I was talking to a new friend today about my book, and I just realised I did not mention this amazing milestone for me on my blog.
I have mostly been away from writing and my blog this summer, which makes me feel guilty. Writing is what I love the most, along with connecting women and empowering them.
So my plans for this autumn are to get back on track with the blog and the newsletter, and of course with the workshops dedicated to women.
But let me say something about my experience with the book.
It still seems surreal and fantastic. My Spanish level is not very high; I can speak and generally understand everything, but translating stories from Romanian to Spanish on my own was challenging, especially since I had to use a dictionary for vocabulary and felt uncertain about expressing my feelings and emotions in the translations. My stories are not just stories; they are a way of creating a bond between parents and their children while discussing some of the most important things in the world, like these values: friendship, love, gratitude, empathy, and the love for reading and books. I wanted each story to touch parents' hearts and inspire positive feelings.
As for the illustrations, Félicia Burciu Chevalier, also Romanian, created them by hand, the way I've dreamt of. So they were drawn in pencil and then painted by hand. I believe that creations made in this manner are more intimate and can encourage a deep sense of gratitude.
I have a profound appreciation, and I am so grateful to Apuleyo Ediciones, the publishing house that trusted my stories and Felicia's illustrations and gave me this huge opportunity to have my book published, especially in a foreign country.
Long story short, I wrote my book 5-6 years ago, when I was dealing with severe depression. It was like a sort of therapy for me. I didn't plan to publish the stories; they flowed naturally from my mind, as if I were explaining these values to my daughter, who inspired me.
But after a while, I discovered Felicia via Instagram. She was making beautiful illustrations, so I asked her if she wanted to draw them for my book. And at that point it dawned on me that I actually could publish my book. I didn't trust myself at that time, so it took me a while until I sent my first email with the manuscript to a publishing house in Romania.
I only received rejections because some publishing houses did not consider my book good enough or suitable for them, while others were unable to publish new books.
But I did not give up. So here I am today. And if you read these lines, please, do not give up. Believe in yourself and don't listen to the naysayers.
I was invited to two events these past months: the first one in Jubrique, during the Abolongo Music and Poetry Festival, and the other one in Genalguacil, our village.
I am super grateful for the way people respect me, encourage me, and believe in me. And I am not only talking about Spanish people but people of many, many nationalities. A Taiwanese artist also bought my book, and he doesn't even have kids or speak Spanish; he just wanted to be supportive, and he felt good about having a new friend in the skin of a published author here, in Spain, where he is currently living for his projects.
