Book Translation Services English to French – Élan & Co
🇫🇷 Version FR
🇬🇧 Authors & Publishers — Élan & Co

Your story,fully French.

Literary translation, manuscript editing, author branding, and self-publishing support — everything you need to reach French-speaking readers with the quality your work deserves.

“ I don't just translate words. I translate the soul of your work. ”

✦ Native French · Bilingual · 20+ years
  • EN→FR Literary Translation
  • AI Translation Post-Editing & Polish
  • Manuscript Editing & Proofreading
  • Author Branding & Social Media (FR)
  • Back Cover Copy & Press Kit
  • Professional Book Formatting
  • French Market Launch Strategy
20+

Years of expertise

Professional writing, translation & editing since 2004.

FR

Native French

Every nuance, every idiom, every typographic standard — instinctive.

EN/FR

Fully bilingual

I write and think in both languages with equal fluency and precision.

48h

Quote turnaround

Clear word-based pricing. Everything in writing. No hidden fees.

The AI translation problem

Why your readers deserve better.

AI translation tools can produce a draft — but a draft is not a book. French readers immediately notice every misplaced idiom, every anglicism, every cultural misstep. Your story deserves a translator who is also a reader, an editor, and a bilingual creative professional.

💬

Lost in translation

Idioms, humour, and cultural references rendered literally — making your prose fall flat with French readers. What's charming in English can sound absurd, confusing, or even offensive in French without proper cultural adaptation.

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Voice erosion

Your distinctive author voice — the rhythm, the style, the personality — gets flattened into generic output. No algorithm can feel the difference between your narrator's dry wit and an unintended awkwardness. A reader can.

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Typographic chaos

French punctuation, guillemets, non-breaking spaces, and formatting rules are systematically ignored by AI tools. These aren't trivial details — they signal to French readers whether your book was properly localized or sloppily processed.

The Élan & Co difference

Every novel I deliver has been translated by me, because I love words, I love reading, and translating a story into French is a pleasure for me, not a chore. I sometimes use AI as a research tool (to find out, for example, what “2nd grade” corresponds to in France, or to learn about the rules of American football), but the translation itself is entirely my own. It is human, thoughtful, and done with care.

Services

Everything your book needs to thrive in French.

From the first translated word to the final press kit, I cover every stage of your French-market journey. Work with one trusted partner who knows your book from cover to cover.

🇫🇷 Translation

Literary Translation

Full EN→FR literary translation that preserves your voice, tone, and cultural nuance. Every sentence is shaped with the care a writer brings to original prose — because the best translation reads like it was written in French from the start.

  • Full EN→FR literary translation, novels to short stories
  • Cultural adaptation for French-speaking readers
  • Typographic standards (guillemets, non-breaking spaces)
  • Style sheet & consistency documentation
  • One revision round included
🎯 Ideal for: authors & publishers bringing English-language titles to French markets.
🤖 AI Post-Editing

AI Translation Polish

Already used DeepL, ChatGPT, or another AI tool? I correct, rewrite, and refine the output until it meets the standards French readers expect. You get the speed of machine translation with the quality of human craft.

  • Comprehensive review of the full AI-generated translation
  • Rewriting of unnatural, robotic, or incorrect passages
  • Voice restoration and stylistic coherence
  • Cultural adaptation and typographic correction
  • Terminology consistency throughout
🎯 Ideal for: publishers with AI drafts needing publication-quality polish.
✨ Author Branding

French Author Presence

Your book is published — now French readers need to discover you. I build and manage your entire French digital presence: social media, newsletters, press materials, and the author bio that makes journalists want to interview you.

  • French social media content (Instagram, Facebook, X)
  • Author bio, speaker bio & press kit (FR)
  • Back cover copy (quatrième de couverture)
  • Newsletter content & reader email sequences
  • Monthly retainer options available
🎯 Ideal for: authors building a long-term French readership & media presence.
🚀 Self-Publishing Support

The French Launchpad

Everything you need to publish on KDP, reach French bookshops, and enter the French-speaking market with the professionalism your book deserves — without the guesswork.

The French self-publishing market has its own rules, platforms, distribution networks, and reader expectations. I guide you through every step: from formatting your manuscript to the right standards, registering your ISBN, building your press dossier, and reaching the libraries and independent bookshops that can make your book visible beyond Amazon.

  • Professional book formatting for print & ebook (KDP, IngramSpark, Kobo)
  • French ISBN registration guidance & distribution strategy
  • Dossier de presse (press dossier) for French media & bookshops
  • Library & independent bookshop outreach strategy
  • Cultural adaptation consulting for the French market
  • Launch timeline & milestone planning
The Élan & Co difference

Why work with Sophie.

Any bilingual person can translate words. What you're actually hiring is twenty years of writing precision, a native French ear honed on literature, and someone who genuinely loves books — yours included.

