My first published novel was
Whisper Falls, a YA magical realism story where an indentured servant girl in 1796 forms a friendship across two centuries with a boy living in 2016 Raleigh (NC), USA.
I'm happy to announce that the Spanish translation,
La Cascada Susurrante, released in June!
Alexandra García Galván spent eight months creating a lovely, lyrical translation of this book. She worked closely with me to find the best words and phrases to communicate what it meant to be an indentured servant in 18th century United States. It was a pleasure to collaborate with her.
I asked Alexandra to share some of her favorite passages from the book. (The English translations are at the end of the post.) Here are two of her favorites, with her explanation of why she chose them.
Alexandra García Galván: "Quotes
about books always win my heart."
Papá me había dicho que un libro era un simple papel lleno de tinta
hasta que la mente de un lector le daba vida.
1
AGG: "I admired
Susanna’s strength since the beginning but this part reminded me in a clearer
way the helplessness girls like her had to face in the past; the way she says
that maybe her scars haven’t spoken loudly enough is heartbreaking and the
gasps of the townspeople enrage you because that’s their only
reaction. This was very powerful."
-- A lo largo de los ocho años de servicio, señor Worth, usted ha visto mis
moretones, quemaduras y cortes --subí la manga izquierda, exponiendo la cicatriz roja y fruncí los labios.
La gente del pueblo ahogó gritos desde sus bancas-- Ha habido evidencia de
la crueldad de manera clara y constante. Si mis cicatrices no hablan lo
suficientemente fuerte todavía, entonces no, señor. No tengo nada más qué
decir.
2
Here's the blurb:
Su relación a distancia abarca doscientos años...
Mark Lewis, estudiante de último año de preparatoria, se está preparando para una carrera de ciclismo de montaña cuando ve a una joven vestida de forma extraña a través de una cascada en el bosque cerca de su casa, en Carolina del Norte. Cuando ella le hace un comentario sobre la extraña máquina que monta, sospecha que algo no anda bien. Y cuando Susanna le dice que es una sirvienta de 1796, se pregunta si está loca. Sin embargo, está decidido a averiguar más. Mark comienza una "relación a distancia" con Susanna gracias a la barrera misteriosa y temperamental que es la Cascada Susurrante. Intrigado por su mundo, Mark busca a través de la historia poder descubrir todo sobre la vida brutal en la que ella está atrapada. Pero el conocimiento puede ser peligroso. Pronto debe elegir entre el riesgo de cambiar la historia o de condenar a la chica, de la que no puede dejar de pensar, a una vida de miseria.
La Cascada Susurrante is available now at many ebook retailers.
1Papa once told me that a book was mere paper splattered with ink until a reader's mind gave it life.
2Throughout the eight
years of my indenture, Mr. Worth, you have seen my bruises, burns, and cuts.” I
rolled back my left sleeve, exposing the red, puckered scar. The townsfolk in
the pews gasped. “There has been clear and constant evidence of cruelty. If my
scars have not spoken loudly enough already, then no, sir—I have nothing
further to say.
Lacey Linden has gotten good at hiding the truth of her life—a depressed mom, a crumbling house, and bills too big to pay. In school, she’s a girl with a ready smile and good grades, but at night, Lacey spends her time dreaming up ways to save her family. On a get-cash-quick trip to the flea market, Lacey stumbles over a music box that seemingly begs her to take it home. She does, only to find that it’s inhabited by a gorgeous “genie.” He offers her a month of wishes, one per day, but there’s a catch. Each wish must be humanly possible.
