Ginger Smudge Translators

Patricia - Afrikaans

This project sounds very interesting. I too am a writer and have recently completed a kids book. I would absolutely love to do this project as I am 100% bilingual. Afrikaans speaking but received my schooling in English. I translated a Dutch novel into English two years ago and loved it-what I do best. I lectured in English and communications for a few years with emphasis on creative writing. On completion of a course at the University of The Cariboo, I was selected as one of ten most promising newcomer writers.

Alexandre Herculano - Brazilian Portuguese

I came across your ad at Translatorscafe.com and I immediately though: "This is the kind of job I have always dreamed of."

I have two kids and I have always used my imagination to tell them stories before they go to sleep and for my surprise they were always asking for more. This is not surprising, as no kid would tell their parents that their bedtime stories are no good, but seeing how moved they were at that time made me happy inside.

Carla Prado - Brazilian Portuguese

I have two passions in life. Judo, sport that I practice and compete since I was a little girl and the English language. People say that I am half Japanese half American. Judo is not only competition, fight and etc. but a philosophy of life. I learned how to respect and understand people, hierarchy, humility and most of the oriental teaching that led me to the title of Judo World Champion in Tokyo, Japan.

Studying English made me decide what I wanted to do for a living. To be an English> Brazilian Portuguese translator. Any direction is fine for me. I have been working as a translator for 15 years, and each new project makes me feel the gratification of the first time.

I found in my two passions the essence of my life.

Simone Matias- Brazilian Portuguese

I’m from Santos/SP, Brazil. I have graduated in journalism and worked as a salesperson, English teacher and even as an Au Pair in the USA. I have been working as a freelancer translator since 1995.

In 2000 I decided to take a break and go to the The States as an Au Pair because I wanted to have the experience of living in another country. Once there, I read zillions of children’s books for my three kids and became charmed by the illustrations. I found out that drawing and painting didn’t have to be just a hobby or something.

I have been working as an illustrator since 2004 and I also wrote and illustrated my first book in 2004 “Ai, que Medo!”, about a little girl who was scared of many things but solves the problem in an unexpected way.

I consider myself a very lucky person because I get to work with the two things I love the most: the English language and illustration.

Rossitsa - Bulgarian

Now... about Ginger.... I did visit the web-site and I read about the little Ginger-Smudge fellow. I find him funny and I think Bulgarian kids will love him.

I am a hopeless sci-fi and fantasy genre fan! I have always been! So, I think that I will be able to successfully grasp the ideas of Ginger Smudge, and translate them into Bulgarian (my mother tongue) in such a way that a Bulgarian kid would be perfectly able to understand them and get to love the little ginger fellow, just as millions of kids from all over the world probably have already done.

Haining - Chinese (Simplified)

I am a native Chinese translator, a "culture preference immigrant to USA with exceptional ability for cross-culture understandings" as they said, :-), a published poet without modesty :-), a modest monk building a better karma for a future of no karma.

Ginger could be a universal icon and new legend of clean, organic, soulful kid. I foresee/vision its animation version, with the kaleidoscopic fantasies created that would better children's life to such an extent that we will leave the earth on our starry trips without any regret having created this :-)
(hope I have not scared you talking as a poet who does not care much for reality)

Huei Chi Lin "Angie" - Chinese (Traditional)

Summer 2004 was when I decided to take risk again and changed my career path. I started a business selling children’s books and I work as a freelance translator for mostly my old contacts in the software localization business. That is right – children’s books, dual language children’s books.

I am really into language arts and multicultural contexts to begin with, and having the opportunity to promote dual language books written in over 20 languages with English, often with different cultural references, just leads me to be more excited about them.

Xuan - Chinese (Simplified)

I am impressed by the little Ginger Smudge and its dream things. Chinese kids must be so inspired by this little green colour creature.

Among all his friends, my favorites are Little Koala Bambi and the Scrambel Mice. Koala Bambi has these funny horns. I love scrambled mouse number one as he is crazy. Scrambled mouse number two is cool with the funny long tail. I am quite worried about him. How does he deal with day to day life with such a long tail? He must hide his tail or run very quickly so that the others will not step on it. Or maybe in Ginger Smudge's world, there are different way to live: they fly instead of walking. If that's true, I will have peace of mind with the long tail Scrambled Mouse number one has.

