Anika Fajardo Discusses Her Debut Novel 'The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore'

The Novel's Premise and Protagonist

• 🎯 The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore follows Dory, a woman in her mid-30s who embarks on a journey to Colombia to uncover her heritage.
• 🗺️ Dory, a cartographer by training, feels adrift and seeks direction, a journey mirrored by her fascination with maps and her place in the world.
• 🎧 The narrative features Dory being guided by the spirits of her deceased female ancestors, who offer commentary on her life.

Author's Personal Connection and Writing Process

• ✍️ Author Anika Fajardo, who is half Colombian and half Minnesotan, draws heavily from her own experiences of seeking roots and identity.
• 📖 Fajardo transitioned from writing a memoir to this adult novel, applying lessons learned about reader engagement, character arcs, and the use of metaphor and symbolism.
• 💡 The idea for the novel sparked from the author's contemplation of her own grandmother's passing and the idea of having voices weighing in on life decisions.

Exploring Dual Timelines and Themes

• ⏳ The novel employs two distinct timelines: Dory's present-day journey and the story of her mother, Maggie, in Colombia in 1989.
• 💖 Maggie's story highlights her wanderlust, her deep love for Colombia, and her passionate embrace of life upon meeting Dory's father.
• 🌍 The narrative aims to portray Colombia as a beautiful and complex place, offering an antidote to negative stereotypes.

Character Development and Colombian Identity

• ⛰️ Dory's journey forces her out of her comfort zone, leading her to connect with a diverse group of supportive friends in Colombia.
• 🗣️ Despite feeling like an outsider due to her mixed heritage and upbringing, Dory's search for identity is central to the story.
• 👵 The book is dedicated to grandmothers and mothers, acknowledging the influence of female figures across generations and cultures.

Insights into Cartography and Ancestral Voices

• 📍 Dory's profession as a cartographer symbolizes her search for direction and her place in the world, even as she learns to navigate life without a map.
• 💬 The ancestral voices are depicted not as wise guides, but as opinionated relatives who observe and comment on Dory's life, akin to watching a TV show.
• 🗺️ Fajardo researched cartography extensively, finding fascinating historical and sociological aspects in mapmaking, though she notes she is not a cartographer herself.