Shaken Earth: A Novel of Guatemalan Life against Nazi Influence

Shaken Earth, the first novel by Martin Barillas, is inspired by his love for his family’s native Guatemala. Set in the turbulent early 1930s, this small country is the scene for an epic tale where seemingly small decisions lead to explosive consequences that will affect everyone’s lives forever. The book opens with the story of a young married couple who seek to remain in the country they love, Guatemala, but are forced to choose exile and flight instead of the leisure of a stable home. They cannot escape the seismic changes underfoot in the world, which witnesses the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany, whose fingers reach as far as the coffee plantations of Central America. When an earthquake and volcanic eruptions set Mariano and Soledad back on their heels, they are crushed by family betrayal. They come to rely on unexpected resources and allies, such as an errant priest and a down-on-her-luck writer, as they attempt to rebuild their lives while immersed in a whirlpool of international intrigue, revolution, and genocide.