Literary translation from English into European Spanish.

Laura van Leeuwen
Laura van Leeuwen
Based in Spain · Working worldwide
Available for new projects

For authors, publishers & literary agencies

I translate your book for readers in Spain, paying attention to how the dialogue sounds, where the humor lands, how the story moves, and what happens in the quieter moments. That way, it reads naturally in Spanish and still feels like the book you wrote.

Reader-reviewed titles On Goodreads
Published translated titles Available on Amazon
Beyond the words

More than just a translation

Voice, rhythm, consistency and care from the first page to the last.

01

A natural, fluent Spanish

Characters sound like themselves, conversations feel real, and readers can stay with the story.

02

Attention to detail

A passing remark in one chapter might matter in another. I keep track of those threads throughout the book.

03

Your voice, page by page

A line may need different words in Spanish, but the reason you wrote it that way still matters.

04

A collaborative approach

If a line could be read more than one way, I’ll check with you. You’ll know how the Spanish version is taking shape.

Laura van Leeuwen, literary translator
About

Your book in Spanish,
with its voice intact.

Literature has shaped how I read and how I translate. My degree in philology and master's in literature from Complutense University of Madrid taught me to look past the surface of a sentence and see how voice, structure, and word choice create the reader's experience. I bring that same attention to every book, first understanding what the author is doing before deciding how to carry it into Spanish.

When I start a book, I look for what makes the writing distinct: what a character leaves unsaid, how the pace shifts between scenes, which small details resurface later. A pause, a repeated word, an unusually short sentence—these choices usually mean something, and I need to understand them before translating them. I stay close to the author's meaning while shaping each sentence naturally in European Spanish. I track character voices, recurring images, and story details across the whole book, then read the Spanish version on its own terms. It has to work as a book in its own right, not just as a reflection of the English original.

BA in Philology MA in Literature Didactics English → European Spanish
Across the shelf

Fiction · Fantasy · Science fiction · Romance · Drama · Theatre · Mystery & thrillers · Historical fiction · Memoir · Biography · Narrative non-fiction · Essays & ideas · Literary fiction · Young adult

Selected work

A few books I’ve worked on

A small selection of books I’ve translated or revised over the years.

El arte de dejar ir
Revision

El arte de dejar ir

Jerome Puryear, MD

Colonia Uno Marte
Translation

Colonia Uno Marte

Gerald M. Kilby

CJNG
Revision

CJNG

Chris Dalby

Fundamentos legales de una sociedad libre
Translation

Fundamentos legales de una sociedad libre

Stephan Kinsella

Matando de hambre al lobo
Translation

Matando de hambre al lobo

Karen Quiros, CHC

Academia Darkblood: La Mestiza by G. K. De Rosa
Translation

Academia Darkblood: La Mestiza

G. K. De Rosa

I had the pleasure of hiring Laura to translate my book, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with her work. She was professional and dedicated, ensuring I was happy with the final product. Laura translated the book into European Spanish with remarkable accuracy and attention to detail.
Karen Quiros Author
How I work

From manuscript to Spanish edition

A clear, collaborative process from the first page to the final review.

01

Send your manuscript

I’ll review the book and confirm what the project involves, how long it will take, and what I need from you before I begin.

  • Project scope Your book’s length, genre, and what the project will involve
  • Timeline The timeline and agreed delivery date
  • Style notes Any style notes or reference material you’d like me to keep in mind
02

Translation & communication

As I work, I’ll keep you posted and get in touch whenever a passage calls for your input.

  • Translation Your manuscript translated into European Spanish
  • Questions Questions sent your way whenever your input matters
  • Consistency Character voices, tone, and recurring details
03

Final read-through & delivery

Once the translation is complete, I’ll read it through as a book before sending you the finished Spanish manuscript.

  • Read-through A complete read-through of the Spanish manuscript
  • Final check A final check of flow, consistency, and every thread running through the book
  • Delivery Your finished Spanish manuscript, ready for the next stage
Booking & payment

A 50% deposit secures your project.

Once the scope, timeline and final quote are agreed, a 50% deposit reserves your project in my schedule. The remaining balance is due on delivery.

50% To reserve your project
50% On final delivery
Your book, in Spanish

Your story already has a voice.
Let’s help it speak Spanish.

Tell me a little about your book, your timeline and what you need.

Tell me about your book →