure will be brief, because they will be
welcomed by Sofía, a widow, with her four children who, after listening to
Nina, knows that she has talent and will help her discover her creativity by
inviting them to spend a few days in a quiet rural house among orange trees.
Sofia will alert Niña’s parents, that thanks to the escape and the sincere
regret of the mother it reconciles them. A few days later the reunion occurs and
Nina assumes that her adventure with Nano has only been a teenage dream. They
separated leaving their reunion in the hands of fate five years later, with
their dreams fulfilled, during a bumpy maro-concert organized for Nina. The
setting in which this novel takes place is the tourist town of “Las Negras”,
within the “Níjar-Cabo de Gata” Natural Park, on the coast of Almería (Spain)
Jaime Despree (Author)
Tell your readers a
little about yourself, where you grew up, where you live now, where you went to
school etc. Let them get to know the personal you.
I was lucky enough to be born in the ancient city of Sigüenza (Spain) and spend my childhood playing in the atrium of its imposing cathedral and other local churches. Influenced by that solemnity from my adolescence, I wanted to be a “serious” writer. Family circumstances led me to Germany at the age of 18 in the 1960s. There I continued my training as a writer, but above all I identified with alternative and ecological political movements that came together in the insurrection of May 68. But at the same time, I wanted to acquire a solid linguistic education, which led me to reside in Paris, London, and Copenhagen. In the 80s, I returned to Spain (Barelona) where I founded the environmental newspaper “The Green Post.” With the experience gained as editor of this newspaper, I returned to Berlin as a correspondent for a popular magazine (Integral). From this experience came my essay “Ecology and civil society,” which was followed by “e-Democracy for Outraged” and “Vanity Moves History.”
Back in Spain, I settled in my hometown, where I began my career as a fiction writer with my novels “The Stranger.” A drama about immigration and “The War of Ines,” a historical novel based on the heroic death of a republican militia. At the end of this creative period, I wanted to get to know the United States, and I lived for some time in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and finally in New York, where I was a correspondent for my Spanish magazine at the United Nations. Before returning to Spain, I traveled with a camping car in the United States from coast to coast, along Route 66 and back through the southern and eastern states to NYC. On my return, I settled in Berlin, where I have continued my literary career with various essays and novels. “Nina and Nano” is the first translated into English. It is the story of two teenagers passionate about music who have to overcome the misunderstanding of adults to see their dreams come true.
What inspired you to author this book?
My personal adolescence experience and a period of my youth (during the Beatles madness) that is was part of an electric band.
Where did you get the inspiration for your book’s cover?
The joy of colors that is identified with adolescence.
Who has been the most
significant influence on you personally and as a writer?
Classic Russian authors and
Gabriel García-Márquez
What were your
struggles or obstacles you had to overcome to get this book written?
None. It came easily from my imagination because I had it fully
assumed
Tell your readers about your
book.
I have created two teenage
characters, Nina and Nano, who will not only have to face their inexperience in
life but also the opposition of parents and educators who with common sense
they will try to convince them with great phrases and pragmatic arguments that
their teenage dreams are just dreams.
Nano does not have the negative influence of family, so his dream of becoming a renowned classical guitar soloist will progress quickly, but Nina, who dreams of becoming a creative singer-songwriter, finds herself caught between the promiscuity of a divorced mother, who believes that she may break all the most basic moral standards, justifying in a short time what is the sexual and attractive life of a woman.
Nano, who entertains the evenings of a small local piano-bar with her guitar, will offer Nina the first opportunity to show her musical talent, and she composes a simple song that is enormously successful, although she owes it at least half the credit. the magníficos Nano arrangements.
But Nina is not prepared to assimilate her premature success and falls into the temptation allowing herself to be seduced by another attractive teenager (her first sexual experience) at a crazy beach party, with more alcohol than she should for such a young age.
As if her foolish act was not enough, Nina accidentally discovers that her mother leads her to pose for a pornographic magazine. It is too much, and according to Nano, who has been fired for neglecting his job because of Nina, they escape and live their lives far from the influence of adults.
The adventure will be brief, because they will be welcomed by Sofía, a widow, with her four children who, after listening to Nina, knows that she has a talent and will help her discover her creativity by inviting them to spend a few days in a quiet rural house among orange trees. Sofia will alert Niña’s parents, that thanks to the escape and the sincere regret of the mother, it reconciles them.
Who is your target audience,
and why?
"Of course it is aimed at teenage readers, but the plot contains universal values, such as friendship, love, fidelity, relationships between parents and teenagers, morality, vocations, sexuality, .. that affects all ages. It is a novel directed to adolescents written for adults. I hope a musical producer will read it, because it would be a great film for the strong personality of the characters, the naturalness of the dialogues, the interest of the plot, and the natural beauty of the settings.
What do you consider your
greatest success in life?
Being free and being myself.
What one unique thing sets
you apart from other writers in your genre?
Don’t follow the fashions.
FOLLOW THE AUTHOR
http://jaimedespree.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7094399.Jaime_Despree
https://www.facebook.com/jaime.despree/
