Dr. Clara Dominguez

F. In your next literary works, do you plan to venture into any specific genre?

I am in a phase in which I enjoy displaying my creativity without limiting myself and, above all, without forcing anything when creating. I think that fits perfectly with the story and the novel.

F. At the time of writing, do you give more importance to the message or to the style?

Both. Of course, I start with the message, which is the basis, and as I put the story together, the style takes on the necessary form. It is like when you want to pamper yourself and give yourself permission to receive pampering=> for me, the message is “To have a good time” or “To spend some time on yourself”, for example, and for this you choose the appropriate style, the way to receive these pampering’s, either with a walk at sunset or a massage, etc... The message is the intention, and the style is the way to convey that intention.

F. Why did you write stories?

Because I used to tell my daughter stories, and also because I would have liked to have been told nice stories as a child; the ones my mother told me, which were few, filled me with fear. Tales of evil fairies and injustice drove me to despair. So, later, I decided to tell my inner child something that was related to the examples that nature gives us about beauty, tolerance, respect, and coexistence.

F. When you write, do you plan, or do you let your creativity flow?

It depends. When I write stories everything starts with inspiration and then I let my creativity flow, so anything can happen. On the other hand, when I write texts that involve processes of analysis and cognition, that is, those that are about topics that are more directly related to my professional training in political science and law, then I meticulously plan each step to be followed.

F. What does writing mean to you?

Writing is the generous opportunity to allow that genuine side of myself to express itself. It is the art of the liberation of my soul and the crystallization of that which you cannot see, but that you know exists.

F. Where did the idea of writing come from?

From observation. Observation is my muse, if you look around you, you will see that you can recognize the wisdom and the miracle of life in every little moment. Furthermore, writing became a necessity for me, a need to express myself. And it was a true therapy that set me free from the emotional imprisonment that I was suffering.

F. About “The Tree of Friendship”, are there autobiographical elements?

Yes, of course. I identified with each character because in each one of them are emotions and experiences that I have experienced at some point in my life. For example, while we were writing the story I was already living outside my native country, in a very different culture in which I had to give up many things; but I also learned new ways to behave, I fell, I got up, I cried a lot to get rid of my own ties, of my conditionings, I cried to fit in, I suffered from ignorance. And later I laughed and accepted my own nonsense with humour until I recognized the beauty of everything. Now I am the sum of all those experiences, and that legacy belongs to me.

F. Do you think this story has inspired other children?

Yes. This story accompanied us for a whole decade in different activities with children and the message was part of a campaign called “The Green Wave”, which consisted in planting trees in May 20 and 21 in different parts of the world simultaneously. In this way the children expressed their respect for nature and friendship by joining in these environmental campaigns.

F. What inspired you to write this story?

As Isamar rightly says, it was an accumulation, of experiences=> the parrots flying over the tree in the garden, the neighbour who was fanatical about his tulips and was collecting signatures to cut down the tree in front of our house; and me talking to my daughter about the importance of trees and running ecological awareness campaigns. Although what struck me the most was that one day when I was driving down a street, I noticed that they had cut down a huge tree. You could see the rings of something that had once been standing, and the first thing I asked myself was=> Where have the creatures who lived here gone? That's how it started. The rest was sitting down to write and spending many hours of enjoyment with my co-author to develop what would later see the light as The Tree of Friendship.