Miguel Ángel Sánchez places fourth in Premio Planeta

Miguel Ángel Sánchez Romero, a musician from Gátova, Spain, secured fourth place in the Premio Planeta 2026 literary competition. His unpublished novel, ‘Kintsugi o tres almas rotas’, was selected as one of the nine finalists from a pool of more than 1,400 entries.

Writing under the pseudonym Hugalma de la Sierra—a tribute to his children, Hugo and Alma, and his wife’s surname—Sánchez explores themes of music and mental health. The narrative follows three protagonists experiencing emotional crises whose paths intersect at a therapeutic kintsugi workshop, utilizing the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics to symbolize personal healing.

The author expressed surprise at his selection, discovering his inclusion in the shortlist only 24 hours before the awards ceremony in Barcelona. His achievement has brought significant celebration to his home municipality of Gátova.