The Love and Death of Caterina

Book excerpt: Luciano Hernando Valdez is his Latin American nation's most celebrated novelist and he's suffering from writer's block. So far his latest great work comprises the words "The scrawny yellow cat crossed the road." He's tried all his usual tricks to get back on track--he's had a few debates with his trusty colleagues at the university, he's had an affair with the banker's wife, nothing will work. Until he meets Caterina. Beautiful, young and one of his biggest fans, she has idolized him since she was a child and he has inspired her to write. Convinced that falling in love with her, spending every minute he can alongside her, molding her to his world, will unlock something and enable him to write, he pursues her and soon enough, he falls headlong into her arms. But it's only a matter of time before he murders her.