Shining a Light on LGBTQ+ Literature and Surrogacy through Translation
Just in time for International LGBT + Pride Day, I am thrilled to announce the success of one of my latest translation projects completed with the brilliant author Dr. Michael Hilscher, which has now hit the #1 spot on the Amazon bestseller list in the Moving Children's book category in the United States.
Blake the Drake and the Enchanting Egg is a heartwarming tale of a male duck whose biggest wish is to become a daddy. But without a female duck at his side, he has no eggs to hatch. When two of the darling female ducks at the pond offer to help, an enchanting story of surrogacy – told through the eyes of the duck – comes to life. According to the author, “The book is for every child who has come into the world in this way, who is living in a "new" family structure. I hope to show them – through a loving and captivating story – how much they are wanted and loved.”
What are the statistics on LGBTQ+ literature in the English-speaking world?
In a report published by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBS) at the University of Wisconsin in 2018, which examined the diversity statistics surrounding LGBTQ+ literature and its representation in the CCBC’s collection of new books, “of the approximately 3,700 books we received at the CCBC in 2017, we counted 136 (3.68%) with significant LGBTQ+ content. Of these, 56 (41.18%) were written by an author who identifies as LGBTQ+.
According to a market report written by Georgia Pine on LGBTQ+ literature in the UK, “40% of LGBT children are never taught about LGBT issues, 76% have never learnt about bisexuality, 77% have never learnt about gender identity, and only 25% of children had discussed LGBT issues in wider subjects, such as English.”
What about children’s literature on other ethical issues, such as climate change and racism?
Georgia Pine’s market report goes on to examine how other ethical issues are represented in children’s literature. Children’s storytelling is a way to empower youth for social justice, to raise awareness around equality, inclusion and diversity, and is a powerful tool for making the changes we wish to see in the next generation. Pine highlights the strides we’re making in this area: “The characters play important roles in the stories, [and children] develop an understanding of complex ethical issues and develop a respect for others. Examples of this on the market include David Mackee’s Elmer which teaches children to embrace individuality https://falwriting.com/new-blog/2021/6/21/market-report-lgbtq-childrens-literature-by-georgia-pine - _ftn2; Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax which teaches children to look after the planet, and Ibram X. Kendi’s Antiracist Baby aimed to address issues surrounding racial inequality in a manner simple enough for children to understand.”
Yet to date, the LBGTQ+ community is painfully underrepresented in children’s literature.
The Story Behind Blake
As long as Dr. Michael Hilscher could remember, he wanted to be a father. The longing to hold his own child in his arms was undeniable. Yet living as a gay man in a society where the family unit was overwhelmingly straight, this seemed like an impossible dream. Armed with the belief that he, too, should have the chance to love and raise a child of his own, he embarked on a journey of surrogacy, and was blessed with the gift of an egg donor and a surrogate. In 2015, Michael held his daughter Mia in his arms for the first time.
While becoming a father brought him tremendous joy, fulfilling his dream of fatherhood wasn’t enough. He wanted to shed light on the miracle of surrogacy and help other LGBTQ+ individuals find the courage to pursue a family despite the odds. He was also passionate about spreading the message that all children are loved, no matter how they came into this world, and that all families are worthy of recognition and respect.
So, he sat down and put pen to paper, and the story of Blake, a male duck who became a daddy duck through surrogacy, came to light. The German book, originally titled Eduard Erpel und das zauberhafte Ei, was a smashing success in Germany, selling out within minutes and ranking #5 on the Amazon bestseller list – Children’s Books category – within weeks. Dr. Michael Hilscher knew that the story was important enough to go global. The decision to have the book translated from German to English was a no-brainer; lucky for him he had an English translator in his digital rolodex! After a satisfying and fulfilling few weeks of collaboration, we wrapped up our work together and Blake the Drake and the Enchanting Egg was born.
The Satisfaction of Bringing Crucial Messages to the World
Most literary translators would die for a gig like this one, the chance to bring an original piece of German literature to life, to tell the story of one man’s dream of fatherhood coming to fruition, and the opportunity to spread the message of diversity, inclusion and love within the context of international literature, against the current backdrop of heated and poignant debates around family politics and gay rights.
Conclusion
The LGBTQ+ community is underrepresented in children’s literature, and the literature that does exist is constantly put back on the chopping block. If we strive for a world that gives people of all nationalities, ethnicities, religions and cultures a voice, we must also strive for a world where LGBTQ+ voices are heard. Translation can be a tool for activism. We can choose to support authors and stories that are close to our hearts, ones that promote inclusion, diversity and equality for all.
Book Synopsis
Blake the Drake's biggest wish is to be a loving Papa duck. But as a male duck, he can't lay any eggs. Blake doesn't give up, believing with all his heart that one day, he'll have the chance to love and raise his very own baby duck. When Darcy Duck offers him one of her eggs to hatch, he seems to be one step closer to his dream. But it's not until another friend from the duck pond offers him her selfless support that Blake's dream can finally come true.
What the Author Has to Say
“For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to have children. I couldn't imagine not starting a family of my own. But there's one small stumbling block. I'm gay. After giving it much thought and consideration, I found a solution that felt right. An egg donor and a surrogate mother overseas both stepped up to help me fulfil my heart's desire. In 2015, I held my beautiful Mia for the first time in my arms!
When Mia was old enough to ask about the circumstances surrounding her birth, I used the metaphor of a magical egg that someone else had hatched to explain how she arrived on our planet. This was my way of sharing her story in a child-friendly, truthful, and plausible manner. And that's how the story of Blake the Drake came about. This book is for every child who has come into the world in this way. I hope to show them, through a loving and captivating story, how much they are wanted and loved.”
About the author
Dr. Michael Hilscher was born on May 11, 1980, is a passionate happiness strategist and has worked extensively with positive psychology, NLP and various other therapies for many years. As part of his legal career, Dr. Hilscher also managed to obtain a PHD in law, and from 2011 to 2021, served as managing partner at a company with 60 employees. In 2021, he sold his shares to fully focus on his passion, positive psychology, and on his family.
Since 2021, he has been married to his husband Sebastian, whom he met in 2015 shortly before the birth of his daughter Mia. Back then, as a single gay man, Dr. Hilscher had decided to start a family on his own, remaining true to his credo: “There's no such thing as can't”.
Dr. Hilscher’s journey to fatherhood is the motivation behind the book “Blake the Drake and the Enchanting Egg”. In this charming tale, he pulls inspiration from the animal world, recounting the story of Blake the Drake and how he fulfils his heartfelt wish to have a child. The story is designed to share Michael Hilscher’s own personal experience with surrogacy in a child-friendly way. Dr. Hilscher says: “This book is close to my heart. I hope to offer encouragement to others in a similar situation and to show people that you can achieve anything once you set your mind to it. But above all, this book is for every child who has come into the world in this way, who is living in a “new” family structure. I hope to show them—through a loving and captivating story—how much they are wanted and loved.”
One of Michael Hilscher's major goals is to also help ensure that in the future, two-father families and two-mother families are regarded by society as being just as mainstream and acceptable as the traditional family unit with a father, mother and child.
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