Welcome to OPEN BOOK, where we open the book on our authors and discover their literary stories!
In this edition, we'd like to introduce Jose Daniel Llopis, author of Dear Natasha.
This is a story that delves into personal relationships, feelings at the deepest levels, and a narrative of suspense interweaved with science and technology, intrigue, espionage, history and politics. A story in which Philip, son of Natasha and Juan, tells the story of his parents, and he tries to find himself in the writing of his own words.
What was your planning process for writing this novel like?
My planning process for *Dear Natasha* involved bringing together several different elements: history, science, espionage, and the personal stories of the characters.
I wanted to create a novel that would keep readers guessing while also making them curious about the real events and scientific ideas behind the story. The starting point was the central mystery: a treasure hidden during the Second World War, a secret that had survived for more than eighty years, and a chain of events connecting Eastern Europe, Boston, MIT, and Sweden.
From there, I developed the characters and the connections between their lives, gradually building the plot around the historical secrets and scientific discoveries at the heart of the story. I also wanted the different locations to feel meaningful, rather than simply serving as a backdrop.
My scientific background influenced the way I approached the novel. I enjoy exploring how seemingly unrelated ideas can connect, and I brought that same curiosity to the story. Research was an important part of the process, particularly in making the historical and scientific elements believable without overwhelming the narrative.
However, I didn't want the novel to feel like a rigidly constructed puzzle. I wanted the mystery to unfold naturally, allowing readers to discover new pieces of information alongside the characters. Balancing the planned structure with the freedom to develop the story as I wrote was one of the most interesting aspects of the process.
Ultimately, my goal was to write an adventure thriller that combines history, science, and espionage, with the past casting a long shadow over the present. I wanted readers to enjoy the mystery itself, but also to finish the book still thinking about the secrets, discoveries, and human decisions that drive the story.
What is the story behind the title?
The title *Dear Natasha* came from the personal and mysterious nature of the story. Natasha is a central figure in the novel and addressing her directly creates an immediate sense of intimacy, as though the reader is opening a letter that carries a secret from the past.
I wanted a title that would raise questions rather than reveal too much. Who is Natasha? Why is someone addressing her? What connects her to the events unfolding across different countries and generations? The word *Dear* suggests something personal, perhaps a confession or a message that has waited a long time to be understood. Yet, as the story develops, readers discover that the mystery goes far beyond a simple personal relationship.
The novel explores how secrets can survive for decades, connecting people, places, and events in unexpected ways. Against the backdrop of the Second World War, science, and espionage, the title serves as a reminder that behind every historical mystery there are human stories waiting to be uncovered.
For me, *Dear Natasha* captures the personal heart of the novel without giving away its secrets. It invites the reader into the mystery, one that can only be fully understood by following the story to its conclusion.
Who or what inspired your characters?
"The characters in *Dear Natasha* were inspired by my interest in people, history, science, and the way individual lives can become entangled in events much larger than themselves.
My scientific background has influenced how I think about characters. I am fascinated by curiosity, the search for answers, and the way people approach problems differently depending on their experiences and motivations. I wanted my characters to reflect those differences, with their own strengths, weaknesses, secrets, and reasons for becoming involved in the mystery.
Natasha was particularly important to the story. I wanted a Ukrainian female character whose presence would bring a distinctive perspective to the novel and connect its personal story with the wider historical and political landscape of Eastern Europe. Having visited Kyiv before the war, I also had a personal connection to the region, which made this aspect of the story especially meaningful to me.
The other characters emerged from the world surrounding the central mystery, including the scientific environment of MIT, the historical legacy of the Second World War, and the secretive world of espionage. I was interested in how people from different backgrounds and generations might find themselves connected by events that began long before they were born.
Rather than simply making my characters serve the plot, I wanted their decisions, relationships, and conflicting motivations to help drive it forward. After all, a mystery becomes much more compelling when the people at its centre are just as intriguing as the secrets they are trying to uncover.
Where do find your writing inspiration?
My inspiration comes from curiosity. I have always been interested in understanding how things work, discovering connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, and exploring the questions that don't have easy answers.
My background in mathematics and science has shaped the way I see the world. During my academic career and later work in technology, I learned that a single question can lead you down a path you never expected. I find that same sense of discovery in writing fiction. Sometimes, an idea begins with a historical event, a scientific concept, a place I have visited, or simply a question about what might have happened behind the scenes of a real story.
Travel and living between different cultures have also influenced my imagination. My experiences in Spain, Boston, and elsewhere have made me interested in how people from different backgrounds see the world, and how history, identity, and personal circumstances shape their decisions.
For *Dear Natasha*, I was particularly drawn to the idea that secrets from the past can continue to influence the present. History is full of unanswered questions, forgotten stories, and events whose consequences extend far beyond their original time. Combining these elements with science and espionage allowed me to explore that fascination through an adventure thriller.
Ultimately, I think inspiration comes from remaining curious about the world. You don't necessarily have to look for a story; sometimes, you just need to recognise the story hidden inside a question that won't leave you alone.
Where do you find it easiest to write?
I find it easiest to write when I have some quiet time and space to let my thoughts develop. For me, writing is as much about thinking as it is about putting words on a page. I often need time to explore an idea, make connections, and imagine how a story might unfold before I start writing.
My background in mathematics and software engineering has taught me to concentrate deeply on complex problems, and I think that habit carries over into my writing. I enjoy building a story, connecting different pieces of information, and working out how seemingly unrelated events fit together.
However, I don't think inspiration depends entirely on being in a particular place. Sometimes an idea comes to me when I'm walking, travelling, or simply taking a break from whatever I'm working on. The important thing is having the opportunity to develop that idea when it arrives.
