Taiwanese author Tu Miao-yi (凃妙沂) has been invited to visit Spain for a special lecture and book signing session to promote her newly-translated Spanish book "Black Ghost Siraya. Relatos de Taiwán (烏鬼記)" on June 4 and 5. With support from the Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Spain and the Spanish publishing house Editorial Cuadernos del Laberinto, the events are organized with the aim of introducing Taiwanese literature and authors to the Spanish literature community and the public.
Sponsored by the MOC in 2020, the "Black Ghost Siraya. Relatos de Taiwán" is a collection of flash fiction, short stories, and Taiwanese-language novel in three volumes. The book highlights Tu's insightful reflections on various aspects of life and societal matters, as well as her deep exploration of history and the environment. Spanning from her early years to her adulthood, the creation of the book depicts a transformative voyage of self-discovery experienced by Tu as a woman.
As a descendant of Siraya (Pingpu), Taiwan Plains Aborigines, she noted that the stories of the Siraya people are a starting point for rediscovering Taiwanese history and serve as her driving force. She said she felt extremely proud and honored to have her ancestral stories translated into Spanish and published. Through the book that features the tradition of the matrilineal society of the Siraya people, she aims to illuminate the perspectives of Taiwanese women on history, society, and politics.
Tu, born in Tainan and graduated from the Department of Chinese Literature at the National Chung Hsing University, is a poet, novelist, and translator. Throughout her career, she previously held positions at publishing houses, served as a chief editor at The Commons Daily, and a supplement editor at Taiwan Times. She won multiple accolades, such as the Lin Rung-San Literary Award, Taipei Literature Award, and more. Her writings were translated into numerous languages such as English, Spanish, and Polish, and were also selected for inclusion in international poetry anthologies in over ten countries.