neus casanova vico

I think my relationship with writing is the most stable one I've ever had. As a kid, I would participate in the annual writing competition for Sant Jordi (The Day of the Book in Catalonia) in school. As a teenager, I had a blog, very dark, a bit emo, the header read: "I honour you, Eliza, for keeping secret some things", the intro quote in Mirall Trencat, a great Catalan novel by Mercè Rodoreda. I've always been very bad at drawing, and when I was sad about it, I'd tell myself that at least my handwriting was pretty. 

My second and third names (I'm baptised, and in Catholicism, your godparents get to choose a name each) are Irene and Maria. I think my blood type is O- (I had to text my mom to ask her about it, she's not sure either). I've never skied. I probably drink more than 3 litres of water daily and I'm low-key concerned about it, but I don't know how to... stop.

I read through long periods of obsession: for the past couple of years, I've been trying to get hold of everything Elena Ferrante has ever published, even though I first read one of her books several years ago. I've been writing a fair amount about it, analysing many of her texts, and reading her influences. I love how she explores darkness and love in family relationships in general and complicated mother-daughter relationships in particular. She's someone who's able to portray those complex relationships in such an incredible way.

Their debut prose-poetry collection Pomelila was released in 2022.

the authors

  • Neus Casanova Vico

    Neus Casanova Vico

    I think my relationship with writing is the most stable one I've ever had. It's always there, I always carry it with me in the form of a notebook. Sometimes it's for fun, sometimes it gets more serious, sometimes it's because I don't have anyone else to talk to.

  • letitia despina

    Letitia Despina

    Early onset intertextuality, aged seven I would copy poems and pass them as my own, while at the same time faking illiteracy so my grandma would read for me. I grew out of lying and thieving the only way I knew how: telling the truth.

  • Dave Wood

    Dave Wood

    I love the frantic cut-up thoughts just before sleep, that’s my favourite time to write. It’s also when I’m least motivated to put anything down. But there’s something freeing about thinking something is good, wanting to write it down but losing to sleep, then never remembering it again.

  • lea rasovszky

    Lea Rasovszky

    Writing is part of my bestiary. Words are delicious, heavy, unreal, too real and I cannot be without them. On my body and on my art.