Lost in Translation

Sunday, January 17, 2010



Something odd has happened in a few of the queries I've sent out for a picture book. There's a bit of confusion about one of the particulars of the character's home.

Maybe it's my fault for not starting out with the spotlight on the right character, I don't know, but I didn't expect it to be this difficult to understand.

In the MS, the house is described twice:

"Turtletop house" - which apparently translates to "A house with a turtle shell on top of it for a roof".

And:

"Turtleshell floors" - which apparently translates into "Your MC slaughtered a turtle and mounted his shell on the floor. Parents will hate you."

All I can say is that it's a huge, resounding NO! on both counts.

In another book of the series (Yes, I said series. I don't care if it's taboo, kids like series.) it's a bit more clear when it starts: "In a house on a turtle..." (There's a very simple, and plot-centric reason that the house is on a wandering turtle, but that's not important here.)


I can't convince myself that a kid would have these very grown-up hang-ups. So what is it that happens to most adults when they pass 25 that makes them terrified that every thing could be taken the wrong way?

To make it clearer, I'm going to include a visual aid in my next queries. I think he's a very cute house turtle. :-P

2 Chiming In:

Marian Perera said...

I think that's very imaginative! It reminds me of paintings by Jacek Yerka (who did a fisherman's cabin mounted on the back of a living, giant fish) and Wayne Barlowe (who did a Villar - huge human from the waist down, fortress from the waist up). Yours is much more kid-friendly, though. :)

Marian - Queen of Swords from AW

Terry Towery said...

You draw/paint well. Are you planning to illustrate your own picture book?

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