ALCOLEA, ANA

Ana Alcolea was born in Zaragoza and she has always been very passionate about books. She read and read but never thought of becoming a writer: she used to think that writers were from another world, far away from her own. Ana was a Rhythmic Gymnastic coach while she was studying Hispanic Philology in the University of Zaragoza. Ana has been teacher of Language and Literatura in Secondary Education and High School for 26 years. She started her journey as a writer because of a tragic event: the death of a loved one pushed her to write the first book, El medallón perdido (2001, Anaya), which has already published 30 printings. Then, she wrote more books both for the young and the adult ones, but she doesn’t believe in the age of books. There’s only good and bad literature, that’s all. In 2009, Ana published Bajo el león de San Marcos, and in 2017 Postales coloreadas, her two novels addressed to adults. In 2011 she was awarded the Premio Anaya of Children and Young Literature with La noche más oscura, which has received several prizes (Premio CCEI, List White Ravens…). Her last books are part of the recommended books list by the Fundación Cuatrogatos in Miami. In addition, in 2017 she started publishing in the Latin America publishing house Norma, which lead her to become the guest writer in the Bogotá International Book Fair with her book El viaje de las estrellas dorados.

A big opera lover, in 2018 she publishes El maravilloso mundo de la ópera (Anaya) to bring the world of opera to all audiences.

She writes a monthly column in Heraldo de Aragón, which is very well received by the readers.

Ana has received several prizes and recognitions. In 2016 she was awarded the Premio Cervantes Chico for her extensive literary career, as well as for her work disseminating literature among children and young people.