called Centro de Altos Estudios Juan Gossaín and he created this place so he could be able to teach young writers the art of narrating reality. Notable literary works He wrote the novel "La balada de María Abdala." The story is about a dead man who returns to the living in order to witness the burial of his mother. Puro cuento, 2004, was one of Gossaín's most popular and unique works. This novel contained eighteen stories that were results of stories that he knew and experienced after leaving Córdoba, Colombia. These stories were unique and different because the magic of the Caribbean that had previously been seen of his novels was almost completely absent. What Gossaín experienced and portrayed in this novel was the feeling of grayness and the buildings that invaded the souls of the people who lived in them. It had an unfamiliar tone and many of Gossaín's readers were hooked to the work that he had created. In popular culture Luis Soriano operates a mobile book library, called a Biblioburro, that uses a donkey as his means of transport. He asked for a donation from Gossaín and received Gossaín's second novel, "The Ballad of Maria Abdala", as well a Gossaín's report about Soriano's effort on RCN Radio, which led to further donations. Impact Gossaín was the recipient of The National Simón Bolívar Award in 1995 and 1997. The nominees and winners of the award are some of the most influential personalities of Colombia. The award is very respected and adored by Colombians making it a big accomplishment to win it. Gossaìn has proved how influential and respected his work is by receiving the award twice. He has also participated in the Carnaval Internacional de las Artes (translated: International Arts Carnival) for three years with Juan Manuel Roca. Awards The National Simón Bolívar Award in 1977, 1985, 1989 (Premio a la vida y obra en la modalidad de los medios electrÓnicos), 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, Colombia-Spain Award for Best Journalist of the Year (Premio Colombia-España al mejor periodista del año) Bibliography La mala hierba La nostalgia del alcatraz La balada de María Abdala (2003) Puro cuento San Bernando del Viento References External links City TV Interview where Juan Gossaín speaks about his relationship with fiction and non-fiction. Video:Las mejores anécdotas de los periodistas que han hecho parte de los 100 años de Cromos 1949 births