Talking with Francisco Garcia felt familiar. Like the impression his writing gives, he is a friendly conversationalist – one that starts with a firm handshake. The 29-year-old’s first book, If You Were There, investigates missing people – those who have searched, those who still are searching, and those who have been found. All the while, it delves into his own experience, because his father went missing twenty years ago. Soon after publishing, the fate of his father and paternal family was discovered. “I’ve been one of the luckiest people in the world,” he says, leaning back in his chair. “There’s no other words for it. Completely shell-shocked.”
Published in May 2021, If You Were There, was named The Guardian’s Book of the Day and received glowing reviews. It tells the story of Garcia’s life growing up in south-east London, where, aged seven years old, his father, Christobal, walked out of his life, leaving behind a young wife and child. His father battled with substance addiction and unemployment – eventually reaching a point where escape seemed the best option. Garcia saw his father for the last time in 2000 following his mother’s death from breast cancer, and has been missing from his life ever since. However, since writing the book, his life gained another chapter. In a new epilogue to the paperback version, published last month, he tells the story of how he finally discovered his father’s fate and found his family after years of searching.
In late March, 2021, Garcia was watching a film at home with his partner, when his phone chimed. “It was my cousin from Spain. Almost immediately afterwards I got a message from my auntie. They’d been looking for me for years – and had just found me on Facebook. I don’t use Facebook either – it was a dormant profile but I still use the messenger sometimes.”
Garcia says his family had no idea he had kept his father’s surname, Garcia-Ferreira, as opposed to the traditional Spanish custom of attaching your mother’s maiden name. Unknown to him, they had spent years looking for Francisco Garcia-Ward.
He shifts in his chair, knee bouncing up and down. He seems slightly anxious.
“How did that feel? The realisation that you yourself were a missing person?”
“It feels obviously strange. There’s been so many times over the years I’ve gone on the internet and [put] my dad’s name. Nothing, nothing, nothing. I didn’t know if he was still alive or not. I might have made the occasional vague thought that I might be this nominally missing person to them, but I never really thought about that in a serious way.”
After connecting with his family, Garcia soon learnt his father had passed away within a few years of them last seeing each other, living in La Línea, Spain, aged 32.
In the following months, Garcia spoke to members of his long lost Spanish family every day – reaching a point where it felt like no time had passed. In October 2021, himself and his partner visited La Línea, where he met his family for the first time in 20 years. The experience, he says, was emotional, but something he will cherish forever.
“I’ve got all these aunties and uncles – my dad was one of eight. I’ve got grandparents, cousins I’d never met. It’s insane. We didn’t get a chance to do a lot of chatting. There’s plenty of time for that.”
Hoping to return again this year, Garcia jokes about now needing to learn Spanish, as unlike his name suggests, he cannot speak the language.
We move on to talk about his writing – more particularly his journey into journalism and book writing.
After completing an English degree at the University of Dundee in 2014, Garcia spent a year in Glasgow where, at the University of Strathclyde, he completed his journalism masters. From the age of 23, he pursued the profession – the same age he was first paid for an article.
In the years between, he worked as a teaching assistant, in a pub, and for a magazine. By 2018, he turned to freelance writing, where his work has been showcased in the likes of VICE, The Guardian and Rolling Stone UK.
“I was never someone that was focused on being a journalist. I sort of knew I was going to do something along the lines of being a writer. I think the world is so full of interesting things to talk about. I think you can never be bored. I love it.”
The journey from journalism to book-writing was natural; much of Garcia’s work centres around the topic of missing people. He enjoys the research involved in a book – so much so, work on his next project has already begun. We All Go Into The Dark, his second book, due out next year, will investigate the Scottish legend of Bible John – a man who brutally murdered three women and was never identified.
He is excited to be moving onto something new: “I’m interested in the way there’s a disconnect between public perception and different realities,” he says, hands fluidly punctuating his words. “Although not about missing people, I’m interested in not only trying to puncture a few of the myths but also give a different read.”
Conversation concludes around Garcia’s life outside of writing. Through a laugh, he explains his current stresses of moving house with his partner, but grins while proudly announcing that he’ll remain in south-east London. We discuss the mark the area has left on him – particularly what it signifies, having been born in Lewisham Hospital and remained within the area all of his adult life post-university.
He ponders his answer: “The place that I consider home is small,” he says, scratching his beard for inspiration. “Probably Catford to Forest Hill – that’s where I consider this very special place. It’s something more than just nostalgia, it’s that sort of innate sense of home – that ‘this is my place’. This is where I feel the most comfortable.”
If You Were There: Missing People and the Marks They Leave Behind (£9.99) can be purchased online from publisher HarperCollins here: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/if-you-were-there-missing-people-and-the-marks-they-leave-behind-francisco-garcia?variant=39528269381710.