The book about bravery and friendship "Pirates of the Ice Sea" will be published soon, and for now we want to share an interesting conversation with the translator Natalia Ivanychuk.

Mrs. Natalya, you worked on the translation of the book "Pirates of the Ice Sea" by the famous Swedish author Frida Nilsson. Were there difficult moments in the book or those that made you smile?

I wanted to translate this book for a long time, and here is a surprise! You ordered me to translate it. Although I knew about it, I did not read it. Therefore, translating "from a letter" was both a challenge and an incredible pleasure. It was as if I had returned to the world of my childhood adventures. The text is lexically and stylistically easy, so there were no difficulties. And every page made me smile, excite and make my heart stop.

The main characters of the book are children. Children who got into too adult conditions. Would you recommend this book to adults?

Necessarily! And it is even better to read in parallel with children. There is something to discuss or share impressions. And the book is quite casually instructive. Adults can also take a lot for themselves and to understand the children's world.

We know that you have already translated more than a hundred books and read probably more than a thousand. What three children's works would you advise all children under 14 to read?

Of all my "children's" works, I liked the series about Anton ("Anton and Other Misfortunes" and two others) published by the Stary Lev Publishing House the most. For girls, there are two cool series: the diaries of the girl Uda ("Hello, this is me" and three more) and the tetralogy about and for girls "Supercool".

How does a translator's day start? Are there special rituals? Drink coffee or listen to your favorite song?

The ritual has been unchanged for decades. I get up as soon as a new day begins to dawn. In the summer - five in the morning, and at other times of the year depending on the time when it is light outside. I find it uncomfortable to work under artificial lighting. The same coffee, of course. If I have a passion for work from the very morning, then one or two coffees. If you have to adjust yourself to work, then there is much more coffee.

Do translators have days off? :) What do you do to regain strength?

Translators work in different ways, mostly we call ourselves weekend workers, because we have to to earn daily bread with some other work. For example, teaching, like me. I don't have days off. Every day until three or four o'clock in the afternoon, and then you can do a little something else (if I'm not at the university that day in pairs).Travels or short trips are best for recuperating. Even in the immediate vicinity there is always something to watch or just relax on the way.

You teach Norwegian at Ivan Franko National University. What advice would you give to students who dream of becoming translators?

Oh, this is my constant advice: learn Ukrainian! When translating, you can always look in the dictionary, but master it the language in which you translate must be flawless.

If you didn't become a translator, then who would you be?

Diplomat. I had such an experience in my life, and I really liked it. An incredibly interesting activity. This is just an attempt diplomacy happened a little late in my life. Career growth in this world must be started at a very young age time to grow.

Do you read more children's literature or adult literature? What are you reading now? You manage to enjoy reading, apart from work over translations?

Reading is difficult. I read so much literature for work that there is neither time nor resources left for pleasure. AND I also read in foreign languages. This is how I avoid the subconscious urge to mentally edit what I'm reading.

How to deal with burnout? Do you have moments when you don't want anything?

Of course, there are such moments. Then you need to take a break. Immediately! Self-reflection is expensive - inability to work and concentrate for a long time.

What is your greatest literary desire? Perhaps you dream of meeting a writer or a special book personal library?

My literary desires are mostly limited to translation. There was always a dream-book looming ahead. Almost everyone these dreams (often after 10-20 years) did come true, and the dream book was waiting for me. That was the case with "Pölsa" Torgni Lindgren (Anetta Antonenko), Ketil Bjornstad's trilogy "To the Music" (Stary Lev), "Behind the Wall" Marlene Haushofer (VSL) and several others.

Which country do you dream of visiting?

I really want to see Iceland. I just came back from Stockholm, and it was my 25th anniversary visit, but I can't go to Iceland I won't make it

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

An opportunity to make dear and close people happy.