Translated Worlds

  A behind-the-scenes look at As Mentiras que Contamos ( The Lies We Tell) , by J.D. Barker Translating a thriller usually demands sharp focus. But sometimes… the story pulls you in so deeply that focus becomes immersion. That’s exactly what happened with As Mentiras que Contamos , by J.D. Barker. I’d sit down to translate a paragraph, and suddenly realize I’d read two full pages, caught up in the mystery, forgetting I was supposed to be working. Sierra, the protagonist, wakes up from a terrible accident with no memory. But that’s only the beginning of her nightmare. As she pieces together her life, every truth hides another lie. Every ally could be an enemy. As a reader, I was hooked. As a translator, I was challenged — in the best way. Barker’s pacing is relentless. His prose slices through the page, revelation after revelation, forcing you to rethink everything you thought you knew. I found myself constantly trying to predict the ending (spoiler: I couldn’t). I also had t...

 If you still think a translator’s job is just “switching words from one language to another,” come here, sit with me for a minute. Translation is working with living languages. And what does that mean? It means languages aren’t static. They change, they breathe, they respond to time and culture. The words we use today aren’t exactly the same ones we used ten years ago — they’ve shifted in tone, in context, even in meaning. And we, as translators, need to stay tuned into all of that. It’s not enough to know what a word means — we need to know how it functions today. 📌 Translation, then, isn’t a mathematical operation. It’s a conscious, thoughtful, and refined choice. It’s a balance between being faithful to the original text and being respectful of how the target language really speaks. That’s why every serious translator works like a true language detective:  Hunting for meaning  Testing expressions  Reading between the lines  And often rewriting ...

  I n this first article, I talk about the importance of reading books to get a good translation. Whenever someone asks me what a translator should do to improve, one of the first things I say is: read. Read a lot. Read constantly. Read with intention. In my own routine, this is a rule: I’m always reading two books at the same time. One in English — my source language. The other in Portuguese — my target language, which I nurture like a garden. Preferably, that second book is by a Brazilian author. I want to feel the rhythm of our language, its natural choices, its colors and layers. Consistent reading is what keeps my sensitivity sharp. That’s where I find new expressions, recover forgotten words, compare structures, and discover better ways to say what once seemed simple. For those of us who work between languages, the secret to crossing that bridge with grace is to stay immersed in both shores. And more than that: reading is not just a work tool — it’s an act of respect...

  Bringing your stories to life in Brazilian Portuguese Are you an indie author looking to expand your readership into the Brazilian market? Curious about how your book could resonate with Portuguese-speaking audiences? This blog is a gateway into the world of literary translation and editorial practices in Brazil. Here, you’ll find insights, reflections, and professional tips tailored especially for independent authors from the U.S. and Europe who are exploring publication and readership in Brazil. I’m Cristiane May Allgayer, a Brazilian translator and editor specializing in fiction. I work closely with international authors to bring their stories to life in Portuguese, not just through accurate translation, but with cultural nuance and editorial care. Translated Worlds is where I share what I’ve learned from inside the publishing world: the challenges, the creative decisions, and the possibilities of translating your voice for Brazilian readers. Topics you’ll find here incl...