This novel about a real-life controversial Peruvian military leader, written by his son, has sold over 20,000 copies in Peru. In the book, the author confronts difficult questions about his father's potential involvement in state-sanctioned torture and murder.

Book: The Distance That Sets Us Apart by Renato Cisneros

Published by: Editorial Planeta Peru in July 2015

Format: Hardcover

Author: Renato Cisneros is a Peruvian-born journalist and writer who currently lives in Madrid. He has written three novels, including Never Trust Me and Strange, and has directed a number of Peruvian radio and TV programs.

Acquiring Editor: Jerónimo Pimentel, Editorial Planeta’s Lima-based publisher

How It’s Done: Cisneros developed a name for himself in Peru as an author of young adult fiction. It was not widely known that he is the son of the former Peruvian army general Luis Federico Cisneros, who the publisher explained is "one of the most important military men in the recent history of Peru."

Pimentel said that when he heard Cisneros was writing a book about his father, he and his colleague were immediately interested. The final product has now exceeded expectations. “We never imagined [his book] would sell over 20,000 copies in six months," Pimental said, adding that this is a significant sum "for a [small] country like Peru." Since the title was released, Editorial Planeta has gone back to press five times and will be releasing editions in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and, likely, Spain. The first translation rights deal, made by the Barcelona-based Pontas Agency, has closed with French publisher Christian Bourgois Éditeur.

Why They Think It’s Working: "When a country passes through dramatic events, it takes one or two decades to transform this social trauma in art," Pimental said, noting that this book is shedding light on some of the dramatic events Peru's recent history. The Pontas Agency explained that the book aims to "demystify" its controversial subject, who served as Peru's Minister of War during the 1980s. Maria Cardona at the Pontas Agency said Luis Federico Cisneros was a significant figure in the Peruvian government during "dark times," and that his close relationships with other dictators forces the author to explore questions about whether his dad "tortured and killed many people."