South of Centre

Book Cover South of Centre

A Latin saga rich in myths and folklore from northern Chile | Magic realism abounds in this Latin American novel

An intriguing story of lost love and hidden family connections unfolds amidst eccentric characters, myths and superstitions.

Clorinda is a solitary young woman who freelances as a seamstress in a small desert town where things rarely change. Friendless and eccentric, she dresses in her ‘calendar wardrobe’ as she collects donations of used clothing from which she creates simple works of art.

Clorinda becomes hopelessly distracted when an elderly gentleman moves in across the street. He is elegant and worldly and he looks like Clark Gable from the movie poster downtown. Obsessed, she sets off to know more, and when he finally befriends her, the story of his life and the truth behind their relationship is slowly revealed.

With the chance that it may be lost forever, the biggest secret hides behind a simple marker at the old man’s tomb and is caught among the crazy threads of Clorinda’s weaving.

Dipping into some of Chile’s rich history around the time of Pinochet’s regime, SOUTH OF CENTRE unravels through multiple narratives and is doused in magic realism. The story raises questions about social justice and other things that we may never quite get to the bottom of.

South of Centre

A Latin saga rich in myths and folklore from northern Chile | Magic realism abounds in this Latin American novel

Book Cover South of Centre

An intriguing story of lost love and hidden family connections unfolds amidst eccentric characters, myths and superstitions.

Clorinda is a solitary young woman who freelances as a seamstress in a small desert town where things rarely change. Friendless and eccentric, she dresses in her ‘calendar wardrobe’ as she collects donations of used clothing from which she creates simple works of art.

Clorinda becomes hopelessly distracted when an elderly gentleman moves in across the street. He is elegant and worldly and he looks like Clark Gable from the movie poster downtown. Obsessed, she sets off to know more, and when he finally befriends her, the story of his life and the truth behind their relationship is slowly revealed.

With the chance that it may be lost forever, the biggest secret hides behind a simple marker at the old man’s tomb and is caught among the crazy threads of Clorinda’s weaving.

Dipping into some of Chile’s rich history around the time of Pinochet’s regime, SOUTH OF CENTRE unravels through multiple narratives and is doused in magic realism. The story raises questions about social justice and other things that we may never quite get to the bottom of.

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“I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. [The author] has captured life in northern Chile to a tee. She has very successfully woven local stories of townspeople, gypsies, miners, and political events into a charming and most unlikely tale of love. A great read!”
– Amazon review

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“I loved this story from the first page [….] The characters are wonderfully full and the place, well it’s a strange and wonderful town full of comedy and love. The writer really knows how to make you laugh, but at the same time there’s a serious emotional story that spans many years.”
– Amazon review

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E-book ISBN 978-0-9880032-5-5

Print book ISBN 978-0-9880032-4-8
6” x 9” paper, 280 pages

FIC008000–FICTION / Sagas
FIC061000—FICTION / Magic Realism
FIC010000—FICTION / Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology

Publisher: Stories with Character
(South of Centre was first published October 2010, author name, Andrea Carter)