The first Latin American Spanish literary translation of Eye of the Moon, El ojo de la luna, is being printed in Colombia and distributed internationally via Amazon. One thousand paperback copies will be available nationwide through Colombia’s largest bookstore chain, Librería Nacional, this weekend.

For me, this is an extraordinary milestone. Taking any book and translating it into another language is a prodigious task. It requires a profound understanding of both languages to allow the nuances of the one to flow into the other. Germán González Correa, the team of editors, and the numerous readers who commented and corrected the manuscript, have all worked to craft an extraordinary translation. I hardly know where to begin to express my thanks.

Most joyful of all is that the launch is happening in Colombia, a country that has always enchanted me from the moment I set foot there, and Mary Jo introduced me to its people. Whether it is the spirit, the warmth of the people throughout the country, or the food, I would be hard pressed to articulate a single element that makes Colombia so unique, and why it has such a special place in my heart.

Given that it is the most ecologically diverse country in the world, there are so many different aspects to Colombia, it is impossible to choose one above all others. Did I mention the empanadas? I didn’t for good reason. Once started, I find myself unable to stop describing the bliss of eating them. It is the first thing I do when I arrive in Medellin. They… I’m doing it again, aren’t I? That’s what I mean. Colombia is the land of passions.

Although Colombia has many resources, the greatest of all is the people there. Their hospitality, their friendliness, and their love of life is like no other place on Earth.

My heartfelt thanks to all who helped make this launch possible.