Prize-winning female Spanish novelist exposed as three male screenwriters

Winners of Spain's 2021 Premio Planeta award (from left) Jorge Diaz, Antonio Mercero and Augustin Martinez receive the trophy for their novel 'La Bestia', written under the pseudonym Carmen Mola during the ceremony of the 70th edition of the Premio Planeta award in Barcelona on Oct 15. Photo: AFP

The Spanish literary world was rocked recently by the revelation that one of the country's most celebrated female novelists, Carmen Mola, was in fact a work of fiction. Her books are the work of three male screenwriters: Jorge Diaz, Agustin Martinez and Antonio Mercero.

Mola was believed to be a professor in her 40s who wrote violent crime thrillers between classes. Hanska Literary and Film Agency, which represents Mola, features a photograph of a woman facing away from the camera on her author profile page.