Conchita GarSantiago

Conchita GarSantiago is a Sydney-based writer who was born, grew up and studied in Spain. After finishing at the tourism school in Valladolid, Spain, she decided to go to London to learn English. Her knowledge of the British capital at that time was quite limited and the great cosmopolitan city daunted her by its magnitude and was fascinated by its variety of culture. After some time in England, where she acquired a degree in English at Cambridge University and another at the London Business School, she met her Australian husband and so it was that she ended up in this beautiful country. Perhaps it was the beauty of the surroundings that prompted her to start writing. She did several writing courses, and also participated in and created different writing groups.

Her stories have been published in different websites and local magazines, such as The Village Observer, where in 2017 she won the yearly award with the competition “A hundred words.” The same year, she participated and won in the British competition The Monkey Collective.

Conchita has also contributed to anthologies, including “Hope” where she supplied two short stories, and “Weaving Words” which featured her stories “Aunty Tessa” and “The Rings.”.

Her greatest achievement has been her book A Cry for Home.

“A Cry for Home” relates the story of a family living in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. After the army has arrived to their town, they’re forced to leave because Luis – the head of the family – is a well-known socialist and fears for his own life and the lives of his family – his wife, two young daughters and mother-in-law. They start on a frightening journey where they have to face the horrors of the war.

Several of Conchita’s short stories have been compiled in Cry, Laugh, Feel: An Anthology of my little stories.

Conchita has also recently published Crime Stories featuring five narratives in which murder plays a central role. Four of the crimes have been effectively resolved by Inspector Fernandez, a native of England with Spanish ancestry. A fictional character that has been brought to life by the author’s imagination.