Debut author Vanessa Åsell Tsuruga joins us on the podcast this week to discuss her novel Förgätmigej för alltid (Forget-me-not Forever), and how she went about translating her book into English. Vanessa tells us how she found the right translator for her novel, what the translation workflow was like, and how she fits writing into her busy work and home life.
- Vanessa talks about the constant presence of storytelling throughout her life, from habitual journal writing to creating content as a marketer to writing her first novel
- She tells us about her job at Rakuten as the senior manager of digital strategy for global sports, including what her role within the company entails, how she implements narrative techniques in marketing campaigns, and the perks of working with sports teams like FC Barcelona
- Vanessa explains why she decided to self-publish her debut novel, and what the publishing process has taught her about both the industry and herself
- As someone who has lived internationally since the age of 13 and speaks four languages, Vanessa discusses why she decided to write her novel in her native tongue, Swedish, and why she decided to translate her work into English
- Vanessa tells us what the translation process has been like, including how she found her translators and what their workflow was like, why she opted to hire a professional rather than translate her work herself, and she gives some great advice for any author who is considering hiring a translator of their own
- Vanessa gives us her predictions for the future of publishing and she tells us why she thinks the indie author community will continue to thrive and grow
Useful Links
Forget-me-not Forever
Förgätmigej för alltid
Rakuten Sports & Entertainment
FC Barcelona
The Golden State Warriors
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto
Death in Her Hands

Vanessa was born in Malmö, Sweden. She has lived in Stockholm, Barcelona, London, Tokyo, Kobe and Olympia. She now lives in Tokyo with her family.
Förgätmigej för alltid, published in Swedish, is her first book.
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