Laura Gallego GarcÃÂa (born in Quart de Poblet, Valencia (Spain) on 11 October 1977) is a Spanish author of young adult literature.
Laura Gallego GarcÃÂa was born in Quart de Poblet, Valencia, on 11 October 1977. She is a Spanish novelist of children and juvenile literature, specializing in the fantasy genre. She studied Hispanic Philology at the University of Valencia.
At age 11, she started writing âÂÂZodiaccÃÂa, a different worldâÂÂ. She spent ten years finishing it and, although it has never been published, she has a special affection for this story. Then, she was sure about being a novelist and she sent her work to several literary contests for years.
At the age of 21, after finishing high school, she decided to study Hispanic Philology in the University of Valencia. She continued sending her work to publishing houses and contests but she did not publish anything until she wrote âÂÂFinis MundiâÂÂ, which was the first book she published. Previously, she wrote 13 books but none of them were brought to light. With âÂÂFinis MundiâÂÂ, the novelist won the âÂÂBarco de Vaporâ Prize in 1999 after having participated for several years. This contest is celebrated every year by SM publishing house.
After the publishing of her story 'Finis Mundi', she continued with other stories such as 'Mandrágora' or the tetralogy of 'Crónicas de la Torre'. However, although her fame is mainly due to her juvenile novel, she has also published stories aimed at children.
In 2002, she won this contest again, this time with her novel âÂÂLa leyenda del rey erranteâÂÂ. In collaboration with SM publishing house, she has also published âÂÂEl coleccionista de relojes extraordinariosâÂÂ, the trilogy of âÂÂMemorias de IdhúnâÂÂ, âÂÂDonde los árboles cantanâÂÂ, âÂÂDos velas para el diabloâÂÂ, the saga of âÂÂCrónicas de la Torreâ and âÂÂLas hijas de TaraâÂÂ, this last one as part of the collection âÂÂGran AngularâÂÂ.
In 2004, she started publishing her second trilogy, called âÂÂMemorias de Idhúnâ (Memorias de Idhún I: La Resistencia, Memorias de Idhún II: TrÃÂada, Memorias de Idhún III: Panteón). This was her biggest success, with more than 750 000 copies sold.
She founded the university magazine âÂÂNáyadeâÂÂ, which was distributed by the Faculty of Philology at the University of Valencia. She was the co-director from 1997 to 2010.
Afterwards, she has published several independent books, most of them in the fantasy genre, as well as the second part of âÂÂAlas de fuegoâÂÂ, entitled âÂÂAlas negrasâÂÂ. She has also entered the realist literature with the serie ëSara y las goleadorasû, which includes titles such as: âÂÂCreando equipoâÂÂ, âÂÂLas chicas somos guerrerasâÂÂ, âÂÂGoleadoras en la ligaâÂÂ, âÂÂEl fútbol y el amor son incompatiblesâÂÂ, âÂÂLas Goleadoras no se rindenâ and âÂÂEl último golâÂÂ. Her novel âÂÂDonde los árboles cantanâÂÂ, published in October 2011, won the âÂÂPremio Nacional de Literatura Infantil y Juvenilâ in 2012. Also, she has won the âÂÂCervantes Chicoâ Prize. That same year, she returned to children's literature with âÂÂMago por casualidadâÂÂ.
In March 2017, she published âÂÂPor una rosaâÂÂ, a book that contains three stories written by three different novelists: Laura Gallego, Javier Ruescas and Benito Taibo. These are three stories set in the universe of the classic tale âÂÂBeauty and the BeastâÂÂ.
She has explored many of the literary subjects: she began with historical- fantasy literature with her story âÂÂFinis Mundi but also science-fiction with her story âÂÂLas hijas de TaraâÂÂ. Later, she wrote about epic fantasy. This type of literature was reflected in her story âÂÂMemorias de IdhúnâÂÂ. She has also written stories for children.
In her fantasy narrative, particularly with âÂÂMemorias de IdhúnâÂÂ, the theme of love is just as or more important than the fantasy theme. The characters constantly express their feelings, doubts, misgivings, disappointment, etc., and are guided by them, generally more so than other concepts such as honour or duty. This is what most differentiates her from novelists like Tolkien. Thus, reflection on one's own feeling occupies a lot of the space in the dialogues and the reproduction of thought. This fact is favoured by the decision to employ a passionate love triangle in his story âÂÂMemorias de IdhúnâÂÂ. She is inspired by some elements from the work of some novelists such as Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, particularly from their stories âÂÂLa espada de JoramâÂÂ, âÂÂDragonlanceâ and âÂÂEl ciclo de la puerta de la muerteâÂÂ.
Her books have been translated into a multitude of languages: Bulgarian, Catalan, Danish, English, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian and Swedish.
The major prize the novelist has received is the âÂÂPremio Nacional de Literatura Infantil y Juvenilâ in 2012 with her fantasy-epic story âÂÂDónde los árboles cantanâÂÂ. This award, endowed with 20,000 euros, was given by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. This award meant that her story was the best book in children's or juvenile literature published in 2011 in any of the official languages spoken in Spain.
Likewise, in 2011, she was awarded with the âÂÂPremio Cervantes Chicoâ Prize by the City Hall of Alcalá de Henares and the âÂÂAsociación de Libreros y PapelerosâÂÂ. She was also awarded with the âÂÂPremio de Literatura Infantil El Barco de Vaporâ twice. First, in 1999, with her story âÂÂFinis Mundiâ and then, in 2002, with her story âÂÂLa leyenda del rey erranteâÂÂ. She also received the âÂÂImaginamalaga 2013â Prize with her story âÂÂEl libro de los portalesâÂÂ, and also the âÂÂKelvin 505â Prize in 2016.