From journalism to fiction, Dina Fernández presented her first book, Monsters and birdsa compilation of 11 short stories that narrate, in their own way, the reality of Guatemala.
After more than three decades of journalistic career, during which he passed through various newsrooms, including Free pressthe writer announced a few years ago her retirement from journalism to fulfill what she calls “a dream come true.”
“It’s a dream come true, because since I was a little girl I wanted to write fiction and it took me 50 years to get here. I’m very happy to see it come true,” she told Free press.
However, the process was not easy, since the journalistic pen, accustomed to describing real events, had to transform itself to create new stories, although very attached to the reality that Fernández knew throughout his career.
“It’s a very different process. In journalism you keep your distance, you describe things as they are and you don’t dare for the world to say what others think or feel, unless you’ve been told. But when writing fiction the process is completely different; it’s a bit like writing from the gut. It was learning to write again, like I had sat down again at university to find a new voice,” he says.
He began writing the first stories during the pandemic and, throughout these years, he finished, revised and perfected the texts that now form part of this first book.
In each of the 11 stories, Fernández presents contemporary Guatemalan society, with its doses of darkness, but also bravery, courage, and even tenderness.
“It is a book about power and violence in places where it supposedly should not exist, such as in the family circle. I would like us to reflect on society with it and think if this is the society we are because it has to be that way or what would need to change,” he adds.
In its 178 pages, Monsters and birds brings together 11 stories based on the social reality that he encountered while practicing journalism and even on some experiences from his personal life:
- Monster
- Gisele and the birds
- The rose bush house
- You can’t get out of here
- Friends from before
- blood on my fingers
- The Victories
- Desecration
- The only treasure
- children of fire
- black glass
In the company of his family, friends, journalists and writers, among them Delia Quiñónez, 2016 National Literature Prize, Monsters and birds It was presented on Thursday, July 2, 2026 at the Sophos bookstore, where it received various comments and congratulations.
With phrases such as “I’m so proud of you!”, “It’s good that the monsters aren’t the ones who win” and “Congratulations on achieving your dreams!”, the book was received with enthusiasm by the guests and readers who attended the activity.
“We are facing a piece that adds to a long and ancient tradition of humans of telling stories, of trying to put into words the world. I am grateful that this book was born as another of the fundamental stones that add to a great pyramid that we, as Mesoamerican people, have been building with our small stones of words,” said Julio Serrano, Guatemalan writer, who, together with Arnoldo Gálvez, accompanied Fernández in editing the texts and supported the presentation of the book.
Monsters and birds It is now available at Sophos Bookstore and other digital sites, at a price of Q135.
With this book, Dina Fernández debuted as a fiction writer and assures that her next project “will definitely be a novel.”
