What is the best thing that I love about my work?

As a novelist, I love being able to dig into reality and fiction through words, literary devices and all the possibilities in the great world of ideas.

What is my idea of happiness?

My idea of happiness is being able to keep inquiring in the arts as I become the best writer, artist and professional that I can be. This and being able to spend time with my beloved ones, which has always been one of the most important things in my life.

What is my greatest fear?

Being unhappy and/or lonely.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

Being inconsistent. I suck at routines and I feel like if I was able to structure the way I work or live in general, everything would be a lot easier.

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire?

Sally Rooney, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood and Elena Ferrante

What is my greatest extravagance?

I write all of my novels on paper before transcribing them. Some people say it is a waste of time, but for me it’s actually the most important part of writing as a whole. I can’t really concentrate if I’m writing directly on a computer.

On what occasion would I lie?

To protect myself or others. Having to live with a lie is something I don’t think I could put up with unless it was strictly necessary.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?

I am still a student. But when it comes to writing, how tough the literary industry can be, specially if you are young

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?

Every time I publish a novel and am able to physically hold it in my hands for the first time. I’m unable to explain such a wholesome feeling, it is amazing.

If I could, what would I change about myself?

My energy. I rely on caffeine to be able to function, and I physically and mentally get tired very easily.

What is my greatest achievement in work?

Publishing my first novel when I was 16.

Where would I most like to live?

London, definitely. I visited the United Kingdom a few months ago and I just felt like I belonged there.

What is my most treasured possession?

A stuffed elephant. It belonged to my mother before she passed away and it is actually older than I am. She bought it when she was 18 and she would be 49 today, so the toy is like 30 years old.

What is my most marked characteristic?

Physically, my eyes. I’ve always been told that they’re very expressive and uncommon, even though they’re brown.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?

I live near the beach, so whenever I feel like I am in need of inspiration I go and seat on the rocks, drink coffee and admire the view

What is my favorite place to eat and drink in my city?

Liagora coffeeshop. It’s a wonderful place with vegan, gluten and sugar-free options. They also sell plants and flowers and put them on display in the coffeeshop, which makes the place a lot homier.

What books influenced my life and how?

Lots of them, but if I had to choose just a few, Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney taught me a lot about art, relationships and life. Plus, Rooney is one of my main role models. Also Consent: a memoir by Vanessa Springora is a wrecking autobiography and says a lot about female sexuality, abuse and grooming, which are very important topics for me.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen to on my last day?

The Nirvana Unplugged album. I also have a playlist called

Transcendentals, which are my favorite songs ever. I’d definitely listen to them on repeat.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

The protagonists of my novels. Besides them, Batman.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

My grandmother. She’s the strongest woman I know and everything I hope to become one day.

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?

La La Land.

What role play stories in my life and work?

They’re everything to me. I am constantly reading and telling stories. I feel like they are one of the best ways to explain and decipher reality.

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ mean to me?

I feel like we have been taught to live our lives in a specific way ever since we were little kids. But there’s no guideline book nor any type of rules to follow strictly, so why should we be limited by what society imposes us to do? I think that we should make our lives the best, most exciting stories we possibly can and live every second to the fullest. That’s what I’m doing, at least.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?

My grandmother, definitely. She is the one who led me towards literature in the first place. I visit her every weekend and sit down with her to talk about books, history and arts while we drink coffee and listen to music.

Which people or companies would I like to work with?

I would love to work with big publishing houses, specifically Penguin Random House. I would also love to work for the TATE museum, the Guggenheim museums and other galleries around the world. Collaborating with The Keith Haring Foundation is also a dream of mine. Alicia Scherson and Gaspar Noé are also two people I admire deeply and would love to work with someday.

What project am I looking forward to work on?

Once I get my graduate degree, I would love to write a philosophy text about aesthetics and politics. At the moment, I have just written fiction, but I am looking forward to writing philosophical books too.

Where can you see me or my work?

At the moment, you can find the Kindle version of my book Serendipia Antémica (only in Spanish) on Amazon and the physical copy of both of my novels on Buscalibre, which ships to several places around the world.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

Even if I stop producing, I know I will always live for and through all

art forms. I may be 90 years old someday, unable to write because of arthritis, but reading and admiring art is something that I will keep on doing until the day I die.

Which creative professionals should Peter invite to tell their story?

Dominique Clarke, Julieta Martínez, Antonella Sigala, Paola Podestá are some amazing women that I had the chance to meet. Great artists and people.

How can you contact me?

Email: isabel@saieg.com

Instagram: isaieg

LinkedIn: Isabel Margarita Saieg