The Catholic Book Club discussion

Ask here any question you want to address the author of the book, that isn't covered by the other topics in this discussion.

This is a real page-turner. I picked it up today and couldn't put it down until I finished!
It's obvious that English isn't your first language (betrayed by odd choices of word and phrase, e.g. "Since today" on p. 10 should be "Starting today," we "do" favors rather than "make" them (p. 43), "news" is singular, not plural (p. 64), and the infantry contains soldiers, not "infants,"(p. 56) our term for young babies.
Without charging, I'd be happy to read future manuscripts for slips like this.

About This question i would like to remind to the persons Who participate in the discussion that the own author translate his own book something not frequent and that the English it is not the only language that the author can employ and not only This the author has assisted to another authors to translate their books to spanish. In my opinion before to criticize we think in the situation of the author how many persons Might write a novel in a foreign language without commiting any mistakes?

Fonch wrote: "In my opinion before to criticize..."

Fonch, I didn't take Jill's comment as a criticism, but as an offer of help. I'm happy about her corrections, they'll help me do it better next time, and I can also correct the book itself.

Jill wrote: "Without charging, I'd be happy to read future manuscripts for slips like this."

Thanks a lot for your corrections, I'll apply them in the book itself. And I may accept your offer, I have just finished translating another of my books into English. :-)

Jill wrote: "This is a real page-turner. I picked it up today and couldn't put it down until I finished!
It's obvious that English isn't your first language (betrayed by odd choices of word and phrase, e.g. "Si..."

"Infant" made me smile. Soldier works, but is pretty generic. Infantrymen are the soldiers in an infantry unit, but I would suggest legionary or legionaries as a more specific reference for the heavy infantrymen of the Roman Legions.

@Manuel, I noted a number of typos/mistranslations as I read and would be happy to send them to you - what is the best way to do that?

John wrote: "@Manuel, I noted a number of typos/mistranslations as I read and would be happy to send them to you - what is the best way to do that?"

You can put them here, as Jill did (I don't mind if everyone can see them, perhaps it's even better) or you can send me a PM, if the list is too long.

It would be good that John send a private mail with the grammar mistakes :-).

John wrote: ""Infant" made me smile."

What John says has made me smile too. Terms called false friends lead to curious things.

In Spain the children of kings who are not heirs to the throne are called "infantes" even though they are 80 years old. Infantes are also young boys who help in churches and cathedrals.

Infantes were also sons of the nobility even though they were old.

And of course, infantes are also soldiers of infantry.

1. Are there more books planned beyond the three in the series to date?

2. Might there be side stories about characters in this series but their own books?

Steven R. wrote: "1. Are there more books planned beyond the three in the series to date?

Not beyond the current three, as a fourth book would get out of the time-frame of the Roman Empire. The second book takes place 90 years after the first, during the unsettled third century, and the third book two centuries later, just before the final fall of the Western Roman Empire.

In some ways, this trilogy is parallel to Rosemary Sutcliff original trilogy about Roman Britain, although in that case there were later side stories (such as Frontier Wolf).

2. Might there be side stories about characters in this series but their own books?"

Well, this is always open :-)

Manuel wrote: "Steven R. wrote: "1. Are there more books planned beyond the three in the series to date?

Not beyond the current three, as a fourth book would get out of the time-frame of the Roman Empire. The se..."

I have only read to Rose Mary Sutcliffe the Eagle of the ninth legion now that Alfonseca`s says there is a certain parallel between the Eolus`s family trilogy and the Rose Mary Sutcliff in the the Roman Britain these adventures concluded with King Arthur that it is considered the end of the roman age in Britain.

This question i might ask privately to the author but i take the chance to ask in this question. I would like to get The emerald table. I have one book in my village Mojados but i would like to have a book in Valladolid. The question is Does Publishinng Pablabra continues selling the Emerald Table? Thanks a lot.

Fonch wrote: "This question i might ask privately to the author but i take the chance to ask in this question. I would like to get The emerald table. I have one book in my village Mojados but i would like to have a book in Valladolid. The question is Does Editorial Palabra continues selling the Emerald Table?"

Editorial Palabra gave me back the publication rights last year, having had the book in their catalogue for sixteen years.

It's possible that their edition is still available in some bookstores. In fact, it can be bought at Amazon Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/8482398229

There is a new self-published edition here: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B08BFKS66N

Manuel wrote: "Fonch wrote: "This question i might ask privately to the author but i take the chance to ask in this question. I would like to get The emerald table. I have one book in my village Mojados but i wou..."

Might i get it in paperback?

Fonch wrote: "Might i get it in paperback?"

You can buy it in paperback through a bookstore, or directly from Amazon.

Manuel wrote: "Fonch wrote: "Might i get it in paperback?"

You can buy it in paperback through a bookstore, or directly from Amazon."

I will try the bookstore i will avoid Amazon the bookshop of the Arbol de las Letras does not like Amazon because they compit with this monopoly.

John wrote: "Jill wrote: "...the infantry contains soldiers, not "infants,"(p. 56)..."

"Infant" made me smile. Soldier works, but is pretty generic. Infantrymen are the soldiers in an infantry unit, but I would suggest legionary or legionaries as a more specific reference for the heavy infantrymen of the Roman Legions.

I have replaced "the infants joined their ranks" by "the infantry joined ranks"