Posted on May 16, 2008 - by MG
Geheimakte Joshua: Joshua Files in German!
Yay, I’m very excited indeed that a German language version of Invisible City will be published this autumn in Germany.
Firstly, I have always suspected that Germans might enjoy Joshua’s adventures slightly more than British. Not to say that I’m not getting lovely feedback from British readers!
But there’s no doubt that many Germans seem to share my fascination with exotic adventure stories, going all the way back to that famous adventure writer, Karl May. And when I’ve visited the ruins in Mexico I’ve hardly ever met any British people, but mainly Germans and French. (And other North Americans of course).
If you follow this blog you may have seen that the German translator of Joshua Files, Frank Boehmert, occasionally posts a comment. (Hi Frank!).
Well all today I’ve been working with a translation of the brief video interview I recorded in the offices of Scholastic. I’ve dubbed myself into German and recut the video…I’m sending this to the media company in Germany who are going to add graphics etc to produce a book trailer for the German book trade. (Hence the long bit of title page at the end).
Here it is. What do you think? I have another day to improve it, if it’s really too bad…
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The MG Harris Blog
Website of MG Harris, author of the children's book series "The Joshua Files".Information for school visits and events.
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May 16, 2008
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Charming. I like it. Much.
But I’m not unvoreingenommen — how do you say in English, unbiased? Some fifteen years ago, I was in love with a british woman. I LIKE that accent.
(Actually I was crossed in love, but … fifteen years … another century, right?)
Honestly, your German is fine and your pronunciation clear enough, I think.
Enjoy the weekend,
I’ll call it a day now
Frank
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May 16, 2008
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I didn’t understand a word! But i love the german language, sounds great to listen to.
Is that you speaking German!? Flawless! (Not that i would know anything about it) but it SOUNDED flawless!
Lukas
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May 17, 2008
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Thanks guys. It makes me sound deceptively good at speaking German – albeit with the English accent that Frank finds so entertaining… But the German translation of the original interview transcript was provided by Dressler Verlag.
About 25 years ago I could speak German quite well but sadly a complete lack of practice since – except for a short stay in Saanen’s hospital being treated for a broken leg – means that now it is very, very basic.
Frank – I’m going to read your translations of Joshua as an effort to improve my German.
Crossed in love, eh Frank? Yeah…that’s happened to me also.
But that too was in another century.
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May 17, 2008
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Ausgezeichnet! You’re sounding fluent and confident, and if I can follow the German, then I’m sure the native speakers will be able to. And hopefully also pleased that you’re actually making the effort to speak the language. That’s the advantage of speaking with an accent – they’re more likely to realise it’s really you doing it. Now I have fantasies of your German book tour involving appearances on the kinds of cheesy talk shows I used to watch as a teenager in Frankfurt.
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May 18, 2008
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Boy does that take me back to GCSE German!
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May 19, 2008
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Just checked out your postion in the chart, Maria. Number 13! Lucky for some, it’s often said. But luck played no part in it. Sehr gut!
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May 20, 2008
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Hello Maria! On a bit of a tangent this, but I just read a review for the new Indiana Jones movie… featuring “a mystical Mayan temple created by hyper-intelligent extra-terrestrials”… any truth to the rumour that Steven Spielberg’s a fan of yours, too?! Looking forward to the next book.
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May 20, 2008
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Woo, Esruel, great news, but which chart would that be? Is it your local Waterstones? I like Waterstones
Isobel – aha, so the rumours were true! IF ONLY Spielberg had read Joshua Files… that said, Stargate SG1 have done the crystal skull and Mayans as having origins in super-smart extra terrestrial visitors, long before either Steven or I had a chance to tackle Mayan myths…
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May 20, 2008
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Stargate SG1 has indeed had a crystal skull. And giant gas creatures in the very same episode, all in a mayan temple on another planet, all in one episode
So the UFO rumour of Indina Jones 4 is true then. How exciting XD
Can’t wait to see the new film.
(Temple of Doom is the best!)
Lukas
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May 20, 2008
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It was WH Smith, Maria. I didn’t think to go Waterstones, where I got the book. My next task.
A friend of mine was so impressed by the cover he was going to buy it for his nephew. When I told him the read was even better than the cover, he bought it there and then.
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May 21, 2008
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Interesting, Lukas, that you prefer Temple of Doom over the others…
I think it was the first one I saw. Mum and Dad had rented it and let me watch it on the Sunday morning (the choice was that or Gummi Bears on TV). I’m glad I chose Indy. Must have been 1985 or 86. I was 6 or 7, I think.
I saw Last Crusade with Mum at the cinema in 1989 (I was just 10)
Raiders is still my fave though.
Have you booked your tickets?
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May 21, 2008
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I haven’t, but it’s a small island i live on it won’t be full. Wasn’t even full of Star Wars 3 release day.
George Lucas said he would like to make a fith, with harrison ford only making a cameo, leaving Shia Labeof as lead.
Lukas
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May 22, 2008
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Well I’ll be going to see Indy 4 over the weekend, maybe even tomorrow. Reviews are good!
I kind of like Temple Of Doom best too, even though it isn’t a full-on archaeological quest. I love the nightclub dance number at the beginning and then the spookiness of the inciting incident…”On the vay to Delhi…you veel go to Pankhot palace…”. The feast with the bug eating. And the volcano sacrifice! Doc Savage meets Rider Haggard…all great stuff!
But back to Geheimakte Joshua…LOOKEE HERE!
http://www.thalia.ch/shop/jae_buc_startseite/mehrvonartikel/geheimakte_joshua_01_die_unsichtbare_stadt/maria_harris/ISBN3-7915-0813-X/
First sighting of the German edition. Mitarbeiter: Böhmert, Frank!!!
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May 28, 2008
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Congrats, MG.
40.000 copies sold in Great Britain … at least that’s what they say in the German previews for the booksellers.
I’ve got them today — Joshua is on the frontpage.
Best wishes,
Frank
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May 28, 2008
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Thanks Frank and congratulations to you too for translating it so speedily! (and I’m sure brilliantly well!)
Yes, Dressler sent me some copies of the catalog too. It’s AWESOME!!! Don’t you love the pyramid point-of-sales display case? They have promised to send me one. I totally adore what Dressler have put together for the trade!
Have you seen this?
http://meta.verlagsgruppe-oetinger.de/index.php?id=3245
Scroll all the way down to see the pyramid POS stuff. And also…
http://meta.verlagsgruppe-oetinger.de/index.php?id=3391
There’s an excerpt and everything! I like it!
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May 28, 2008
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Yeah, the pyramid display ist nicht-zu-fassen