traces of laura
Imprisoned by her father-in-law and her husband, Laura clings to her memories of freedom. It seems as though only an unforeseen event can save her from her fate.In spite of her dire situation, life will send her a series of signs—but she must prove up to the task of deciphering them.On returning to her country, she finds herself face-to-face with a home lost many years ago now. It is her father-in-law, however, who stands in the way of the most important thing of all: getting her daughter back. In her quest to do just that, Laura takes on a case that initially seems to have nothing to do with her.Gradually, she will begin to discover unexpected connections to her personal life, both past and future.
traces of
laura
Novel Backstory
On a treadmill in Ho Chi Minh City, as I listened to Sting’s song ̈Desert Rose ̈, a succession of images came to me, transporting me back in time a few kilometers toward the Middle East. Soon, I had put that flurry of ideas down on paper, where they were transformed into the beginning of this story. And they remained stashed away in a drawer for the next five years. The memory of that unfinished tale stayed with me, but daily life took up all my time and imagination.
While pregnant with my second daughter, I decided to return to Chile for a few months to spend time with my family. It was then that I enrolled in a literary workshop with Ana María Güiraldes, an excellent writer and exemplary woman. My characters soon took on renewed life, even as I forced to neglect them every so often for any number of reasons: travel, kids, a move to another country or a new house. Finally, there came a time when I could prioritize this project, and I was able to write the words ̈The End. ̈ In this achievement, no small part was played by my dear father’s ever-present advice: ̈Finish your book! ̈
Biography
Alexandra Garland (Santiago, Chile) was born in Santiago, Chile. She is a public relations specialist and sommelier. Although she felt drawn to the act of writing from a young age, it was not until a bit later in life that she was able to truly dedicate time to this passion.
In 2009, she moved to Vietnam, where she worked at an international clinic. After two years, she decided to leave the clinic to work as an independent sommelier. In 2015, she enrolled in a creative writing workshop with Ana María Güiraldes and once again started to work on her first novel, Traces of Laura. In 2016, she moves to Hong Kong, where she currently resides.
Some passages from the book
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Quotes
The past has fled, what you expect is absent, but the present is yours.
Arabic proverb