Literary activism talk at the Coahuila International Book Fair

"They're a very nice audience." Maestro Saúl Rosales (Torreón, 1940) greets his readers and friends this Thursday before beginning the conversation "Literary Militancy," accompanied by fellow writer Vicente Alfonso. This was part of the Coahuila International Book Fair (FILC) Laguna Region, currently taking place at the Torreón Convention Center.

The two are there, at the table, like teacher and student, surrounded by books and a couple of bottles of water. At 5:30 p.m., the presenter reads the biographies. Vicente Alfonso is the first to take the microphone. He points out that paying tribute to Saúl Rosales in his homeland is both right and necessary.

The intention is to develop a complementary discussion to the one Saúl Rosales held with Jaime Muñoz Vargas at the FILC (Spanish International Film Festival) held a few days ago in Arteaga. The chronological history of Rosales has been discussed on numerous occasions. Vicente Alfonso proposes to talk about the literary workshop that the so-called "literary patriarch of La Laguna" led on Saturdays at the Isauro Martínez Theater (TIM).

“In a city without a Faculty of Arts, the faculty was Saúl’s workshop,” said Vicente Alfonso.

Saúl Rosales's hand trembles as he holds the microphone. He says that despite his age, he's always overcome by nerves. "Emotion closes my throat." Then he moves forward and talks about the literary workshop in La Laguna, which was taught at the cultural centers of Torreón and Gómez Palacio, sponsored by the National Institute of Fine Arts.

"But we finally founded the literary workshop at the Martínez Theater, after trying to bring in authors from Mexico City. The last one I remember was Vicente Quirarte, and then, since it was difficult to bring writers from the capital to lead the workshop, it fell into my hands."

Rosales says he's unable to specify specific dates, or even approximate ones. "Just as I've lost hair and teeth, I've also lost my memory." But despite this feeling, his memories continue to shine, like a literary beacon in the Tethys Sea. The teacher manages to glimpse the workshop's widespread acceptance and the problems that were leitmotifs throughout its existence.

"At some point, the theater's management felt the workshop was a burden and wanted to shut it down. We struggled a bit, migrating to other locations outside the theater, but we got back on board. All of this took a very long time."

It seems like we started the workshop around 1991. As I said, I can't be precise."

Another important aspect of this project was the Estepa del Nazas magazine, which the workshop members had to publish somewhere. Saúl Rosales was the founder, director, and editor of this publication.

“It was a pleasure. Perhaps the best day of the week for me was Saturday, when I had to go to the workshop, when I had to fulfill an obligation that was an immense pleasure for me.”