Guix's new work, published by Univers, tells the story of an unnamed writer who sees the pillars of his life crumble as he reaches his fifties. The catalyst for this change is a young man hired to maintain his home's pool, introducing an unexpected twist to the plot.
This novel arrives thirteen years after his last publication, a period during which Guix explored other genres, such as young adult fiction, and experienced a "technical halt" in his literary career.
“"After spending some years working on a very ambitious novel, I found that it was rejected by publishers. This constant negativity led me to feel that what I was writing was not of interest. Therefore, as the character in the novel thinks, I was no longer a writer."
The author confesses that the rejection of a literary project he dedicated ten years to (five for research and five for writing) caused him deep frustration and sadness, a feeling that, despite the passage of time, still lingers.
Guix, who also teaches writing at the Ateneu Barcelonès, explains that in La flama apagada del desig, he experimented with the narrator's role, who not only tells the story but also reveals how it is constructed, creating a metanarrative game he compares to the backstage of a play.
“"Being good, having talent doesn't mean you can be a writer. Sometimes it involves many other things, like the ego part."
The novel, which the author describes as an erotic thriller that mutates into other genres, addresses desire in general and loss, especially at a stage of life where, apparently, everything has been achieved. Guix mentions that the film Basic Instinct was one of his soundtracks while writing, influencing the work's tone.
The Pin i Soler Award, which he won in 2010 with Tot el que hauries de saber abans d’estimar-me, was a turning point in his career, allowing him to embrace his identity as a writer. Guix notes that La flama apagada del desig has many connections to that award-winning work, as if it were a mirror.
