Um... can't believe I forgot to mention this. I blame the fact it all happened the day I got back from New York, when I was still in a shopping-induced stupor.
Anyhoo, German rights for ENTANGLED have been sold at auction to Luebbe Verlag. This is very happy making for two reasons: Luebbe is an amazing publisher AND my book is going to be published in another language! Yes, I know that's bleedin' obvious, but it's so freaking cool. Deutsch! Memories of German lessons come flooding back. My favourite ever German phrase is: Ich mochte ein weichgekochtes ei. It means 'I would like a soft-boiled egg'. If I ever go to Germany, I will endeavour to say this at least three times a day.
Thanks to the especially brilliant and tireless Caroline Hill-Trevor - rights-selling legend.
What's your favourite foreign-language phrase? I'd like some to add to my collection. Danke.
I've probably mis-remembered this but a phrase I learnt before my French O-level exam, and which I was determined to use (and did) was: "enfourcher son dada", which means "to ride one's hobby-horse". In the metaphorical sense, I think. Well, I hope anyway, because that's what I said I was doing in my French oral exam. Crikey, maybe it meant something else entirely!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the foreign deal! My books are only ever translated into obscure languages. I've just received the copy of one in Lithuanian but I've no idea which book it is.
That's a good one, Nicola! I take it you did pass your French oral exam...? Are there no clues on the Lithuanian book? I'm intrigued.
ReplyDeleteIch habe keine kaninchen = I have no rabbits. It's true. I don't have any rabbits, but I'm not sure why anyone is likely to be enquiring about my possession or lack thereof of rabbits... in German.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. A German book. Well done you. This discussion reminds me of a holiday we had several years ago in France. I got by on my school girl French but my husband didn't know a single word so I taught him to say 'L'addition s'il vous plait'. He was suspicious at first. Had I got him to say something rude? But he plucked up the courage and ended up paying for everything all week!
ReplyDeleteThat's AWESOME news!! CONGRATS!!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Kaz
<3
Non- you NEVER know when someone's going to ask about rabbits! And when they do, you will be prepared!
ReplyDeleteRosalind- I like your style!
Kaz- Merci beaucoup!
I can offer you an Afrikaans phrase (not a huge foreign rights territory, but you never know!).
ReplyDeleteEk moet my tande borsel.
Trans. "I must brush my teeth."
A good motto for anyone, surely?
Other favourite Afrikaans words include: "spookasem" (which literally translates as "ghost breath", but is the word for candyfloss) and "slapgat" (pronounced with a nice gutteral "g", meaning lazy, sloppy, badly done). Afrikaans may not be as beautiful as French or as lyrical as Italian, but you could never say it's not expressive! :)