From an early age, books caught my attention, more than that, they mesmerised me and I couldn't stop reading them. I remember to this day, many decades later, the first book I had the pleasure of immersing myself in: Les Misérables by V. Hugo. Obviously, I don't remember the details of the story, although I know the subject of the book, but what marked me forever was that experience, of entering a world created by someone else. Since then, I haven't been able to stop myself from reading books, good or not so good, but what's invaluable to me is the experience of entering other worlds, of travelling without leaving the place.
Years later, as an adult, I began to be attracted to languages, I have great sympathy and ease with French, perhaps Mr. Hugo has remained in my unconscious, but I also learnt English, like everyone else, and my other passion, Spanish. I was so attracted to the Spanish language that I became bilingual, and nowadays I can think and even dream in Spanish, and sometimes I speak in Spanish when I'm asleep.
My passion for reading led me to ask myself: if I spend my whole life reading all kinds of genres, of all nationalities (most of them translated, of course), why don't I write my own book? And after a lot of research, I chose my favourite genre (psychological thriller) and the subject I was most interested in talking about. With the help of a good writing school and a wonderful coach, it took me almost four years to write it and many years later, last year, I managed to publish it in a real publishing house, not as a self-published book, which I don't think is a bad option either.
For those of you who would like to know more about my book, which is entitled "No siempre Pandora abre su ánfora" and which I published under the pseudonym L. H. Martello. Just a short synopsis: “The author uses Pandora and its surroundings to clearly imitate the daily life of mafia gangs. In this way, it reveals how they act and why the criminal business of treating women for prostitution purposes is considered one of the most lucrative. The events that follow the death of her husband lead Pandora to the underworld, where she must immerse herself in the search for the killer. At the moment I only have it in the original, I wrote it in Spanish directly.
This year I strongly considered the possibility of becoming a translator, perhaps for the same reason I wrote my own book. I love reading books written in any language, which is why I think that translators do a wonderful job of uniting and mixing cultures. So why not help Portuguese speakers read the countless books written and yet to be written in Spanish. So, I started investigating, took some courses, and now I'm sincerely looking for the opportunity to start with my first professional translation. I think that being sincere like that is the best way to gain the trust of my new clients, or rather partners.
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Portuguese
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Main translator
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Author review: Translating this book into Portuguese, as well as of the following one ---El imaginador --- by the same translator, was an extraordinary experience, the likes of which I have had only two or three times in my professional life. Martello's meticulous attention, both to the smallest details that the author can provide and to the wise advice that only a generous translator can give, has been a true intercultural and friendly journey. Any errors that may remain are the responsibility of the author, not of the translator. I am glad to have been part of this professional exchange, which has left me with a lesson that I will apply in the future. Martello is highly recommended as a responsible and sharp translator, enthusiastic and open to any challenge. |
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Portuguese
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Main translator
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Author review: Once again, Martello has done a wonderful job by translating this book, the second of our professional exchanges. I can only be deeply grateful for his attention to my work and to myself, for his patience and willingness to resolve the difficulties that all literary work entails, for not giving up in the face of difficult passages. His exquisite translation honours me and makes me happy to share with him the literary destiny of this book of short stories in his mother tongue. Congratulations! Ariel Pytrell |
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