I am a freelance translator currently living in Montreal, Canada. My language pair is English to Chinese. Sometimes I translate from Chinese to English as well. Before I came to Montreal, I studied and lived in UK for six years. Before that, sure, I was in China.

I enjoy translation a lot as I can use my bicultural background knowledge to fill in the gap between eastern and western cultures.

Translation is an art! Translators need to balance between keeping translated texts original to the source language in meanings and styles and taking considerations of the cultural contexts and the language effects of the target language. Artists use colors, images and other tools. Translators use language to create a copy of the original 'artwork'.

Song Zhenghua - Chinese

SO delighted to have found the pool of translators you introduced us to! And I am fascinated at their stories and visions! As a father to a girl of 4, I am enchanted at the idea and act of telling her stories, and I have found that she responded to my efforts grateful and marvellous! Stories are the real key to a magic treasure of wonders, imagination and a happy life, for children now and in future! Hope I could also contribute, not merely to my own babe but also to those many that need them!

Goga - Croatian

I have been travelling for as long as i know myself. Still, the trip to Tibet and Nepal, last year in August changed my perspective. I can't really say what it really was and i do not want to go into Karma Cola gibberish... It was so strong i still can not put it into words and so important that all my travels thereafter miss this special character.

I liked India all together though i was so sick there that i thought i'd pass out even before getting to see Sai Baba. And i did not see him at all. Had to go back home, and yet it was not a mistaken trip. I liked Africa. Especially the Republic of South Afirca and Mali. Timbuktu is nothing of the spectacle if you do not see it from the within. I guess i talk to much not saying enough. I did not want to tell what i disliked. Still what i liked i cannot put into words. They escape me.

And yet i am an interpreter.
I hope i still conveyed something.

Dana - Czech

. ...I find "The Before And After Word Game" and "The People Word Game" very interesting, but it should be adapted into CZ language.

Anyway, I see that these stories are very good for a TV program. They are short and with interesting topics to be discussed with adults.

Hans van den Broek - Dutch

I live on a tropical island; I know, you can translate on the North Pole if you like, but I prefer the sun and palm trees. Before I started studying English at the Leiden University, I tried to study Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali and Hindi. I only gave up after two years. But it turned out to be useful when I translated Young’s book Eastern Healing. I have translated some 50 books so far.

Elsie Maelbrancke - Dutch

I really like Ginger Smudge stories and that I think it's great you have found a way to explain things so complicated (yet so simple..) so that a child can understand them.

Ragna Bos - Dutch

I am a Dutch woman, 27 years old and I used to work as an assistant psychologist at a school and I freelanced for all kinds of different companies. I quit that because I couldn't find myself in this work anymore that I was doing. It's not really me to know, but I can help people in a simple way, but this is not allowed by the offical order of psychologists.

So I became a translator. I had done this before at the university, and I really liked it. I have always been into languages. When I was young my parents used to move to different places in Europe and I loved it. My hobbies are movies (big addiction) science fiction, horror, and surrealistical movies, reading (same subjects as in the movies), my work and travelling.

Pekka Suni - Finnish

I'm a freelance translator and why not a web designer, and work within my own one man company DigStory! I have translated 5 novels of Egyptian Nobel price winner Naguib Mahfouz from Arabic into Finnish and some movies and TV-programs from English, too. I've done also some scriptwriting for TV and radio.

My hobbies are taking digital photographs and sometimes manipulating them heavily with a computer. I'm also fond of electronic and minimalistic music and theoreticial speculations on the nature of nature.

You can freely contact me and give suggestions for GS web-site development or in any other matter if you wish:

Anne-Marie - French (Quebecois)

I have been working as a freelance translator for more than 10 years, in an out, and full time for the past 3 years. I have adapted and translated 2 books for children (an adaptation of The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas - and another one of A Christmas Carrol - Charles Dickens). Also, for the past few years, I have been translating many books for a Québec publisher. I also work daily for many agencies around the world.

Véronique Joly - French

I’m a freelance translator Engl > French specialised in Arts, Media & Tourism.

Having started as a teacher, I have had many opportunities to conduct book-based projects with children: a treat! I am an avid reader, also as far as children’s books are concerned and I collect a lot of them from all over the world!

