Ask the Author: Sofía Segovia
“Voy a estar respondiendo preguntas sobre mis libros esta semana (17/03-21/03) ¡Mándame tu pregunta!”
Sofía Segovia
Answered Questions (31)
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Sofía Segovia
La edición original (Trade), no la tiene, porque cuando la publicaron, yo no tenía la fábula original que escribí 25+ años antes en la carrera. . Ésa la agregamos para la edición Debolsillo, como material adicional, porque una amiga de la carrera la había conservado.
Sofía Segovia
¡Gracias por leerme y por escribirme, Bibiana!
(Y lamento que hasta hoy recibas mi respuesta: no había visto tu pregunta)
Las abejas tienen significados en varios niveles: en el plano creativo, significaron "ponerle flores" a un aspecto histórico que me parece terrible: que un político se escriba una ley a conveniencia. (en México —¿y en España?— tenemos un dicho: si no te gusta, ponle flores. Las abejas "deciden" que para esa tierra quieren un cambio de cultivo, y lo logran antes que la ley que en la vida real inspiró el cambio.
Dentro de la narrativa, las abejas significaron el detonador para el aspecto mágico, casi mitológico de la creación y protección de la vida y de la madre tierra que tiene la novela en el triunvirato que forman con la nana Reja, Simonopio.
(Y lamento que hasta hoy recibas mi respuesta: no había visto tu pregunta)
Las abejas tienen significados en varios niveles: en el plano creativo, significaron "ponerle flores" a un aspecto histórico que me parece terrible: que un político se escriba una ley a conveniencia. (en México —¿y en España?— tenemos un dicho: si no te gusta, ponle flores. Las abejas "deciden" que para esa tierra quieren un cambio de cultivo, y lo logran antes que la ley que en la vida real inspiró el cambio.
Dentro de la narrativa, las abejas significaron el detonador para el aspecto mágico, casi mitológico de la creación y protección de la vida y de la madre tierra que tiene la novela en el triunvirato que forman con la nana Reja, Simonopio.
Sofía Segovia
Muchas gracias por leer la novela y dejarte llevar por ella! Toda la zona entre Monterrey y Linares es muy hermosa, llena de cerros. Linares tiene las huertas de cítricos, que siempre son lindas y como pequeña ciudad, tiene sus áreas muy lindas. Además es pueblo mágico y le han embellecido el centro, especialmente donde sucede la historia.
Sofía Segovia
Hola, Carlos:
Espero que muy pronto!
Gracias por tu interés.
Saludos!
SS
Espero que muy pronto!
Gracias por tu interés.
Saludos!
SS
Sofía Segovia
Hola, Raúl:
Gracias por leerme.
Estoy escribiendo nueva novela.
Va lenta, pero segura.
Gracias por tu interés.
SS
Gracias por leerme.
Estoy escribiendo nueva novela.
Va lenta, pero segura.
Gracias por tu interés.
SS
Sofía Segovia
Hello, Katrina!
I don't get to see my messages in Goodreads, so it took me ten months to read your message. I'm sorry! The good news is that Tears of Amber is out since May. I hope you enjoy it too!
I don't get to see my messages in Goodreads, so it took me ten months to read your message. I'm sorry! The good news is that Tears of Amber is out since May. I hope you enjoy it too!
Sofía Segovia
Hello, Morris!
Great compliment you're giving me! I haven't read Jorge Amado. But I admire Borges. Having said that, I try to forget all the figures in the pantheon of writers, because I believe that if I don't, they would become more a source of paralysis than inspiration.
I want to invite you to read Tears of Amber. I hope you enjoy that one too!
Great compliment you're giving me! I haven't read Jorge Amado. But I admire Borges. Having said that, I try to forget all the figures in the pantheon of writers, because I believe that if I don't, they would become more a source of paralysis than inspiration.
I want to invite you to read Tears of Amber. I hope you enjoy that one too!
Sofía Segovia
Dear Valorie,
I'm sorry I just read your message. Thank you for choosing my novel to share with your book club. I hope everyone enjoyed it.
