Gretchen Abernathy
Translator, Editor, Copy Editor, Proofreader (Spanish/English)
Gretchen is a freelance translator and editor working in both Spanish and English. After majoring in Spanish at Wheaton College, she spent a year in Buenos Aires, Argentina, working for a local publishing house, translating materials from Spanish to English. She then spent four years as the editorial assistant at Grupo Nelson, the Spanish division of Thomas Nelson (now HarperCollins Christian Publishing) in Nashville, Tennessee, and had a hand in all stages of the production cycle. On the side she continued translating (Spanish to English) and editing for a variety of companies and individuals.
Since the birth of her oldest son in 2010, Gretchen has been solely freelancing her projects. She continues to contribute to the robust production of Spanish-language best-sellers through Grupo Nelson and Vida Publishers, in which she focuses on fine-tuning manuscripts in the technicalities of bibliographic notes, the subtleties of translation caveats, and cohesion among layout and design elements. She also helps independent authors develop their materials in Spanish or English, and her experience runs the gamut of children’s board books, theology, self-help, technical guides, study Bibles, web content, and thriller novels.
Since 2006 Gretchen has also served as the managing editor of the Journal of Latin American Theology, an English-language publication of the Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamericana (Latin American Theological Fellowship). This endeavor has kept her in tune with life both on the ground and in the ivory tower for Spanish speakers north and south of the border as she translates, edits, and works with authors to craft their articles.
Some of the projects Gretchen has most enjoyed include the following:
Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels [Spanish version] (Kenneth E. Bailey, pub. Grupo Nelson) BRG Bible[Spanish version]
Product Management for Software (Ernani Ferrari) Celebrate Recover Study Bible [Spanish version] (pub. Vida Publishers)
Francis, Man of Prayer (pub. Thomas Nelson, translation into English)
The Circle (Mario Escobar, translation into English)
Gretchen is grateful to live surrounded by Spanish speakers in Nashville with her husband, kids, and a passel of good friends.