The Journey of "Suma Paz": Storytelling, Activism & Translation

Join prominent Colombian writer and journalist Elvira Sánchez-Blake and translator Laura Kanost as they share the collaborative journey of bringing Suma Paz: A Chronicle of Love and Peril in Defense of Nature into English. Together, they'll highlight the book's themes of storytelling, activism, and the defense of fragile ecosystems, in a conversation moderated by Bookstore1 owner Georgia Court. Get the chance to participate in an audience Q&A, buy the book, and have it signed.

Suma Paz: La Utopía de Mario Calderón y Elsa Alvardo was published in 2021. It tells the true story of the lives, murders, and legacies of two environmentalists who fell in love through their work promoting peace and sustainability in the páramo highlands ecosystem.

Suma Paz is a gripping true story of love, courage, and sacrifice. This literary chronicle brings to life the story of Mario Calderón and Elsa Alvarado, two Colombian environmentalists tragically assassinated in 1997.Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Sumapaz—the world’s largest páramo ecosystem—this powerful narrative explores the couple’s deep-rooted philosophy of peace and environmental harmony, and the transformative work they led at the Suma-Paz Nature Reserve. Their story serves as both a tribute and a call to action, shedding light on the urgent threats facing environmental defenders worldwide.More than a biography, Suma Paz delves into spiritual and indigenous perspectives on nature preservation, offering a profound exploration of the intersection between ecology, community, and resilience.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELVIRA SÁNCHEZ-BLAKE is a Colombian journalist, academic, and award-winning writer with a distinguished career in literary and cultural studies. She holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and has published extensively on themes of human rights, social justice, peace, and gender in Latin America. She hold academic positions at Cornell University and Michigan State University, she now resides in Florida, where she dedicates herself to writing and community advocacy through the CreArte Latino Cultural Center.

Elvira es una periodista, académica y escritora colombiana, con una destacada trayectoria en los estudios literarios y culturales. Es doctora por la Universidad de Cornell y ha publicado extensamente sobre temas de derechos humanos, justicia social, paz y género en América Latina. Tuvo posiciones académicas en la Universidad de Cornell y en la Universidad Estatal de Míchigan. Actualmente reside en Florida, donde se dedica a la escritura y al trabajo comunitario a través del Centro Cultural CreArte Latino Cultural center.

DR. LAURA KANOST is a Professor of Spanish and Translation Studies at Kansas State University, specializing in Latin American literature, disability studies, and women writers. She holds a Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Kansas (2007), a MA in Spanish from the University of Kansas (2003), and a B.A. in Spanish and English from Kansas State University (2001). Her scholarly and translation work spans fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, with a particular focus on bringing underrecognized Latin American voices into English.

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