Writer Humberto Fuentes: 'Literature is the only thing that can save me'

Humberto Fuentes, a writer whose work "Cubacabana" recently earned him the Celestino de cuento award, views his literature as "young and carefree." The award-winning book delves into universal themes such as loneliness, trauma, the pursuit of happiness, dreams, old age, and grief, all framed within distinctly local contexts.

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I feel as if life is telling me that I must continue betting on literature at any cost, that it is the only thing that can save me.

Fuentes sees the award as a turning point, especially after a challenging start to 2026. "I feel as if life is telling me that I must continue betting on literature at any cost, that it is the only thing that can save me," he stated. He is currently working on a poetry collection titled "Exodus" and has several poems included in various anthologies. His writing style has evolved significantly, particularly after attending a workshop led by Francisco López Sacha, to whom "Cubacabana" is dedicated.

"From him, I learned about the poetic affection that every text should have and how to approach general themes from particular ones," Fuentes explained. He noted that Sacha could narrate the fall of the socialist camp through a broken toilet bowl and the history of the universe through a love story. Fuentes also acknowledged the influence of fellow writers, his daily journalism practice, and extensive reading in shaping his artistic maturity.

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From him, I learned about the poetic affection that every text should have and how to approach general themes from particular ones.

He conceives of new journalism narratives, also known as non-fiction or narrative journalism, as a legitimate literary genre. "Communication techniques or information organization that I constantly apply in my texts," he said, referring to the influence of journalism on his literature. "After all, stories and poems are also ways to communicate a message that will later be decoded by the reader."

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Communication techniques or information organization that I constantly apply in my texts. After all, stories and poems are also ways to communicate a message that will later be decoded by the reader.