Spanish publishing house thrives during the recession - Jirones de azul.

Interview with Rosa García Perea, Coria del Río (Sevilla) 1965

Rosa García Perea is a Spanish poet, author of “Las tres miradas del Cíclope” and “Como las manos de Pandora”, amongst others. She has taught Creative Writing and is now at the helm of the publishing house Editorial Jirones de Azul together with Esperanza García. Her first novel, Mesa para una (Table for one) will be published in October.

LCL.- What is your definition of success?

RGP.- Success is the unexpected prize you get after years of working hard and when you´ve almost stopped believing your project will come through.

LCL.- Do you think you´ve achieved it?

RGP.- I will say what Oscar Wilde said: a fool never recovers from success. That´s why I like to believe that I haven´t achieved it yet. It´s but a mirage.

LCL.- When and why did you launch the publishing house Jirones de Azul?

RGP.- Jirones started out as an e-zine in 2004, and then went to print version in 2006. In 2005 I turned 40 and I didn´t want to let such a significant age fly by without making one of my dreams come true. I also thought Seville, Spain was in need of a publishing house that opened the doors to new voices. So the first business day of 2006, I did the paperwork to establish my company. The first few months were hard, but special. I would do it all over again.

LCL.- What were your biggest challenges?

RGP.- Even though I had worked in marketing, I didn´t know the publishing business. It was also undergoing a shift – from paper to digital. And in 2006, one of the worst global recessions hit. It was like trying to sell books in a war zone.

But instead of backing off, we took it as a challenge and it´s made us stronger and be more professional. We´ve learned the hard way and every time we fall, we get up with more enthusiasm.

LCL.- And the biggest satisfactions?

RGP.- Professionally, looking back and seeing that in five years we´ve put over 200 titles out there. Many have become best-sellers, by first-time authors. Personally, when I see my team, smiling and full of energy. That erases any doubts I may have.

LCL.- What personal qualities have helped you start and keep your publishing house going?

RGP.- Mainly perseverance and knowing that I have to get up as fast as possible when I fall. Whining won´t take you places. Having a sense of humor is a must. There is nothing more important than having a sense of humor.

LCL.- What haven´t you done yet?

RGP.- Professionally, I have a lot to left to do. I´m 46 and I would start any project from stratch. I like a challenge.

Personally, I haven´t lived as much as I´d have liked to. My life is full, but I´ve missed out on personal satisfaction by putting a lot into my profession. And I´m missing children. I won´t have them, but they would have made my life fuller. I´m sure they would not have taken one bit away from my professional life.

LCL.- What would you say to those who have dreams they haven´t accomplished yet?

RGP.- Not to be afraid of their mistakes. You learn more from your mistakes than from your success. To surround themselves with good people, those that help you feel good. There is only one secret for success: work and good energy. It´s so simple that it seems impossible.  

www.jironesdeazul.com

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Cafe Barcelona in Naples, Florida, standing strong thanks to its Mediterranean cuisine

Cafe Barcelona in Naples, Florida

Having been born in Spain and living in Florida, I yearn for a place where I can meet with friends, eat paella, gazpacho, Serrano ham and drink a good Spanish wine indoors or out on the patio.

Montse Bonache at the Cafe

In Naples, Florida, there is such a place. Its name is Café Barcelona and the owners Pedro Casoliba and Montse Bonache, have withstood the recession thanks to their Mediterranean cuisine.

Over twenty restaurants have closed in the coastal town of Naples, Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico in the last year. Café Barcelona, however, that opened its doors in 2005 is still standing, and always offering tasty and affordable menus.

It is where Spaniards and everyone else who enjoys tapas, comes to celebrate anything from New Year’s Eve to the simple fact of being able to chat with friends while drinking sangria and dancing Sevillanas.

Angela and I dancing Sevillanas

There is now a $29.00 meal for two that includes a free bottle of wine, that you can enjoy al fresco, while listening to the strumming of a Spanish guitar. 

Montse and Pedro are veterans in the restaurant business. They started out in their native Barcelona and later on they had businesses in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, which catered to the palates of patrons who enjoy exquisite Spanish tapas.

Success is standing strong during and after a recession, adapting to change and always offering reasonable options for the most discerning diners.

Follow Café Barcelona on Facebook.

Address

336 13th Ave. S.

Naples, FL, 34102

Phone:

1-239-2617498

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www.lorrainecladish.com

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On Being Open-minded

I never was a fan of soccer. I never wanted to watch those little figures on the TV screen kicking a ball. I turned my back on soccer matches, fans and stadiums. I don´t feel comfortable in crowds and I´ve always equated soccer to violence. After all, they had to fence soccer fields in Europe because of violence. Referees and players have been killed because of a bad game.

On the other hand, I declare myself to be open-minded. Hmm, I suppose that is contradictory.

As some of you may know, I´m half Spanish and half American and I live in Florida. By chance I saw the last part of the World Cup match that put Spain in the semi-finals. I couldn´t believe how excited and even moved I felt watching them win. I almost cried. Then I realized that soccer can also generate good feelings. It made my Spanish blood flow and I made a mental note of the day when the semi-final would take place, which was yesterday.

Not knowing much about soccer, at 2.30 pm ET, I just checked out the players. On Facebook my girlfriends and I joked about which player was the hunkiest. I liked Capdevila and my friends rooted for Xavi or Villa. Is this frivolous or what, but … it was fun.

Gradually my interest shifted from the guys to their moves, and I found the game exciting. They were playing beautifully, and every time the Spaniards nearly scored a goal, I held my breath. All of a sudden I was one of those who screamed and rooted for their team. I cried when Spain scored its GOAL. Ah, my dear Spain! I wrote patriotic status updates on my Facebook page, I chatted with my lexicographer dad who usually prefers to have his eyes poked out than watch soccer (but watched the match too), and when Spain won, I called my 9-year old daughter who is still in Seville, watching it all and most importantly, feeling it! For a moment, I felt like I WAS in Spain!

Yesterday soccer moved me, it brought me closet o my friends, my family, my fellow Spaniards and I feel good because I was able to be open-minded and enjoy that. I felt a small success – overcoming my aversion to soccer, and having been moved to tears when listening to the Spanish National Anthem, enjoy a well-played game and feeling closer to all my Spanish friends who are scattered around the globe.

And on Sunday, I wish I could be in Spain on that historical day when it will play the FINAL in the World Cup! My daughter will be there, my sister too, and I´ll be in Florida, connected with by Facebook, by phone and in spirit, with La Furia Española.

So today, I´m a bit more open minded than yesterday, more alive … and that´s a good thing. I highly recommend it.

http://www.lorrainecladish.com/