Comments on: Earn more by translating your book

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 19:35:33 +0000

If you’re the publisher, that’s your decision. Upload and sell it wherever you want, including specific Amazon country sites. (If you’re not the publisher, that company will have to do it for you.)

Sandy

By: J. Michael Schroeder

J. Michael Schroeder — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 17:36:14 +0000

I have a book archived on Amazon.com in English that I am presently having translated, through a Babelcube translator, into Spanish. My question is, once the translation is finished and goes into publication, where is it showcased? On Amazon books?

By: Annie

Annie — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 21:00:58 +0000

In reply to Hans Maerker.

Hi Hans

I translate for some authors on Babelcube and did have to take the risk. I started to work there on April 2015 and it’s currently October 2015. Currently I have not received any payment and not only that but I can see where the books I translated are selling on Amazon Spain, but I don’t see the sales reflected on the Babelcube page for monthly sales reports. All of the short stories I translated for an author have been selling well. One has more than two million books sold on Amazon and I have yet to see any payment. I am thinking about finishing up my current contracts and that’s it. I can’t continue to work for free. I am going to sign up with sites where I get paid up front.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 22:09:10 +0000

In reply to Hans Maerker.

Hans, I think this will do it: https://en.gravatar.com/

Sandy

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 22:07:57 +0000

In reply to Hans Maerker. Thank you, Hans! Sandy

By: Hans Maerker

Hans Maerker — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:29:42 +0000

BTW, Question to you Sandra … How do I get an image (avatar) on this blog, so I don’t hide here as an “unknown face”?

Hans

By: Hans Maerker

Hans Maerker — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:26:56 +0000

In reply to Sandra Beckwith.

Sandra and Ann, there is no complete solution to it, but Joanna Penn (The Creative Penn), a New York Times Bestseller author deals with translation in languages she doesn’t speak herself. She elaborates about her experience on her blog, and there is some sort of procedure — call it sort semi-solution — pointed out. The link to this blog section is as follows:
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2014/07/11/german-translation-desecration-verletzung/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheCreativePenn+%28The+Creative+Penn%29

She has some of her books translated into German, Italian, and Spanish. The experience she talks about on her blog include her latest experience with German. However, the issues are the same for everybody, and in any foreign language. 🙂

Ann, maybe her way of dealing with it could help you to overcome your ‘protective’ side for your “babies”, as you call them.

At some point you have to let go if you want them publish4ed in a different language. 🙂

Hans

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 19:14:54 +0000

In reply to Ann (Ana) Morris. I understand what you're saying, Ann. It sounds like a topic that an author talking to a translator should address with that translator, but I wonder if there really is any solution. Sandy

By: Ann (Ana) Morris

Ann (Ana) Morris — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 15:00:27 +0000

I wish I knew I could trust the translator. I’m completely bilingual in written and spoken Spanish. I write my own English and Spanish versions of my children’s books. There is such a difference in localization within the Spanish language itself that although I lived in Spain, I’m careful to avoid certain words and idioms that may be actually offensive in another native Spanish speaking environment. In addition, translating a book may miss the color and mood included in the original writing. I do a Spanish version, so I can allow for necessary modifications to keep the same spirit alive in both versions. I have translated children’s books for authors that are bilingual yet lack confidence in their writing skills. It is a matter so personal that I would caution anyone who wants their work in print in another language. I would love to expand my language exposure, but I hesitate to trust someone else with my “babies”.

By: Hans Maerker

Hans Maerker — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:22:05 +0000

In reply to Sandra Beckwith.

Thanks for your correction, Sandra. Apparently I wasn’t properly informed. I may go and have a look at Babelcube. 🙂

Hans