While it might be said that Nélida Piñon was a Catholic writer, she was certainly not one set in the customary mould – or indeed in any mould at all. Certainly the faith of her Galician immigrant family influenced her work – many of her books were infused with themes of Christian mysticism and spirituality – but she was interested in religion not only as an expression of faith but also as a springboard for storytelling. A religious foundation often provided a starting point for an exploration that took her writing well beyond traditional expressions of religious belief.