For the past year I have been working on writing my debut novel and getting it translated and published. It’s been an intense and rewarding experience. Voting Day tells the story of four Swiss women on 1 February 1959, the day male voters said no to granting women the vote.
The four characters of my book – Vreni, Margrit, Esther and Beatrice – could be you, your mother, your grandmother. The setting of the book is distinctly Swiss but the women’s challenges and their fighting spirit are universal.
I’m delighted to announce that Bergli Books in Basel, the leading publisher of Swiss-interest books in English, is handling the sale of Voting Day. You can now order the book through their website in English, French, German or Italian.
I’d like to thank the three translators of the book – Barbara Traber, Corinne Verdan-Moser and Anna Rusconi – who have been so dedicated and encouraging since our first contact. I think they’ve all done an excellent job and I’m so pleased that Swiss readers will be able to read my book in their own languages.
Unfortunately, bookshops in Switzerland are closed until the end of February. But most are operating a click and collect service. If you’d like to support your local bookshop, why not place your order for the book with them? I recommend Books Books Books in Lausanne who do postal deliveries as well as click and collect.
Online launch 1.2.2021
It’s full steam ahead for the online launch of Voting Day in four languages next Monday, February 1st, hosted by the Irish Ambassador Eamon Hickey on the occasion of St. Brigid’s Day. During the first part of the evening (18:15 – 19:00) Ambassador Hickey and I will be chatting about the book and the upcoming 50th anniversary of the women’s vote in Switzerland. In part two (19:00 – 19:45) the discussion will continue with Barbara Traber, Corinne Verdan-Moser and Anna Rusconi, each speaking in their own language.
Do join us for an evening of European culture and celebrating women’s voices. Here’s the zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81666018981?pwd=RVBQQzI3KzFjaXVTRmhna2tvaEhwdz09
None of this would have been possible without the support of The Fundraising Company Fribourg who have accompanied me on every step of the publishing journey. Merci vielmal to Yvar Riedo and Stefanie Schwaller. We also got essential help from the generous crowdfunders, whose copies of the book are on the way this week.
I hope you’re all managing to stay safe and sane under whatever general restrictions and personal challenges you’re facing. The snowdrops and daffodils are not far off. Hang in there!
I am very happy that the books in four different languages (!) are now published and available! The four women in the novel, Vreni, Margrit, Esther and Beatrice, have become my friends while I was translating the English version into German, and I can only recommend the book and congratulate Clare once more for it!
Just read my copy of Voting Day yesterday. I loved it. Great narrative and such a fascinating point of history. Loved that you got in the sufferage and the stolen generation too (i forget the Swiss name for it). But the most enjoyable thing was it’s just a really great read. I hope you write more novels and this gets a lot of attention. It would make a brilliant film or mini series too! Congratulations Clare x
Thank you so much, Claire. Wonderful to hear this from you. If you know any TV execs, send them my way! The book will be coming out in the UK next year with an English publisher (can’t announce the details yet) so it should get more attention then 🙂
So pleased to hear this!