Programmarchiv

Reading & Discussion

weRstories invites you to the reading and discussion of Mexican author J. A. Menéndez-Conde’s latest novel: "El Último Montano" , moderated by Andrea Betti.

Nacho has written only three things in his life: his diaries, which he burns upon finishing; a lost collection of short stories about his years in Mexico; and the characters of Power Quest, a video game he’s creating with his best friend, Susana. His quiet life in Berlin with his wife, Helga, is shattered when a disturbing photograph reveals a dark secret.

As reality and fiction blur in his new diary, the everyday merges with the world of Power Quest: memories, secrets, and jokes intertwine with villains and magical unicorn horns.

"El Último Montano" is an unconventional novel that blends metafiction, humor, and unease, exploring resilience in the face of deep pain—because even in the darkest tunnels, light finds a way in.

The event will be held in Spanish.

J. A. Menéndez-Conde was born in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, in 1984. Despite having lived between Spain and Germany for more than half his life and holding two passports, he asserts that his sole nationality is Mexican. Over the years, he has briefly worked in a wide range of professions: lawyer, call center operator, assistant to visual artists, baker, art handler in contemporary art galleries, and librarian. He holds a degree in Law and Political Science from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and began a Master's in German and European Law at Humboldt University in Berlin, which he never completed. Instead of writing his thesis, he became obsessed with reading and writing short stories.

One of his stories received an honorable mention in the IX Bonaventuriano Prize for Poetry and Short Stories. He attended the writing workshop of Samanta Schweblin for four years. In 2022, he debuted at the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) with his first novel, "Pocket Bones" (ES). In 2024, he returned to FIL with "The Last Montano" (ES), his second novel.

Andrea Betti studied Communication, Linguistics, Literature, and Cultural Studies across Rome, Berlin, Havana, and La Plata. He is a Pre-Doctoral researcher in Linguistics at Humboldt University and University of Rostock. His research focuses on Spanish Atlantic dialectal varieties, particularly Cuban Spanish, as well as the representation of fictional orality in literary and audiovisual media. He moderates literary events in Berlin.

weRstories is an Art & Literature Laboratory and an independent publishing house based in Berlin. We publish and promote high-quality literature written in Spanish, Italian, and English. Passionate about exploring storytelling in fresh, postmodern ways, we experiment with the convergence of words and images in innovative formats. We also give voice to the numerous and vibrant non-native communities that have settled in Germany. Whether it’s a children’s tale, a gripping novel, or a thought-provoking essay, weRstories is about what stirs the heart and sparks the mind.