Lost in Translation

Anne Bruce of Corrie retired three years ago from her post as head teacher at a high school on the mainland and since then has kept herself busy, going back to her lifelong interest in Norway to brush up her skills as a translator. Now she has had two novels published by Scottish company Sandstone Press, one of which, a crime thriller called ‘Dregs’, was launched at Waterstones bookshop in Princes Street, Edinburgh, on 16th August during the Edinburgh Book Festival.

The author, Jørn Lier Horst, a policeman from Larvik, who has published five previous books in his William Wisting series in his native Norway, was present at the very busy launch event. The book was shortlisted for the prestigious Riverton Prize in Norway this year, and was Crime Book of the Month in the national Norwegian Bookclub.

The book launch took the format of a question and answer session, with Anne quizzing ‘her’ author on his writing, how he uses his background as a policeman to get ideas for his plots, and how important links with the press have become in modern police work. The audience enjoyed hearing the writer read from the translated novel and talk about his approach as a writer and how much he enjoys writing, so much so that he gets up early each morning to write a chapter or two before heading off to work!

Anne is pleased that her two translations have been received so well, and is looking forward to translating more of the Wisting series. Jørn Lier Horst’s new novel in the series, the seventh, is to be published in Norway at the beginning of September.

The other book that Anne has translated is ‘I Should have Lifted you Carefully Over’, a memoir about a mother-daughter relationship that is very poignant and moving, a complete change of style and subject from the crime novel. It was published on 15th June.

Both books are available for sale in the Book and Card Centre in Brodick. The picture shows Anne Bruce with Jørn Lier Horst at Waterstone’s in Edinburgh with a copy of the book, ‘Dregs’.