The Mapmaker's Opera

by Bea Gonzalez

  After all, as you once said, Abuela, what else of ourselves do we leave behind? Just a story, scattered scenes from an often-complicated life, a tidbit from an arduous journey, a song that surges, thrills and fades into memory after the last word is sung.

  Acknowledgments

  I am eternally indebted to the many wonderful writers of Mexico who first introduced me to their enchanting country and made me love it from afar. They include Juan Rulfo, Carlos Fuentes, Octavio Paz and Carlos Monsiváis. I am especially indebted to Ermilo Abreu Gómez, a Yucatecan author too little known outside of his own country, who wrote the masterful Canek and without whose “Cosas de Yucatán” my own book would not exist.

  I am also indebted to Christopher Cokinos’s Hope Is the Thing with Feathers: A Personal Chronicle of Vanished Birds and to the works of historian Gilbert M. Joseph on nineteenth-century Yucatán.

  We in Toronto are very fortunate to have one of the best opera educators in the world, Iain Scott, living among us. Iain has infected many with his love of opera, and I feel extremely blessed for having been able to study with him over the years.

  A special thank you to Iris Tupholme, my editor at HarperCollins Canada, for the energy, brilliance and sense of joy she brings to her work. Thanks also to Noelle Zitzer for overseeing the manuscript’s transformation into book form. Jackie Kaiser, my agent at Westwood Creative Artists, provided much needed advice and encouragement along the way. Nicole Winstanley, also at Westwood, worked very hard pitching the novel to publishers abroad once it was all done. A heartfelt thank you to both.

  In Los Angeles, Jerry Kalajian has shown that if there is a mountain to be moved, he will do all that he can to move it. Thanks so much for your enthusiastic support over the years, Jerry—it has meant much to me.

  Finally, this book would have been completely impossible without the inspiration, wisdom and unconditional support of my husband, Andrew Graham, who gave me my first pair of binoculars, took me to the Yucatán and forever changed my life. Gracias, miamor.

  About the Author

  BÉA GONZALEZ was born in Vigo, Spain, and emigrated to Canada as a child. Alongside her writing, she develops and leads tours for Classical Pursuits to Spain and Latin America to study the works of their national poets and writers. She lives in Toronto.

  About the Publisher

  Australia

  HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.

  Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street

  Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

  http://www.harpercollins.com.au

  Canada

  HarperCollins Canada

  2 Bloor Street East - 20th Floor

  Toronto, ON, M4W, 1A8, Canada

  http://www.harpercollins.ca

  New Zealand

  HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited

  P.O. Box 1

  Auckland, New Zealand

  http://www.harpercollins.co.nz

  United Kingdom

  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

  1 London Bridge Street

  London SE1 9GF

  http://www.harpercollins.co.uk

  United States

  HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

  195 Broadway

  New York, NY 10007

  http://www.harpercollins.com