From music to literature: Luísa Sobral’s leap into novel-writing
A story inspired by real events
Details of the event in Seville and the “INTREPIDA pro” project
Cross-border cooperation and empowerment
The renowned Portuguese singer-songwriter, famous for composing the winning song at Eurovision 2017 (“Amar pelos dois”), will meet Spanish readers on 7 July at the Consulate General of Portugal in Seville.
From music to literature: Luísa Sobral’s leap into novel-writing
Luísa Sobral has shown that her artistic sensibility extends far beyond the melodies that brought her international acclaim. Following the success of her children’s stories Quando a Porta Fica Aberta (2022) and O Peso das Palavras (2024), the Portuguese artist is coming to Spain to present her first major foray into fiction: No todos los árboles mueren de pie, published in Spanish by Lunwerg Planeta.
The book has been a genuine phenomenon in its country of origin, where it has already gone through 14 print runs and won such prestigious awards as the 2025 Bertrand Booksellers’ Prize for Lusophone Authors and the Bertrand Book of the Year Award for Lusophone Fiction. Since 15 April, Spanish readers have been able to enjoy this story thanks to the Spanish translation by Rosa Martínez Alfaro.
A story inspired by real events
The novel’s origins are as poetic as its title. It all began with a song, María Feliz, which Sobral composed after reading a news story about a German couple who settled in Portugal under false identities to devote themselves to medicinal herbs. Fascinated by a photograph of the protagonist, the singer-songwriter felt the need to expand that world and delve deeper into their lives.
The book intertwines the stories of two women at two pivotal moments in the 20th century:
One born at the dawn of Hitler’s rise to power.
Another caught up in the tensions of the height of the Cold War.
Two lives separated by time, yet connected by invisible threads in an intimate and moving work of fiction.
Details of the event in Seville and the “INTREPIDA pro” project
The literary event will take place on 7 July at 8.30 pm at the Consulate General of Portugal in Seville.
During the presentation, Luísa Sobral will discuss her creative process, her new book (Da Minha Janela) and her upcoming studio album, due out in October. The discussion will feature Conceição Silva (in Portuguese) and Olga Cuadrado (in Spanish), coordinators of the reading clubs that will analyse the work in both languages ahead of a further event in the autumn.
How to attend?
Invitations to attend the presentation are free, but places are limited. They can be booked in advance via the official website of the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation.
Cross-border cooperation and empowerment
This cultural event forms part of the “INTREPIDA pro” project (Internationalisation of Women Entrepreneurs from Spain and Portugal towards Integration, Development and Partnerships). This initiative, led by the Three Cultures Foundation, is funded by the European Union through the cross-border cooperation programme Interreg Spain-Portugal (POCTEP), which is celebrating 35 years of bringing the two countries together.
The project is being carried out thanks to a partnership of strategic partners in Andalusia, the Algarve and the Alentejo, including the Huelva County Development Association, the Évora Region Business Network (NERE), the Bahía de Cádiz Foundation and the Algarve Region Business Association (NERA).
Event Details
What: Presentation of the novel Not All Trees Die Standing by Luísa Sobral.
When: 7 July at 8.30 pm.
Where: Consulate General of Portugal in Seville (Av. del Cid, 1).
Organised by: Three Cultures Foundation (INTREPIDA pro Project).
Tickets: Book at www.tresculturas.org.