Is “Hardanger Filling Stitches” available in my language?

A common question about my books is, “Is it available in [my language]”?

This is a question I’ve addressed in my blog post Hardanger Filling Stitches – Frequently Asked Questions. If you haven’t yet read the FAQ, I implore you to do so, as it may help with my feelings of frustration. 😉

My books are published in English. It’s my mother tongue so it’s the language I write my books in.

However, much of the content in my books are PICTURES, which is often a universal language. My stitch instructions are provided in a step-by-step style. Every written step has a clear diagram, so that even if you can’t read the words, you may be able to understand the diagrams.

As an example, my books – in English and “pictures” – sell exceptionally well in Ukraine. English is not the language of Ukraine, though many, particularly younger people, may have learned some English at school. My assumption, though, is that most of my Ukrainian readers are actually relying very much on the diagrams to learn and master the techniques within.

For my books to be in languages other than English, I need foreign-language publishers to licence the rights to reproduce them in their language. For them to want to do this, it needs to be a good economic proposition. Sometimes, with the size of the likely target market, it just doesn’t work out to be economically feasible.

I’d love for you to be able to read my books in your mother tongue. I really would! I’d love for my books to be available in all the languages of the world that people desire them to be in, but I think we can understand that’s never going to happen.

I do have books in other languages in my own library. I use an app on my phone – “Google Lens” – to hover over the page and translate the words into English. While the translations are never marvellous, they can help me to make sense of it. You could try this with my books.

If you can suggest publishers of quality needlework books in your language, please tell me of them, as this could lead to new opportunities for both you and me!