I got involved with GS because I like the stories and the writing, and because I would love to work in Children’s Books. Also, the project, so far, has been an amazing opportunity for international & cultural exchange and team built up.

I live in Southern England with my British husband and spend a lot of time in France.

My other interests & activities include music, writing, performing arts & religion.

Aurélien Sagnier - French

I am freelance translator with a post-graduate degree in translation from Paris 7. Specialized in nanotechnologies and sports, I am interested in various subject, either scientific or not.

I'm of a literaty background, and love science-fiction novels, with Philip K. Dick on top of all.

The reason why I wanted to be involved in this project is double: the first part is the themes which Ginger Smudge explores are the most basic and yet the most important in life. The second one is the language used, and the challenge a translator faces when confronted to the most difficult and unforgiving targeted audience: children! I am very glad to be on board, and hope dearly that our project will be successful, with a great help from Véronique Joly.

Agnès Burnet - french

Hi GS people, I’m supposed to write a little paragraph about myself but it seems I’m lacking time and inspiration right at the moment. Well, I’ve been living in Paris, France since 1986 when I started studying American litterature. I am now the mother of a two-year-old child : a happy and mischievious little boy called Félix, just like the cat. I am a part-time English-French translator and French text revisor (seeking to work more, so if you have any extra work, please get in touch at agnes.burnet@noos.fr). I am also a part-time Aïkido teacher : I fell into Aïkido 15 years ago and every day I study movement and its magic. What else… I like the GS project and hope that with the efforts of everyone of us it’s going to get famous worldwide. That’s all, folks.

Marina - German

German and Italian are both my native languages and I have over 20years experience as translator/simultaneous interpreter. I deal with all sorts of texts and docs, but prefer linguistics, literatur aso. I have sense of esoteric and worked already with the construction of a german website for kids (they -the kids, had to develop the story of an extraterrestial invasion on earth) and wrote myself stories for kids. I'm actually available, curious about new targets and interested.

Petra Brown - German

I am a german native speaker and I live in Minnesota but spend my summers in Germany (actually I am thinking about moving back). Not only do I have a sixteen year old daughter but also intensive experience with kids from 0-16 years of age - mind you: not only the so called "normal" kids but kids with special needs (mainly high functioning autism like asperger's syndrom,etc). I am very familiar with the concept of multiple layers of reality. Furthermore I am interested in esoteric themes like spirit worlds, cults and hypnosis.

Dörte - German

I have a strong interest and understanding of themes like buddhism, consciousness, the nature of perception etc.

I'm a student of horticulture and have started meditation a few years ago, which also led me to asia, where I spent some time in a monastery. In the recent years I've been in close contact with English culture and I have read lots of literature related to your themes in English and German. I think I could do a good job in transfering your personal message into German.

Daniele - German

I am a native German speaker from Austria. I currently reside in Chicago, USA, and I am working my way back to my spiritual home in Hawaii. I have had the opportunity to work on many interesting German/English and English/German projects for the past ten years.

Being on board with GS is a very colorful and dynamic experience. It is lively and sincere, meaningful and most of all, comfortably precious.

I have 2 bunnies, Oreo and Junior, 1 nephew, Roland, and 2 nieces, Susanne and Doris. They asked whether GS was an elf from space. I told them that they could pick the space this "elf" is from. They asked why? Well, the space inside the heart reflects the big space (universe) on a beautiful day. they said they wanted elf to move into their hearts and change address. I asked which address...they said from the big space outside to the small space inside.

The bunnies listened as well, they were concerned that GS was intersted in their carrots and parsley. I assured them that GS had better things to do, but Junior decided to secure some parsley for himself, hopped off, and listened from afar.

Seema - Hindi

Thank you for educating us about Ginger Smudge & Memes and your advice on how to go about the business of this project. I agree with your business model and feel that money will flow once you make concentrated efforts in the right direction. This is my first project dealing with a childrens theme and I look to you for inspiration. However, let me assure you that I am a good learner and once I get a hang of things you won't have reason to complain.

Satyam Varma - Hindi

I am a freelance writer, translator and cultural activist. I worked in the editorial department of the premier Hindi news agency United News of India-Varta for 12 years and resigned as Chief Sub Editor in April 2003 as I found the routine type of work stifling and suffocating. Now I write articles and features for various Hindi newspapers and magazines besides translating for agencies and direct clients all over the world.

