The Full Story
About me
My name is Bethany Naylor and I believe that our words are our most powerful tool. Since a young age, I have been an avid reader, devouring every book I could get my hands on. Once I started studying languages I quickly developed an interest in books from these cultures, sometimes reading them in their original form, and sometimes reading translations. The idea of literary translation has fascinated me ever since, but I never stopped writing my own stories.
Motivation
After completing a degree in Hispanic Studies at the University of Nottingham, I moved to Valencia where I am lucky enough to be working in what I love. I live for the arts, in particular for music and literature. I also work as a silversmith and am beginning to dip my toes into the world of illustration.
I hold a strong respect for the written word and believe that what you write and how you write it can define you. I do not believe in true synonyms or semicolons, but I do have a dedication to perfection, a passion for etymology, and deep faith in the Oxford comma.
My primary objective in this labour of love is to help foster intercultural links through the arts and literature, and to spread the word of the seldom heard.
present and future
Whilst I allow the past to inspire and drive me, as any student of history might, I find it more useful to focus on the present and the future. I am currently working on three lengthy projects, all of which are very close to my heart.
The first is the final rewrite and edit of my own novel, a Spanish Civil War historical fiction that I have been working on for an unspeakable length of time. The second, my first full novel translation. I am working with Constanza Del Río on the translation of her debut novel 'Carmesí Delirio', a fascinating book that I can't wait to share with you all. My final big project is in ghostwriting, an exercise I am finding highly educational and empowering. For this project, I am working with Bindar Kaur on a semi-autobiographical recipe book, inspired by her life and her catering business 'Great Plates'.
Alongside these projects, I am working with several historians in academic translation, studying Valencian and Portuguese, and working on my artistic endeavours. My plans for the future include studying for a masters degree in Spanish literature, bringing more writers into this business, and one day owning a donkey.
