Many readers of Searching for Sky say the scenes in Barcelona are among their favorites—the sights, sounds, scents, nightlife, neighborhoods, architecture.
Naturally, readers also wonder how accurately these scenes are depicted. How well do I know the city? they ask.
The answer is: I know Barcelona very well.
The entire manuscript was written in Barcelona over a period of several years. Each noteworthy locale in the novel—Tibidabo mountain, Bogatell Beach, Passeig de Gracia, the neighborhood called “El Born”—is a place I have visited many times. As for the bars, nightclubs, and restaurants mentioned in the book, names have been changed (and I have taken creative license), but these are inspired by real establishments. The apartment where I wrote Searching for Sky is located approximately four blocks from Roy Sky’s fictional apartment.
As part of my writing process, I usually carried a notebook or a few draft pages of the manuscript with me when I went out for a coffee or meal. I used the opportunity to revise passages or jot down new ideas. For example, the scenes that take place aboard Omar’s luxury yacht were likely revised at one of my favorite local restaurants, where I often went to eat and think. (My go-to food order: a salad with green beans and feta cheese, followed by solomillo de ternera — small sirloin steak).
If any of you are interested in knowing more about Barcelona, including my favorite spots and/or locations connected to Searching for Sky, please feel free to reach out to me via the contact link.