In the novel, Simonopio is a bee in shape of a boy or a boy with the heart of a bee. I do believe that what Simonopio does is possible in real life to some extent. I believe we can all connect with our senses and instincts much more if we remain aware, if we "listen" with purpose.
Did you know Tears of Amber is out? I hope you enjoy that one too!
I'm sorry I just read your message. Thank you for choosing my novel to share with your book club. I hope everyone enjoyed it.
In the novel, Simonopio is a bee in shape of a boy or a boy with the heart of a bee. I do believe that what Simonopio does is possible in real life to some extent. I believe we can all connect with our senses and instincts much more if we remain aware, if we "listen" with purpose.
Did you know Tears of Amber is out? I hope you enjoy that one too!
Sofía Segovia
Viene de un apodo que mi abuelo dio a un niño en su propiedad. Un día el niño enfermó de algún mal respiratorio, y mi abuelo aseguraba haber curado a Simonopio con un Sinapismo.
Te mando un gran saludo!
Te mando un gran saludo!
Sofía Segovia
Hola María Esther!
Fíjate que, hasta tu pregunta, no lo había considerado. ¡Buena pregunta! Estudiaré más a Novalis, a quien no conozco mucho. ¡Todavía!
Saludos!
Fíjate que, hasta tu pregunta, no lo había considerado. ¡Buena pregunta! Estudiaré más a Novalis, a quien no conozco mucho. ¡Todavía!
Saludos!
Sofía Segovia
Hello, Ygrace!
Thank you for reading The Murmur of Bees!
I think that in this novel, understanding comes with believing in the magic that the bees, Simonopio and Nana Reja bring to the story.
Thank you for reading The Murmur of Bees!
I think that in this novel, understanding comes with believing in the magic that the bees, Simonopio and Nana Reja bring to the story.
Sofía Segovia
It might have come by slow increments. The first novel made me believe, but then it didn't get published right away. I waited for 7 years. Then it got published and I talked to my first readers and that got me believing again. It got me writing again. The Murmur of Bees was the wonderful point of no return!
Sofía Segovia
Hola, Marisa! Me da mucho gusto saber que esa novela las acompañó y alegró en momentos difíciles. Tears of Amber es la traducción de Peregrinos. ¿Ya leíste esa novela?
Saludos para ti y para tu abuelita!
Saludos para ti y para tu abuelita!
Sofía Segovia
Hola, Nina!
Gracias por escoger El murmullo para compartir en grupo! Me hubieran invitado a esa discusión!
Ha sido muy extraño vivir casi a la letra lo que escribí. Hay quienes pregunta que si soy clarividente, pues todo parece coincidir. ¡Ojalá lo fuera! Ojalá tuviera a mi Simonopio para que me avisara desde enero.
Este proceso de la vida real, todo lo he vivido como una adivina sabelotodo. Los pobres médicos que salen en las redes casi repiten casi lo mismo que el dr Cantú en la novela.
Fuera de bromas: creo hay que conocer el pasado para poder predecir el futuro. Estudiar la historia. Es decir: el estudio profundo de la HISTORIA nos puede brindar algo parecido al don de la predicción.
Gracias por escoger El murmullo para compartir en grupo! Me hubieran invitado a esa discusión!
Ha sido muy extraño vivir casi a la letra lo que escribí. Hay quienes pregunta que si soy clarividente, pues todo parece coincidir. ¡Ojalá lo fuera! Ojalá tuviera a mi Simonopio para que me avisara desde enero.
Este proceso de la vida real, todo lo he vivido como una adivina sabelotodo. Los pobres médicos que salen en las redes casi repiten casi lo mismo que el dr Cantú en la novela.
Fuera de bromas: creo hay que conocer el pasado para poder predecir el futuro. Estudiar la historia. Es decir: el estudio profundo de la HISTORIA nos puede brindar algo parecido al don de la predicción.
This question contains spoilers...
(view spoiler)[Just finished reading the English translation of The Murmur of Bees. It was truly wonderful and I will never forget the story. During your creative endeavor, did you ever consider having Francisco and Simonopio physically meet and talk to one another as old men at the tale's end? (hide spoiler)]
Sofía Segovia
Thank you for reading The Murmur of Bees. Love your question! I didn't feel the need to SHOW them together. It just felt so natural to end the story right then and there and just show the promise of their reunion, not as old men, but as the youths they were the last time they saw each other ("because in that world that allowed them entry and welcomed them, under the bridge where they both spent their first hours and saw their first light. They’re waiting in that world where there is no time, where they’ve kept a space for me.")
