Natalie Danford

Natalie Danford – Editor

Writer, editor, and Italian-to-English translator with three decades of experience. I've written and edited dozens of cookbooks.

Overview

I've been an editor, writer, and translator (Italian into English) for more than 30 years and have a broad range of experience. I am dedicated to crafting prose that both communicates and flows.

I have a great deal of experience in assisting non-native English speakers with their work in English. Likewise, my aim with translations is to craft text that doesn't feel like a translation but rather like a truly excellent piece of writing that was generated in English.

I specialize in cookbooks and books on art, architecture, and design. I have written and edited many books for restaurants, wineries, stores, and others.

I also work as a copy editor and proofreader. I am a stickler for proper grammar, but again, the overarching goal for all of this work is to communicate your thoughts and ideas effectively. Most of all, I aim for a writing/editing/translation process that's fun and satisfying for everyone involved—whether there are just two of us working together or an entire team that needs to agree on the results.
Services
Non-Fiction
Art Biographies & Memoirs Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits Design Fashion & Textiles Travel
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Certifications
  • American Translators Association certified translator from Italian into English

Work experience

Self-employed

Aug, 1990 — Present

Provide service as a writer, copy editor, proofreader, line editor, and fact-checker on a freelance basis. Clients have included The New Yorker, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, and many other magazines and publishers. For ten years I edited the Best New American Voices series, which featured short fiction from emerging writers. I strive to follow a writer's lead in shaping the best manuscript possible.

Self-employed

Aug, 1990 — Present

I am accredited by the American Translators Association to translate from Italian into English. My goal is to create translations that do not read like translations but instead flow naturally in English. Many of my book-length translation projects have included significant editing and writing. They include Osteria, Rizzoli (2017); The Hills of Chianti, Rizzoli (2014); A Family Farm in Tuscany, Shearer Publishing (2012); and Puglia: A Culinary Memoir, Oronzo Editions (2008).

Portfolio

The Encyclopedia of Antique Carpets catalogs the diverse forms that the art and craft of the handwoven carpet has taken over twenty-five centuries, from the Far East to North Africa, from Europe to India, and within both hemispheres of the New World. The book ... read more
Puglia: A Culinary Memoir by Maria Pignatelli Ferrante, first published in Italy as part of a highly regarded culinary series, is now available in English from Oronzoeditons. Puglian author Maria Pignatelli Ferrante skillfully weaves regional history and perso... read more
A fresh take on everyone’s favorite food, straight from the "Michelangelo of dough" (Vogue). Yeast, flour, and water—from such humble ingredients rises a food that is for many an object of devotion. Here is a cookbook that reveals the secrets of the crust stra... read more
Whether located in the heart of a metropolis such as Chicago or on sprawling fields in the countryside, sculpture parks and gardens have become increasingly popular destinations for art and nature lovers alike. These art parks offer visitors a unique opportuni... read more
At an early age, BillyBoy* chose two mentors: Bugs Bunny and Elsa Schiaparelli. From Bugs Bunny, he learned the basics of how to behave in society and how to manage life’s wicked turns; to be coy, smart, witty, and to always dress appropriately with the assura... read more
Fashion is often seen as an industry of eccentric personalities and unique, exceptional talents but it's the collaborators, rather than the individuals, who underpin the industry and inspire this book. This stylish volume, compiled by Lou Stoppard, editor-at-l... read more
Sarah Fioroni shares stories of family traditions and daily life as well as recipes in A Family Farm in Tuscany: Recipes and Stories from Fattoria Poggio Alloro. Fioroni provides a month-by-month glimpse of farm living as well as seasonal recipes that are simp... read more
The head of Italy’s "first family" of winemaking reflects on the Antinoris’ six-hundred-year legacy and a life of good food and drink in the hills of Tuscany. If you know wine, you know the name Antinori. Since 1385, this noble Florentine family has produced s... read more
All the essential techniques, profusely illustrated with step-by-step photographs. How do you recognize a San Marzano tomato? How do you shape tortellini? How do you cut scallopine? Everyone loves Italian food, but the ingredients and techniques can be new ter... read more
This celebration of the simple, hospitable cooking of Italy’s small regional restaurants is unmatched in both authenticity and scope. Slow Food, the international defender of local food traditions, scoured the countryside of every region of Italy to collect an... read more

Natalie has 1 review

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Rebecca U.

Rebecca U.

Apr, 2021

Natalie is a fantastic editor. She gave excellent feedback and handled my manuscript with expertise. She helped me with both macro and micro edits, and her thoughtful commentary has helped me further shape my memoir.

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