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      I first met Barbara Schnell online, several years ago, when she came into the Compuserve Writers Forum in search of quotes for an article she was writing.  As it happened, I was among the first to see her message and answer her questions, and within a short time, we had become friends, sharing a deep interest in writing and a fascination with the English language.
      Over the course of the next few years, I had ample opportunity to admire her amazing fluency (I learned to read German--very crudely--in graduate school, but can neither speak nor write it), and also her capabilities as a writer; I was privileged to read some of her fiction, and realized that she had wonderful instincts about character and dialogue, and the nuances of  description.
      Now, over these same years, my earlier books were being published in Germany, and I was very much amazed and flattered at the wonderful reception they got from German readers.  At the same time, though, I did receive occasional letters from readers who had read the books both in English and in German, telling me that while the German translations were both faithful and adequate, they didn't have quite the same "feel" as did the original versions.
      So, when my agent went to negotiate a new contract with the German publisher, I told him to see whether we might be able to arrange for Barbara Schnell to do the translation.  I knew that she was familiar with all the books, had a wonderful dexterity in translation, was a delicate and insightful writer herself--and she was able to talk to me online, so that any small questions regarding just what I meant in a particular passage could be easily cleared up.  (That was very reassuring, since normally I have no contact with the translators of my books, and have no idea what interpretations they may be making.)
      The publisher agreed, and Barbara's translation of DRUMS OF AUTUMN was so well received--by readers and critics alike--that they were happy to agree that Barbara should translate all of my future books, as well.
      I only hope she doesn't get tired of Jamie and Claire!

Barbara Schnell • bschnell@bschnell.de • Impressum