KATHERINE NEVILLE’S
New Year’s Newsletter 2026
January 1, 2026
Ocultura Festival: Zaragoza
Thanks to Javier Sierra, my longtime friend, and author of Master of the Prado and The Master Plan (two novels based on a real encounter with a mysterious stranger who has been visiting The Prado for more than a hundred years.)
Javier, host of the fabulous Ocultura Festival,
The wonderful speakers included Montse Aguer, Director of the legendary Salvador Dalí Museum in Spain (created by Dalí himself); Dr. Florencio Monje Gil, who presented a fascinating video, The Cursed Faces of Goya; Clara Tahoces, my new friend and soulmate, direct descendant of Goya’s muse, the Duchess of Osuna, and author of many books and articles, including Guide to Magical Madrid; and the glamorous Dolores Redondo, expert in Basque witchcraft, and award-winning author of Spanish noir novels which have been made into popular Netflix mini-series.
Festival de las Animas: Soria
Kudos to Ernesto (Nano) Lopez, who continues the tradition of this extraordinary week-long festival in the ancient village of Soria. The Festival celebrates the “Legend” of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, from a family of artists, and Poet Laureate of Spain.
I was honored and delighted to be this year’s recipient of the Premio Máscara de Ánimas 2025! Along with Javier Sierra, his brilliant and beautiful wife Eva, and Tomás Hijo (illustrator and designer of the fabulous Guillermo del Toro Tarot Deck,) we watched as the famous Spanish voice actor Isabel Valls presented Bécquer’s iconic Legend: “The Mount of Souls” while surrounded by singers and theatrics.
That final evening celebration ended with a gigantic wall of fire, burned down into coals, and tamped down by the Fire Chief of Soria and his crew of valiant fire fighters – followed by a parade of barefoot firewalkers in the best magical Spanish tradition!
Magic in 2026
This trip to Spain was so inspiring! Everywhere I went I encountered locales, experiences, and art that I am writing about in my new book. My last days in Madrid were spent at at The Prado in a private tour with the former director of the Baroque Collection. It’s a transcendental experience that will soon launch my heroine into her proper place in literature in this New Year!
Best thoughts for a Wonderful 2026 to All of You!
See Articles & Interviews of my Trip
- La Razon ‘Katherine Neville and the quest novel’ by Javier Sierra
- ABC ‘Katherine Neville and Javier Sierra‘
- The first interview Javier Sierra did with Katherine during the book tour for “The Magic Circle”!
Videos & Interviews
Ocultura Video (1:42min)
Las Animas Video (3:54min)
