Brenda González Writer and teacher from Mexico

First, I fell in love with books. I am a passionate reader, and my love for books led me to writing. Since childhood, I have dreamed of seeing my name on the cover of a book. I enjoy telling stories—what I have seen, felt, heard, and even what I have feared. There is history everywhere. Sometimes, I capture it and turn it into a story that lasts.

A dear friend of mine is a fan of Cornelia, and she introduced me to her books. I started by reading the "Inkheart" trilogy, and when I saw that the LIJPE Seminar (the Pereira Children's Literature Seminar) was hosting a conversation with Cornelia and Adolfo Córdova, I signed up immediately. Upon a question from the audience, Cornelia spontaneously invited us to take part in some kind of creative contest: to write, illustrate, or compose a musical piece inspired by Adolfo's book "El Dragón Blanco y otros personajes olvidados" I wrote a story about the character of Pinocchio’s Fairy, and the "Beautiful Girl with Turquoise Hair" took me to Italy.

Fraggina feels like being inside a book. It’s Cornelia’s own “Ink World,” a magical place where ideas flow effortlessly. You are surrounded by nature, with books and paintings everywhere, musical instruments ready for composing, and even a bed nestled among the trees. Flowers bloom around you, and inspiration arrives naturally. It’s a surprising place that I sometimes visit in my dreams.

I brought home a character made of leaves from the Fraggina trees, who already has their first story—and I believe there will be more. A story inspired by the mountains of Durango came to life in the magical landscape of Volterra, thanks to a fantastic stroke of serendipity. I also gained the friendship of Karina and Adolfo; it was incredible to share the literary retreat with them. Cornelia’s magic is still present, especially when I believe in dreams and the possibility of making them come true. She opened that great door.