:^)
:^)
This question contains spoilers...
(view spoiler)[Sofía, Muchas gracias por escribir tan maravillosas historias! Vivo en Estados Unidos y trabajo en la Biblioteca de Palm Beach County. Quiero invitarte a participar en el Hispanic Heritage Month. Ahora que todo es por Zoom, podemos ir hasta ti! Te mandé un mensaje a tu página web con mi información. Nos harías el honor de hacer esto posible para esta comunidad que es diversa y multicultural? (hide spoiler)]
Sofía Segovia
Hola, Carol!
Creo que ya te respondí el correo, porque estaría encantada de participar. Me confirmas si recibiste mi respuesta?
Creo que ya te respondí el correo, porque estaría encantada de participar. Me confirmas si recibiste mi respuesta?
Sofía Segovia
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[Thank you for your question. I cannot call myself a novelist, write historical fiction and ignore crucial historical facts such as Mexico's deep social and racial diversity. I even wanted to underscore them because they marked us and still do. In other words: I cannot write Espiricueta as a white agrarist southern campesino with a perfect life with no scars, no pain, no hate. I cannot write the Morales' as the evil oppressors of the campesino. Why? Because they are northeasteners, as simple as that. It just didn't exist. Breaking with traditional, official Mexican history, I invite the reader to look at the landowners' viewpoint (very risky in this manichaean country of mine). It's a story that is never included in Mexico's official history, which is always told with such partiality (rich=evil / poor=good) that it never includes the reality (social, ideological, political or racial) of the northeast. FACT: here, there were no indigenous people at the time: the landowners and their workers, the rich and the poor were white but most especially, did not have the same history of oppression as the south. FACT: since the 16th century, life was ever hard and dangerous in the northeast, so the locals learned to survive through solidarity, taking care of each other, having each other's backs. FACT: by 1910 (Mex Revolution) there was advanced social and labour justice here that definitely didn't exist in the rest of Mexico or even in the US (your robber barons were still abusing all the Europeans coming in to work in industry). FACT: contrary to the south, the rich and the poor in the northeast were free to come and go, buy land or start their own business, and the land and business owners would be obliged to pay fairly, educate and take care of their employees and their families; such was the culture. That spirit is what I wanted the Morales' to symbolize. Not that they were perfect, just that they did what they traditionally and historically knew to do. It was not the same in the south (and still isn't), and that is a painful and ancestral truth Espiricueta symbolizes. What I did in the novel was confront and contrast two truths that coexisted then and now. And also tell the story of the real losers in that war (also ever ignored). FACT: Much like Francisco, many landowners in Linares and the region died at the hands of the agraristas such as fictional Espiricueta. Their families ended up having to leave their ancestral lands and cede them to the agraristas. So it is fact, even in this fiction, that someone like Espiricueta would represent the natural but dangerous antagonist for these northeasteners who, for the first time in 100 years (now 110), got their story told.
(hide spoiler)]
(hide spoiler)]
Sofía Segovia
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[At the end, Simonopio, nana Reja and the bees, go back to where their story started, to a timeless place under a bridge.
I just imagine they are part of nature's magic of creation, of life and its never ending cycle. (hide spoiler)]
I just imagine they are part of nature's magic of creation, of life and its never ending cycle. (hide spoiler)]
Sofía Segovia
Hello, Karen!
Happy to say that Peregrinos (title in English still pending) will be available around April 2021. Thank you for your interest.
Happy to say that Peregrinos (title in English still pending) will be available around April 2021. Thank you for your interest.
Sofía Segovia
Hello, Ann! Thank you for reading and letting yourself be transported in time and space. As for my inspiration, first and foremost MEMORY —or actually, the lack thereof. Francisco (as an old man) is the symbol for the selective and collective amnesia of Monterrey. I think it's important to remember who we are, where we come from and whom we left behind
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