Concòrdia Councillor Pol Bartolomé Launches Charity Thriller Novel in Sant Julià

Pol Bartolomé Areny, general councillor for the Concòrdia party, launches his debut fiction novel, *La font dels diamants*, at an event on Monday at 7pm in Sant Julià de Lòria's Centre Cultural Lauredià.

The rural thriller, set in an imaginary Pyrenean village about a century ago, follows a group of young people investigating a local legend. Bartolomé emphasises that beyond the plot, the story prompts reflections on identity, community and the passage of time. He describes it as dynamic, with each reader likely to find personal resonance in its themes.

The project began four years ago while Bartolomé lived in New York and worked at Andorra's embassy to the United Nations. Homesickness for his roots led him to jot down scattered ideas during free moments such as weekends, holidays and vacations. Initially unplanned as a publishable book, it evolved into a first draft by late last year. Early in 2026, he approached local publishers, and Editorial Llamps i Trons embraced the manuscript—particularly its charitable angle.

Both author and publisher cover production costs, directing all proceeds from this first edition, tied to Sant Jordi 2026, to Càritas Andorrana. Funds will support the 'Tu com jo' programme, which provides dignity-preserving food access via supermarket credit cards rather than food bank reliance. Bartolomé views this as especially vital amid rising living costs from inflation. "Writing is not my profession, so it felt right to channel sales toward families in need," he said.

Càritas welcomed the initiative immediately. Bartolomé plans to extend the project with a song sharing the novel's title, aiming to prolong its impact despite its short run. He hopes it offers enjoyable reading while generating meaningful support.