Adam - Hungarian

I like buddhist philosophy and have read a few books about it. However, some time must pass until I can put that philosophy into practice in my life. Hungarian and Finnish are often linked together, however, Finnish is very different, there are no similar words or any other visible similarities. But Hungarian and Finnish originate from the same root. I know of no link to Basque. In fact, there is no language in the word that resembles the least to Hungarian, and there is no perfect evidence where we are coming from. Some wanna-be-scientists seriously think we are from an other planet, or that Hungarians ruled the world in the age of the pyramids.

Karlotta - Icelandic

I have started translating the stories and am attaching "It's GS" for you in Icelandic. I have also translated "The Magic Circle" and "GS and those Dino Wizards" and have started "GS meets the Space Things"... I am just starting to contact publishers in Iceland.

I found it a bit difficult to decide on Ginger's Icelandic name but hope you like the one I finally picked: Gulli Geimálfur. Gulli is a "little boy's name" (short for a longer name, sounds very boyish) and Geimálfur means that he is a sort of "Elf" from outer space... (we like Elves quite a lot in Iceland, you see). I really wanted to keep the "Ginger" in his name but I finally decided that it would not sound natural at all in Icelandic. In fact I knew a ginger cat named Gulli when I was little so maybe this is why I like it...

Alessandra - Italian

I do like unusual challenges and having taken a look at the material I feel this is something I would like to do. I liked it. It is definitely different form what I usually do and very appealing, especially since I am interested in Buddishm, mind and consciousness, the nature of existence (that is not in my CV). I don't think it is difficult, just a matter of having the right approach, interest and sensitivity.

Rosanna Casamassima - Italian

I cooperate with an English mother tongue and both have an extensive experience in selling. Besides being a translator, I also own a bookstore.

Beside being a translator (as from 1981) I like to read and are particularly interested in children's book. I am really happy when a child come into my shop and instead of buying a toy or some useless gadget, buys a book. I love to suggest and help them to choose. Despite the general thought that nowadays children do not like books, I have noticed that if you get them interested, talking about the plot or the characters, they easily change their mind and are very happy to buy a book. To work on Gs stories and find a way to make them known and loved by Italian children is a big challenge which I putting all my efforts on. I live in a small little town on top of a hill near Rimini from where I have a beautiful and a very inspiring view of the sea.
...... my beautiful child is a source of inspiration too ;))!!!

Dani - Japanese

I am a Japanese national living in Prescott, Arizona. I’ve been translating from home since 1988 mainly for newspapers and magazines (Japanese into English) and have translated several English books into Japanese. I have always been interested to combine my language skills with work for children, who I believe are our future.

Saori Lafontaine - Japanese

"I went to GS website and I have fallen in love with Ginger Smudge!! I am 30+ years old and I still read children's book a lots. and I always dream of writing children's book!! I wish whole world enjoy these GS sorties and I am very happy to be part of this project.

I was born in Japan.... and last 12 years I was in an Australia... now I am living in Michigan USA with my handsome husband..."

Keiko - Japanese

I do not have much translation experiece in Children's book area but at my previous workplace we did translate a Children's Book (Last Maple Leaf). Also, we worked for Simon Fraser University when they had promotion and introduced Canadian children's book authors. Besides, I have three children and as a "book worm", I love reading books for them.

Risa Tomoyasu Chung - Japanese

These GS stories are very deep. It's not only kids' stories, I think. The more you read, the more you realize that these stories tell you something you know, but you never remembered before. Everything is in you, but you just don't know or don't remember that you have it. I am so proud of being in this team with so many talented people all over the world. Let's enjoy our GS world.

Marie - Korean

I am a professional translator with experience in translating as well as proofreading a variety of fields, including books and websites. I translated a book on language learning by Steve Kaufmann into Korean last Fall and am now working on a Korean to English translation of a theological book by Pastor Kim, Yang-hwan.

I am very familiar with children’s stories, because I was an elementary school teacher in Korea for 15 years and have a Master’s degree in Education. Plus, my little girl is about 2 years old, I live in Canada, and my husband is an English native speaker, so I live with children’s books both in English and Korean.

