Shall we translate one of my books here?

[BarbaraSher]

I think the Spanish-language rights to one or two of my books are gone, but I have the rights to all the rest. If anyone wants to join in, let\'s pick one of the remaining books and translate it into Spanish, bit by bit, and put the chapters right here for everyone to read. Then those of you who are bilingual will be giving a gift to those who read more comfortably in Spanish. I hear the publisher\'s translations of my books are not so good, and this way we could discuss each little bit, and make sure we understand it. What do you think? Is it possible? (I often have grand ideas that aren\'t possible!

[cargoz]

Hi Barbara I haven't read your books in Spanish yet. One of the goals I'm working on is translation services. I already do English/Spanish translation for several nonprofit agencies and I'm looking to expand. So if I can help let me know. Hola Barbara Todavia no he leido tus libros en Español. Una de las metas en las que estoy trabajando es mis servicios de traducción. En la actualidad proveo servicios de traducción a varias agencias de beneficiencia y estoy tratando de expander mis servicios. Dejame saber si puedo ayudar.

[peterbacon]

Barbara, Looks like this particular discussion (about translating one of your books into Spanish) has quickly become a 'deadthread'. Where do things stand with this? Have you made any progress with it that perhaps you haven't shared yet with the rest of us? If you've had to put this idea on hold, for whatever reason, but are still interested in having a professional-level translation done, strictly on a voluntary basis, of one of your books, then I have some very good news for you. My very best friend here is a Chilean named Victor Huerta. Victor came to Australia 'hace muchas lunas' (many moons ago). His English is absolutely impeccable. He *loves* English, having fallen in love with the language when he was a teenager and totally immersed himself in it. (He's your archetypal autodidact.) These days, he does freelance translating for agencies here in Melbourne. In fact, that's his primary source of income now, though he only needs to do it periodically. In other words, he's got time on his hands. I've been chewing his ear off about you for weeks now, and he now shares my view of you: that you walk on water while performing miracles with one hand tied behind your back (*and* chewing gum at the same time). I've just talked with him by phone. He will translate a book for you, and will do so without charge. So, here's what you need to do: - Say yes. - Name the book. He's not on the internet at home at the moment, though he expects to be before too long. Pero no hay problema. I'm your conduit. It's easy enough for me to convey messages back and forth. Should you want to speak with him directly, of course, I can always give you his phone number. He'd be totally blown away, especially if you were to call him out of the blue. (I didn't think of this possibility until after we hung up this morning, so the last thing he'd be expecting is a phone call from you. Don't worry--as far as I know, he has no heart problems!!) BTW, he reminded me that the market for Spanish versions of your books is huge: there are roughly 300 million native Spanish-speakers throughout the world. Even here in Australia, there are said to be about 90,000. Incidentally, although his Spanish is obviously flawless, mine is nothing to sneeze at. (Three years in Tegucigalpa and 8 months in Mexico had to have counted for something.) I've published and edited in Spanish myself, and even did presentations in Spanish from time to time when I worked as a community development specialist (downtown area) for SHARE Southern California in San Diego. So, I could perhaps act as a sort of silent collaborator, in the (unlikely?) event he needs help with something. Given enough time, I can produce something approximating perfect, so in a time pinch I might knock out a first draft of a portion of your book, then turn it over to him for final polishing. We actually did this with a lengthy letter I wrote last month in Spanish to Lori Berenson, the young woman--you probably know all about her--falsely and illegally imprisoned in Peru. Obviously, he could have written it *faster* than I; but he found only a few minor errors in several pages of text. (Several pages?! Most of my letter was actually a description of various easy-to-make board games and puzzles that I thought Lori and her fellow prisoners might knock together, and play, to help pass the time.) Anyway, I assume that if this comes to pass, and if, in addition to publishing the Spanish version of your book serially on this forum, you were to publish hard copies of the translation, Victor would be credited as the translator on the title page? Que te parece la idea, Barbara? (How do you like the idea?) Let me know. He is absolutely and totally jazzed with the idea. When we started talking this morning, he was in excellent spirits for starters; by the time we finished, I could almost *see* the energy waves pulsing off my end of the phone line. Picture him poised at the starting blocks, just waiting for you to fire the pistol. Ain't this fun? As another friend used to comment contentedly at moments like this: "Yup. Life. Can't beat it with a stick." PeterB [This message has been edited by peterbacon (edited October 05, 2002).]