With a novel like *Dear Natasha*, which brings together history, science, and espionage, I needed time to think about how the different elements connected. I enjoy those moments when a plot detail suddenly makes sense or a new connection opens up an unexpected direction for the story.
Ultimately, the best place for me to write is wherever I can find the right balance between concentration and imagination.
Where and when do you get most of your writing done?
I tend to get the most writing done when I can find some uninterrupted time away from the usual demands of everyday life. Balancing my professional life and family responsibilities means that writing requires a certain amount of discipline. I cannot always wait for the perfect moment or for inspiration to strike.
I find that having time to concentrate is more important than being in a particular place. Once I become immersed in the story, I can spend hours thinking about the characters, connecting different plotlines, and working out how the pieces of the mystery fit together.
Interestingly, some of my best ideas come when I'm not actually sitting down to write. My mind continues working on the story in the background, and sometimes a solution to a plot problem appears when I least expect it.
Writing *Dear Natasha* taught me that developing a novel is not just about the hours spent in front of a computer. It is also about giving ideas time to mature and allowing the imagination to work between writing sessions.
What piece of writing advice have you found the most helpful during your writing career?
The most helpful advice I would give myself, and other writers, is: don't wait until you have everything figured out before you start writing.
Coming from a background in mathematics, science, and software engineering, I'm used to analysing problems, looking for logical connections, and trying to understand how everything fits together. That approach is useful when constructing a complex thriller, but writing a novel also requires a willingness to explore the unknown.
Sometimes, you need to start writing before you know exactly where the story will take you. The characters develop, unexpected connections emerge, and ideas that initially seem unrelated can eventually become essential to the plot.
I've also learned the importance of perseverance. Writing a novel is a long process, and there will always be moments when a scene doesn't work or the story seems to have reached a dead end. The important thing is to keep going, even if what you write today isn't perfect. You can always revise it tomorrow.
For me, the real lesson is that you don't have to write a perfect first draft; you have to write a first draft that gives you something to work with. Sometimes, the best discoveries happen along the way.
Did you encounter Writers Block? If so, how did you overcome it?
Yes, I think every writer encounters moments when the words simply don't come, or when a story refuses to develop in the direction you expected. For me, the challenge is sometimes not a lack of ideas, but having too many possibilities and trying to find the right way to connect them.
My background in mathematics and software engineering has taught me to approach difficult problems by breaking them down into smaller pieces. I sometimes apply the same principle to writing. If I get stuck on a particular scene or plot development, I step back and look at the bigger picture. I ask myself what the characters want, what is preventing them from achieving it, and what needs to happen next to move the story forward.
I also find it helpful to take a break rather than force myself to write. Going for a walk or concentrating on something completely different can give my mind the space it needs to work through a problem in the background. Quite often, an idea emerges when I'm no longer actively searching for it.
With a mystery like *Dear Natasha*, where history, science, and espionage intersect, maintaining the connections between different elements of the plot can be challenging. Sometimes, stepping away helps me see a connection I had previously overlooked.
I've learned that writer's block doesn't necessarily mean you've run out of ideas. Sometimes, it simply means you need a different perspective. The important thing is to be patient with yourself, keep exploring possibilities, and trust that the story will eventually find its way forward.
Are there any books which have inspired your writing?
I've always been drawn to books that combine intellectual curiosity with a compelling story. I particularly enjoy writers who can take history, science, or real-world mysteries and transform them into narratives that keep readers thinking long after they've finished reading.
Authors such as Dan Brown, Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth, Robert Ludlum, Umberto Eco, and Michael Crichton offer different approaches to storytelling that I find fascinating. Dan Brown's ability to build mysteries around historical clues, Frederick Forsyth's meticulous approach to espionage, and Michael Crichton's talent for bringing scientific ideas into fiction are particularly interesting examples of how research and imagination can work together. Ken Follett and Umberto Eco also demonstrate how history can provide a rich foundation for stories filled with intrigue and unexpected connections.
Coming from a background in mathematics, science, and technology, I naturally gravitate towards stories that challenge the reader intellectually while maintaining a strong narrative. I enjoy trying to work out the connections between different pieces of information, although I also appreciate the importance of creating believable characters whose personal motivations drive the story forward.
And finally… Why should people read your book next?
If you enjoy stories that make you think as well as keep you turning the pages, I think *Dear Natasha* could be your next read.
The novel brings together several worlds that don't always meet in fiction: the historical legacy of the Second World War, scientific discovery, international espionage, and a mystery surrounding a treasure hidden for more than eighty years. The story connects Eastern Europe, Boston, MIT, and Sweden, bringing together different people, places, and generations through secrets that refuse to remain buried.
What I particularly wanted to explore was how events from the past can continue to shape the present, sometimes in ways that nobody could have anticipated. The characters find themselves caught up in a mystery whose implications reach far beyond what they initially understand, and each discovery opens the door to new questions.
My background in mathematics and science has influenced the way I approach the story, especially my fascination with connections, patterns, and the search for answers. However, you don't need a scientific background to enjoy the book. At its heart, *Dear Natasha* is an adventure thriller about people, secrets, and the consequences of decisions made long ago.
I'd encourage readers who enjoy historical mysteries, international thrillers, and stories that combine real-world ideas with imaginative storytelling to give it a chance.
And perhaps the most important reason to read it is this: some secrets are buried for a reason, but that doesn't mean they will stay hidden forever. In *Dear Natasha*, the past still has something to say, and discovering what it is lies at the heart of the adventure.
