Rosaria Manuela Distefano – Translator

Hi there!

Have you ever had one of your books translated? No? No problem, I'm here to help you through the whole process!

I've been reading and writing both in Italian and in English since I was a child, fascinated by how one thought could be conveyed in so many different ways!

I’ve also tried to be a writer – a self-published one to be more precise - and, though I’ve ended up putting that dream aside, that led me to go on specialised forums and meet authors from all around the world (I was a mentee of Kate Pearce, brilliant romance writer). So, I know a little about your struggles and I can help you reach your goals!

So, how will I make your story and your words resonate with an Italian reader the same way (or as close as possible) as it does with your own English-speaking readers?

1. Reading your book as if I were a “normal” reader, to see what one would feel like while reading (happy? thrilled? learning new things?)

2. Underlining all elements whose translation is not immediate; ie. I may find sentences like: “She made her bed and now she has to lie in it”, so I have to find the right Italian equivalent for this - which involves bikes, by the way!

3. Making a first draft and any researches necessary – I’m good at researching, thanks to the many children’s non-fiction books I’ve translated for National Geographic!

4. Reading and correcting my draft as many times as it needs, always checking the original for things I may have misunderstood or forgotten (it happens!)

5. Using my experience with publishers here in Italy to make sure your book looks like the others in spelling and formatting, according to the genre: a cozy mystery may look a bit different from a young thriller novel – they have so many chat messages the young ‘uns! – or a historic novel with its glossary and reading list… have a look at the books I translated for Ashley Weaver (cozy mystery), Jessica Goodman (young adult thriller), and Elisabeth Storrs (historic women’s fiction), all coming out in the next months!

6. Handing the translation to one of my trusted colleagues for revision (included in my fee): we will discuss my choices, make any other correction needed and then make the text ready for you to format and publish.

7. Working directly with your InDesign file if your book has pictures and you want them in the same place even for foreign readers (again, my experience with Lonely Planet tourist guides and National Geographic photo-books is essential here!)

I will do all of this following the ethic rules of the translator and respecting you and your job ever step of the way!

I've worked in publishing since 2020 and since 2022 I’m a proud member of STRADE, the Italian trade-union association of literary translators