What the water didn't wash away...

As a dedicated writer, I am passionate about reading. I am equally passionate about my home region, Valencia. Both passions sparked great excitement in me when I heard about the special something we are planning for this year—a tradition we observe at MIG every year around this time.

Yes, this year, our good wishes for Christmas and the New Year will not stop at a mere greeting—however creative or original it might be. Nor will they be limited to a simple financial contribution to a group in need.

This year we're going to build, and rebuild, through words. How? With “What the Water Didn’t Wash Away”, a charitable digital book featuring a collection of short fictional stories inspired by the resilience of those who lived through the DANA storm—specifically in Paiporta. It is a work that aims not only to give a voice to those affected but also to support them. That tangible support will focus on rebuilding what is, for me, more than just a symbol of culture and community—it is one of the temples of the written word: a bookstore, La Moixeranga

The book fuses the power and fiction of words with the emotion and reality of photography, as it features the collaboration of the photographer. José Ramón Gándara, who has spent weeks capturing and immortalizing the reality and emotions of those affected and the volunteers in various areas. Real stories from the ground—raw moments that reveal the resilience and solidarity of a community united in the face of adversity.

More on "What the Water Didn't Wash Away"

Do you want to help rebuild that place where the magic of words allows us to escape? You can. downloading the book for just 2 eurosThat amount will be allocated directly and in full to assist in the reconstruction of La Moixeranga, thereby helping Eva and Arantxa—the owners—reopen the doors of this beloved venue, a place that serves as a home for both books and the people of Paiporta.

A home—my home. It could be any of the areas devastated in Valencia. A home—that region of the Levante which has surely been the epicenter of fond memories for many, even if we live hundreds of kilometers away.

Valencia needs us. For while the water may have swept many things away, it has made others stand out—like that sense of solidarity that surely drives us all to want to help rebuild.

Find out more about this initiative here: https://loqueelaguanoarrastro.org/