“It took me almost 60 years to get from Newcastle upon Tyne to Albufeira!”
As a literary muse, with its unique blend of ancient traditions, colonial aura and modernism, Mexico has long served as a rich source of inspiration for writers around the world, offering a charming backdrop for many fictional narratives.
There is no exception to the truth when it comes to Mrs Alcott:
“The view was breathtaking. They could see for miles. The sapphire-blue ocean was flat like an ice pond: no waves, only slight ripples. Occasionally, a bird would dive in and grab a fish in its beak. To the right, the more expensive resorts dotted the shoreline, and to the left was an old fishing village that hadn’t changed in the last twenty years or so.”
The author tells me she had always had an intense desire to travel, explore new places and experience different cultures: after living in Blackpool and London, she moved, lived and worked in Italy, Spain, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Canada, the US, then back to Cornwall, followed by Greece, and (for now) Portugal. That is why, reading the paragraph below, I can’t stop thinking that the protagonist (Sarah Houghton) is based, in more ways than one, on Anna Alcott herself.
“The Mexican influence brought back pleasant memories of experiences she [Sarah] had encountered in Italy and Spain. She often thought about returning to Europe. Maybe the south of France or a Greek island. She was tired of the big cities, especially Los Angeles, but that’s where her livelihood was for the moment.”
The narrative is simple and clear, beautifully evoking important facets of everyday life: relationships, breakups, motherhood, good and bad guys, the battles against the drug trade, modern slavery and child trafficking!! But the easiest way to get a better insight into the book’s main ideas is by asking the author herself a couple of questions, so here we go:
Anna, the first part of the story is full of accurate place descriptions; have you ever been to Mexico, or did you use multiple information sources for your research?
While some of the locations are geographically inaccurate, the towns resemble real ones I visited many times while I was living in California.
“Sarah knew in her heart that she would be very happy with only Olivia by her side.” It is clearly an open ending. Any sequel planned?
Initially, I hadn’t planned on writing a sequel, but then one of my readers asked when it was coming out. I had already started another book, so I quickly changed the names and made it a continuation with Sarah and Olivia. It’s still a work in progress.
What are your current literary projects?
I was working on a book with Paolo Funassi called The Algarve Experience: Life through Foreign Eyes. We interviewed 90 people from 60 countries based in the Algarve. I have almost finished The Adventures of Zoe Hunter, which is based on some true events from 1968 to 2010. (The question will be, what is truth and what is fiction?) This book will entertain those who have grown up without social media while offering insight to those who are familiar with its sometimes evasive presence. There will also be a sequel to The Adventures of Zoe Hunter, which will be set in the years 2010–2020.
You’ve been in Portugal for three years now. Any plans to move again?
Nope. I think this is it unless a medical problem forces me back to the UK or I lose my long-term rental. (I can’t afford today’s rental prices.)
Summary
Mexican Interlude is a complex tapestry sure to delight and inform, and a captivating read that offers a blend of cultural exploration, self-discovery, unexpected challenges, and inspired suspenseful twists. It is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
About the author
Anna Alcott moved to the Algarve in October 2020, and since then, she has spent most of her time writing, learning Portuguese, walking, visiting friends, or entertaining Pumpkin, her feline companion.