[BarbaraSher]

Hey, Peter. Good thing I'm so jetlagged I can't get to sleep! (It's about 3 a.m. in Central Anatolia right now.) This is wonderful. I want *everything* I've ever done translated into Spanish. And since I've decided to self-publish (agencies being pathetic when it comes to foreign sales) I can choose my own translator. I own all rights to all my audios. (The 12-tape set everyone knows about, lately called Dare to Live Your Dream), the two audiobooks, I Could Do Anything... and It's Only Too Late... and Wishcraft. I own electronic rights to Wishcraft. And I'd love to make my Success Teams 8-Week workshop kit available in Spanish. Self-publishing isn't cheap. I'm making my first effort right now. (That's why I needed a Quark person.) Possibly I'll have to do some of my foreign language books in eBooks (cheaper). Audios have to be real. (pricey) So I'll take up your friend's offer (and yours!) to translate for free with buckets of credit all over the books and tapes. But if anything starts to sell, I'd very much like to pay either and/or both of you whatever is possible and appropriate. I also have pretty good 3 TV specials -- videos (and audio tracks) of my PBS shows which I am allowed to offer for airing anywhere outside the U.S. They could help sell any books or audio products I have with a voiceover in the proper language. (Like Spanish!) I own all foreign language rights to all my books (unless they've already been sold.) I'm so sorry I didn't see this grand post until now. I never seem to get past General Discussions. (embarrassed).

[BarbaraSher]

What "easy to make board games?" just as an aside. (another interest of mine.)

[peterbacon]

I called Victor a few minutes ago. He\'s just now heading into the city to run an errand, and will buy himself a copy of Wishcraft. I have my own--though it may be an older edition (?). Anyway, I read him your messages. Was he excited? Let\'s just say his voice cracked like that of a boy just entering adolescence! When I got to the part about how you wanted everything possible translated, I thought to myself, Hmmm, I wonder what he\'ll say when he hears *that*. Know what he said? \"Oooh, Peter, I can *do* that!\" Of course, we\'ll take it one \'mere\' book at a time, won\'t we, and see how things go. You know how to reach me now--and him, through me. So, if and when additional details or questions come to mind, fire them my way and I\'ll relay them to him. Before too long, with any luck at all, he\'ll have direct internet access from home as well, so communicating with him directly will become even easier. Now, have a good stiff drink and go to bed! Best, Peter

[peterbacon]

Barbara, You ask about easy-to-make board games. I've got lots of stuff on both computers here at home about this, since making and selling these at local markets is somewhere in my top 5 or 6 income streams. The *quickest* way to share at least some of this material with you is to send you a copy of the letter I sent, in Spanish, to Lori Berenson. Is your reading Spanish reasonably good? Otherwise, I'd be happy to round up a few of the files on hand and send them on to you. Pick your poison. Or request both. It's just that the Berenson letter is right at hand. Peter

[peterbacon]

Barbara, After writing you yesterday, I went ahead and translated my Berenson letter back into English. (For one thing, I had my doubts that you had brought your Spanish dictionary with you to Turkey. Not a big need for it there, perhaps....) I could just cut and paste the whole thing and dump it here on the board--but who else besides you would be interested. So, can you give me an email address there, so I can send it to you as a Word attachment? Of course, if anyone else here is interested in directions for making and playing a few peg solitaire games, let me know. PeterB

[BarbaraSher]

Still breathlessly awaiting this email of your'n. Did I write you at the correct email address? It was the one you put on this board.

[BarbaraSher]

I haven't gotten an email from you and I have a feeling you haven't gotten mine either, Peter. I'll be away from my computer for 3 days starting tomorrow, the 13th.

[rainbowthought]

Dear Barbara: Your books are very good and many people would benefit from them. I currently work for a County in California proof reading translation of Measures and Candidate statements for the past 3 elections. Since I am not court certified I can not do the translations myself but I correct them; of course, if the translator who is a native English speaking allows me to do it. He thinks in English when he translates the material and he leaves out nuances of the language that will make the text strong and compelling. You write good English and it should b e a piece of cake translating you. I once translated a book that the English fluctuated from a 8th to 12 th grade level and it is very hard to translate a motivational book that is poorly written in English. I will gladly help you and I think years ago I translated some to chapters of your book to send my sister. Let me know

[expatana]

It's been a while now since anyone posted here about translations being done of Barbara's books, especially Wishcraft. Someone on another Spanish-language forum here wanted to know recently if Wishcraft was available in Spanish. I had thought it was, so I said so and that I would look it up. But looks like it wasn't, until now at least. Was that translator in Australia able to do it? I hope so. I don't have native fluency and have translated only from Spanish to English. But my Spanish is decent and I have edited translations successfully. So if it's still being done and you need some help editing translations, please holler. Ana