Mikel

In Mikel, a man pursues his dream of writing while navigating the challenges of a new job as a bodyguard in a politically charged environment.

Mikel lives with his wife and two children in Costur, an idyllic Spanish town surrounded by hills. He has a job selling confectionary, but Mikel is a dreamer, not a businessman, and money is tight. What’s more, the mundanity of small-town life is preventing him from fulfilling a life-long dream: to become a writer.

Seeking both drama and financial security, Mikel takes a job as a bodyguard. His family is soon uprooted to the Basque country, where Mikel is charged with protecting politicians from the armed separatist group ETA. It is a job that provides drama worthy of the page but only at the cost of fear, uncertainty, and family breakdown.

In Mikel, author Mark Bellido draws on his own experiences to create a powerful and provocative story about a man who risks everything in the pursuit of a dream. The narrative explores themes of ambition, sacrifice, and the complexities of family life against the backdrop of political turmoil. Mikel's journey is not just about personal aspirations but also about the impact of choices on loved ones, making it a poignant exploration of the human condition.