<p>Firstly, this paper aims to provide new theoretical insights into the study of meaning creation and the recognition of the relationships established among the narrative levels within a single literary work, with the support of Relevance Theory and Cognitive Linguistics. Specifically, we argue that the same cognitive mechanisms used in the processing of metaphor are also present in the interpretation of narrative levels. In particular, we hypothesize that there is a process of mutual framing between them. Therefore, we draw on Robyn Carston's hypothesis of the lingering of the literal, as well as Fauconnier and Turner's theory of conceptual blending in metaphor. Finally, we apply this theoretical framework to Jon Bilbao’s western trilogy, which is regarded as an example of contemporary autobiografiction written in Spanish language. In fact, we argue that the key to interpreting both the gunfighter Dunbar's adventures and the fictional writer Jon's daily life could lie in the presentation of real inner experiences.</p>