Erika - Lithuanian

I found your website very interesting. Especially the Tibetan material. I traveled in India for 6 months, 5 years ago and met a lot of people from Tibet, mainly refugees.

Have you ever heard of Jurga Ivanauskaite? She is one of my favorite Lithuanian authors. Her books about Tibet and its culture are amazing and very popular in Lithuania(unfortunately, they are available only in Lithuanian).

Helene - Norwegian

I am originally from Norway. I moved to the US in 1997 permanently. Growing up I have always been involved in drama and writing plays. I enjoy the art of the written work and I am currently working on a book myself. I work as a translator fulltime and really enjoy and take great pride in my work

Reza - Persian

It’s kind of impossible to stop the world of information and communication. People may not get enough to drink but they smell the "OCEAN"! I dare say as far as I have seen and felt it closely in the two different societies_Iranian’s and European’s_ people in Iran are much more up_to_date and involved with the latest such as internet, news , books, learning foreign languages as I used to be an English teacher and felt people’s thirst to English under my skin, and education and the story of entering university that has become a dream for the young as for the tough entrance exams and also the evergrowing number of attendants every year and etc and etc... than Europeans!

Dorota - Polish

I had a look at your Ginger Smudge character (his name is wonderfully translated into Polish) and I think he would appeal to Polish children.

My name is Dorota, I was born in Poland and have been living in UK for fifteen years now. I am a freelance translator, although I specialise in IT and Marketing translations the children literature has always been very close to my heart.
Please click on the link to my website and see my example of children's literature translation (a fragment of BUMPS IN THE NIGHT by FRANK RODGERS)

Actually I am an aspiring writer for children as well and I am trying to publish my own children's stories.

Elena - Romanian

I'm a Romanian translator, I graduated from a faculty of languages, English and Spanish section.

I worked as an English teacher for 4 years and I know children's way of thinking, so that wouldn't be a problem.

Alex - Russian

Ginger Smudge and the World of Hidden Things is again another great story. By the way, I work now with people who are in for the early childhood development. We visited a lot of kindergartents and they would really know how to use your GS stories. They can and will contribute a lot.

Sergei - Russian

The place where I live is quite Russian-language oriented, and the big operators are all in Moscow. People down here do buy books, but on the market (a sort of a swapmeet!) which is always crowded and much less so in regular bookshops which are very few.

After graduation I worked as an interpretor at Ajaokuta Steel Project, Nigeriaand shared accomodation with some guys from Minsk, very smart and competent.

I guess you do have better chances to sell your works in Russia by making books bilingual as English in much in favor these days. And the best place to do it would be Petersburg, the real cultural capital of Russia (the best book-loving types I have ever met are certainly there). Or you may try to approach some specialist publishers who are on to Eastern philosophy, culture, etc.

Marija - Serbian

"I must admit there weren't many translations that were as much fun to work on. Plus, my daughter keeps bugging me to read the books to her as soon as I translate. Is there any chance you could send me a couple of your drawings for other books so I could print them out for her?"

Sanja - Serbian

I'm a native Serbian translator (with Master's degree in English), I love translating children's books, I love eastern philosophy (and I'm very much into it!) and I have contacts within publishing industry in Serbia so I might be able to offer your work to several publishers.

I have quite an experience in translating literature, especially children's books. I have a little son as well, so my imagination and ability to keep his attention with interesting stories are quite developed, too ;)

Jana - Slovakian

"I want to assume to present the books a bit differently. Not to change ideas or points... The main idea is ..all direct translations will fail... I´m "studying" something about Buddhism to understand YOU more. I am sure that if you let me understand your "feelings and ideas" for each book or strophe I will do it much better.

And also I think, the book should not be published as a book for small children. As I have told you before when you asked me what I feel. It depens who reads it. It might be strange idea for you, but I would present it as a book for teenagers and adults - "fairy tales for teenagers and adults " . It makes them "think" . This is the best way to get it ahead, I think.

Aleksandra - Slovenian

My name is Aleksandra Zivkovic, born in Ljubljana, Slovenia on 6.9.1970 to a slovene Mum and a serb Dad - therefore I know pretty well what it means growing up bilingually.

