Berta Mongé (Barcelona, ??1979) has been writing for as long as she can remember. She remembers that she was already writing diaries when she was 6 years old. She is now publishing her first book, “Give Shade”. As she herself defines it, “it is an intimate story about the unrealizable dream of being a mother; a compilation of impressions, ideas and moods, written in moments of despair”.
He spent a few years of discouragement and uncertainty that were the inspiration for this book now being published. During the process, writing has been completely therapeutic for her. “Writing has been a refuge” explains Berta. When beginning to write, she tells that she did not have the reader in mind, but only what was happening to her.
By the time he thought that all this could be turned into a book, the manuscript was totally chaotic. It was not fragmented, but an accumulation of ideas, memories and dreams. “The editor and I got down to work to order it and guide it a bit to the reader.” Like Berta, many women have gone through this situation, and the book is also for them.
“I envy the mothers loaded with the purchase placed at the bottom of the cart, the grandmothers walking the granddaughters of the cart, the mothers at the end of school…”. The author shares this story made up of moments of her daily life, her memories, her doubts and dreams; a woman who loves and suffers.
Berta studied journalism at the Ramón Llul University and Comparative Literature at the University of Barcelona. She also studied Fine Arts for a few years and began working in the world of audiovisual production. From there she went on to the production of events and different projects of culture and the arts.
He always wanted to work in publishing, and through a good friend who knew about his dream, he found out about a digital marketing position at Random House publishing group. Eight years ago she became part of the Malpaso editorial team, first directing the marketing department and currently as art director.
He is in charge, among other things, of designing collections, book covers, reading a lot, looking for references and working with various publishers. It reveals something that perhaps most of us do unconsciously when we go to buy a book: “normally, the reader looking for a book looks first at the cover, second at the title, and third at the back cover.”
Berta has always lived in the city. She had a little house in the country and during the pandemic she moved there. “I am much more productive in this place. Also, the nights are wonderful.” They go to the city a lot, but they are installed in the countryside. The dedication of her book reads like this: “To my parents.” She was clear about it: “They have given me life and, in the end, this book is a text that speaks of life.”
In this link, you can see a small clip about the book that is pure emotion and poetry.
There is also a selection of some fragments of “Give a shadow” and enter this world. One last question for Berta: Will you write more? “Of course,” she replies, “I’m already on it.”
