Literary translation, copyediting and proofreading
Hirons German Translations (2003–present)
I have over twenty years' professional experience as a freelance German-English translator, proofreader, copy editor and German/English literature tutor. My academic background is in literary translation, while my interests are in experimental women's writing, art, psychology and spirituality.
Recently, I've made inroads into translating literary fiction, with a publication in No Man's Land (January 2023) of Sarah Kirsch's poetic prose piece 'Seewetterbericht', and a sample translation of Simone Scharbert's novella Rosa in Grau (Voland & Quist. October 2022) available on the Translators Aloud YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSlUv_q4uG8).
'Shipping Forecast' ('Seewetterbericht') by Sarah Kirsch, No Man's Land, Issue 17, January 2023. https://www.no-mans-land.org/article/shipping-forecast/
Copy editor for V&Q Books, Berlin (Aug 2020–present)
A Light Still Burns (Wo Noch Licht Brennt) by Selim Özdogan (translated by Katy Derbyshire and Ayça Türkoğlu), April 2023
In The Belly of the Queen (Im Bauch der Königin) by Karosh Taha (translated by Grashina Gabelmann), April 2023
Odesa at Dawn by Sally McGrane, Sep 2022
Liebe Roman (Love Novel) by Ivana Sajko (translated by Mima Simić), March 2022
Putin's Postbox (Putins Briefkasten) by Marcel Beyer (translated by Katy Derbyshire), March 2022
52 Factory Lane (Heimstrasse 52) by Selim Özdogan (translated by Katy Derbyshire and Ayça Türkoğlu), March 2022
The Bureau of Past Management (Das Eigentliche) by Iris Hanika (translated by Abigail Wender), October 2021
The Blacksmith's Daughter (Die Tochter des Schmeids) by Selim Özdogan (translated by Katy Derbyshire and Ayça Türkoğlu), March 2021
The Peacock (Der Pfau) by Isabel Bogdan (translated by Annie Rutherford), March 2021
Copy editor for Joe Public Advertising Ltd, Manchester (2011–2020)
Rohan seasonal outdoor clothing brochures and editorial releases.
Part-time, in-house proofreader at creative marketing agency, AF OLIVER, Manchester (Sep 2007–Feb 2013)
Clients
included: The Telegraph, Cambridge University Press, Churchill Retirement Living, and Redrow Homes.
Training and education
'Making A Start with Literary Translation' online course, taught by Jen Calleja (spring 2024)
Internship at New Books in German, c/o Goethe Institut (May–Sept 2021)
'Warwick Translates' summer school, led by Katy Derbyshire, University of Warwick (6–10 Jul 2019)
Master of Arts Degree in Translating (German/English with thesis distinction) (2002–2003)
University of Salford
Master of Arts Degree in Modern Languages (German) (The Poetry and Prose of Sarah Kirsch) (1999–2000)
University of Liverpool
Bachelor of Arts Degree in German Language & Literature — 2:1 with Distinction in Spoken German (1995–1999)
University of Leeds
Elementary/A2 level Norwegian (Jan 2023–ongoing)
University of Westminster
Other publications
Online interview with literary translator, Abigail Wender on The Bureau of Past Management (runner-up of the Society of Authors' 'TA First Translation Prize' 2023) by Iris Hanika.
In 2016, I translated the German art book, Von Weimar an die See: Weimar und die Malerkolonien an der ostdeutschen Ostseeküste (From Weimar to the Sea: Weimar and the Painters' Colonies on the East German Baltic Sea Coast) by Jens-Michael Plaul (published by Arbeitskreis Stadtgeschichte Blankenhain).
In 2009, I copyedited the English translation of the German non-fiction book, Synästhesien – Roter Faden durchs Leben (Synaesthesia - A "Golden Thread" Through Life) by Alexandra Dittmar (published by Die Blaue Eule Verlag, Essen).