After the 8-year (1977-1985) Elementary School in 1989 I finished The Secondary Scool for Social Studies and Arts in Ljubljana and continued studying Psychology. At that time I had learned my third language - english for 8 years and was using it in my studies and even more in my work as an activist with the youth organization spreading the UN ideals among Slovene children and youth (UN Clubs Association of Slovenia), which also was the active Member of ISMUN (Internatinal Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations) and in wich I finally had the honoure to work as the President.

Marsha - Spanish (Colombia)

I’ve had several reactions to the first book. I made a rather rustic copy using Alex´s slides and my translation. The reading at the pre-school was a success. It was read to 3 ½ year olds and a 7 year old who was visiting. Once the little ones understood that this was not a book about monsters, they enjoyed it thoroughly and most of them told their teacher who their favorite creature or what their favorite part was. Winners: surfing on the waves and The Red Thing. Funny. When one of them asked what flowing meant, another one answered, it’s like floating. The 7 year was speechless, yet seemed thoughtful in an intense kind of way.

I also showed the book to an old-time friend who, among other things, teaches yoga. I just gave her the book without any background. On page 5 or 6 she said, "This is a philosophical book." Towards the end, she said, "This is truly a profound book."

Edith - Spanish (Argentina)

Hi,Hola! I've heard you are looking for bold translators to work as part of your international team.

My name is Edith Talamo and I'm from Buenos Aires,Argentina. I've been a full time translator for over twenty years and even if I specialize in highly technical translations,I love adapting stories for children. Not an easy task at all! Since little ones are our most demanding readers I strive to offer just what they deserve. Simply the best.

I have vast experience in translating stories for children (Choose Your Own Adventure, Fisher Price Series, Winnie the Witch,among many others) I'm also the author of 5 published and 1 still unpublished books I wrote for Editorial Atlantida in Buenos Aires, and Ediciones B in Barcelona.

Patricia - Spanish (Spain)

I’m a Spanish and French freelance translator (both of them are my mother tongues because of family reasons) I specialise in technical, scientific, legal and other fields... but above all, i’m a lover of communication art and translation in general.

I love kids, and when I saw your offer, I couldn’t resist writing to you such a personnal letter. I’d be glad to collaborate with your French or Spanish team, it doesn't matter which because as I’ve told you before, Ive spoken both languages since I was 2 years old. The most important thing is to COLLABORATE with you.

I got involved with GS because I like the stories, editing and the writing, and because I would love to work in Children’s Books. Also, the project, so far, has been an amazing opportunity for international & cultural exchange and team built up.

Ginger Smudge is more than just a story about how to use mind energy. It's a story about opening one's heart to universal compassion. That must be the item of our team in order to produce the best translation. I think it could be a spiritual team work that starts as a basic translation and could drive us to the most interesting points of children psychology. I consider that a grave responsability is needed in our planet and it’s important to install this sort of projects for world awareness.

Martha - Spanish (Mexico)

I am a Mexican translator with 25 years experience, over 85 books translated and a student of Mysticism and History of Religions. I am very much into spirituality.

Despite, the fact that I have no children, I have nephews and nieces between the 4 and 23 years old, therefore, I know their "language".

I had the opportunity to translate the Pokémon books published in Mexico. I have also translated books about good manners for children, Hinduism, Celtics, chakras, gypsy witchcraft and magic, among others.

Pernilla - Swedish

I am Swedish with a Diploma, an Ma and a PhD mainly in Literary Translation from the University of Surrey, UK. I have done some freelance work as a translator but have been working as a teacher of foreign languages since I came back to Sweden.

Karin Ashing - Swedish

To cut a long story short, I am a professional translator with more than 25 years of experience in translating mainly financial, technical and IT texts. This, I know, is moving on a different planet than the Ginger Smudge world of language, but, believe it or not, often requires a great deal of creativity and linguistic skills.

Wendy - Turkish

Hi, my name is Ginger Smudge and this is my bedroom. This is where I live with my Dream Things.

Merhaba, benim adim Ginger Smudge ve burasi da benim yatak odam. Burada hayali yaratiklarla birlikte yasiyorum.

The revised version of Ginger Smudge is attached.

I re translated it and my husband checked over it. The changes which i have made are in blue. My son loves the story :-)