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Native French Precision

Growing up speaking French means understanding the unspoken rules — what sounds natural in a thriller, what register fits a romance, which idiom actually lands with a Parisian reader. That instinct isn't something you learn. It's something you grow up with.

✍️

Translation That Reads Like Writing

The goal of a great literary translation is to be so well-crafted that no French reader suspects the text started in English. Every sentence is shaped with the same care a writer brings to their own prose. Rhythm, flow, tone: nothing is sacrificed in the crossing.

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Rigorous, Cover-to-Cover Accuracy

Every project goes through multiple read-throughs — not just for meaning, but for consistency, register, and the tiny details that make the difference between a good translation and a great one. If something is ambiguous, I flag it. Nothing gets glossed over.

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Deep Cultural Adaptation

A reference that works beautifully in English can land with a thud in French. Cultural adaptation is built into every project: humour, references, dates, institutional names. Your message doesn't just cross the Channel — it arrives intact.

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A Paper Trail for Every Decision

No vague verbal agreements. Every choice — terminology, style preferences, glossary decisions — is documented. When you're working with publishers or co-authors, that clarity is essential. You'll always know exactly where your project stands.

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Deadlines You Can Count On

Launch dates aren't flexible — I know that better than most. I work backwards from your deadline from day one, build in a buffer for revisions, and communicate proactively if anything shifts. In twenty years, I've built a reputation for delivery.

How it works

Simple from day one.

01

First Contact

Tell me about your project: manuscript, genre, word count, timeline. I'll get back to you within 48 hours with a clear quote.

02

Brief & Scope

We align on tone, target audience, glossary preferences, and specific requirements. Everything confirmed in writing before we begin.

03

Deep Work

I immerse myself in your manuscript. You receive updates at agreed milestones, with any questions flagged promptly and clearly.

04

Delivery & Revisions

Final delivery in your format of choice, with full documentation. One revision round included. Project closed cleanly.

05

Launch Support

Optional: I stay on as your French market partner for branding, social media, and press outreach.

Transparent Pricing

Clear rates, no surprises.

All translation and editing is priced per word. Branding and publishing services are project-based. Every quote is provided in writing within 48 hours — no commitment required.

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AI Post-Editing

€0.06 / word

You provide the AI draft. I correct, rewrite, and polish it to native publication quality.

Author Branding

from €400 / month

French social media, newsletters & author content. Monthly retainer, no fixed commitment.

🚀

French Launchpad

from €800

Formatting, press dossier, distribution strategy & launch planning for the French market.

Volume discounts for 80,000+ words · Rush delivery +30% · All quotes provided in writing

Client Testimonials

What authors say.

Sophie's translation of my novel was exceptional. She captured my voice perfectly while making it feel authentically French. My French readers couldn't believe it was a translation.

— Sarah M., Fiction Author

Very diligent, experienced, and reliable, besides being a pleasure to work with. She delivered before the deadline with exactly the tone I needed — and flagged two plot inconsistencies I'd missed entirely.

— Elvira L., Published Author

Working with Sophie was a pleasure. She understood our brand voice and delivered translations that maintained our message's full impact in French. We've worked with her on three projects now.

— Marketing Director, UK Publisher
Frequently Asked Questions

Before you reach out.

Do you work with individual authors or only publishers?

Both. I work with self-publishing authors, hybrid authors, and traditional publishers. The process is the same: a clear quote, a written agreement, and consistent communication throughout. Whether you're a debut author or a publishing house with a catalogue, you'll receive the same level of care and professionalism.

What genres do you translate and edit?

Literary fiction, commercial fiction, romance, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, thriller, memoir, and non-fiction. If your genre isn't listed, reach out — I'm happy to discuss whether your project is a good fit. I'm particularly comfortable with genre-blending and literary-commercial crossover fiction.

How long does a translation take?

As a general guideline, I translate approximately 1,500–2,000 words per day for literary fiction, which means a 80,000-word novel takes roughly 6–8 weeks, plus a revision period. Timelines are confirmed in writing with your quote, and I always build in a buffer for revisions. Rush delivery is available at +30%.

Can I provide a glossary or style notes?

Absolutely — and I encourage it. Character name conventions, specific terminology, world-building vocabulary, preferred French registers — all of this helps me deliver a translation that feels consistent with your vision. I'll also build a style sheet during the project to document decisions for future volumes in a series.

Do you sign NDAs?

Yes, always. A confidentiality agreement is standard practice for all my projects. Your manuscript, your project details, and our working relationship remain strictly between us. I can work under your NDA or provide my own standard agreement.

What if I only need one part — translation but not branding, for example?

Every service is available independently. You don't need to commit to a full package. Many clients start with a translation, then add author branding once the book is published. Others need formatting and a press kit but already have a translation. I'm flexible — we work with what you actually need.

Ready to bring your story to France?

Tell me about your project. I'll respond within 48 hours with a clear quote, an honest assessment, and a proposed timeline — no commitment required.

Get in Touch →

Free quote · 48-hour response · All details confirmed in writing