Shaunas utrolige forvandling

I'm heading into my sixth Scottish winter and it's always a shock, that first Monday after the clocks go back and we leave work in the dark. Then I turn into a crotchety zombie until March, but I'll exercise like a mofo and get the endorphins buzzing. Perhaps also tape a photo of a tropical beach to the computer for backup.

I know there's a few Southern Hemisphere imports out there - I hope you were gathering up your Happy Funtime Memories over the summer like lunatic squirrels, ready to feast on during the bleak months ahead. But seriously, there is much to look forward to. Christmas parties, BBC period dramas; satsumas, clementines and other easy-to-peel citrus.

. . .

Are there any Norwegians in the house?

Today I received copies of the Norwegian edition of Dietgirl which came out this month. It's got Smarties on the cover! You cannae go wrong with that.

Vega, the publishing house, only got in touch in March and they've turned it into a real live book already! Hardcover with full colour photos too. Swanky.

Spare a thought for Carina Westberg, the translator. I can't imagine anything more tedious than having to translate cake and arse and scale and post-Drive-thru-remorse eleventeen billion times.

I don't understand a jot of Norwegian but that hasn't stopped me lovingly stroking the pages this evening and gawking at all the funny squiggles. And... Doktor G!

Weight Watchers needs no translation apparently.

If you're Norwegian or you just happen to be fluent and fancy a read, please give me a shout!

Comments

[1 · Posted by Sim · October 28, 2008 at 12:14 AM]

I love your blog. You've given me inspiration and have ultimately already changed my life. Without you and your courage I would be no where and pathetic. You've made me unpathetic. Haha. I love Shauna Reid.

I love the smarties on the book cover :):)!!

[2 · Posted by LBTEPA · October 28, 2008 at 12:44 AM]

I'm interested by that "dromt om a slutte" bit...what can it mean?
CONGRATULATIONS DG!

[3 · Posted by Lynn Bering · October 28, 2008 at 12:54 AM]

Hey, chicka. I'm 100 percent Norwegian, but Americanized so the language is as foreign as Gaelic :( But how cool it must be to see what are (we trust) your words in print in another language! And with candy on the cover, no less.

Also, do you wish our governments would quit f'in around with our time? ....sigh....It takes me weeks to get my dogs adjusted to the time change.

Uffda.

[4 · Posted by PastaQueen · October 28, 2008 at 12:58 AM]

Supercool, Shauna! That reminds me of the opening credits to Monty Python and the Holy Grail where they translate everything into pseudo-Norwegian. I hope your translator did a better job than the film's!

[5 · Posted by PastaQueen · October 28, 2008 at 01:02 AM]

Supercool, Shauna! That reminds me of the opening credits to Monty Python and the Holy Grail where they translate everything into pseudo-Norwegian. I hope your translator did a better job than the film's!

[6 · Posted by Karen · October 28, 2008 at 03:36 AM]

ha! awesome... just remember that every time its says 'bra' that means good, they are not talking about lingerie! and 'slutte', the nice word there shown up means stop... but it does pretty much sound like that not so nice australian word when the real norwegians pronounce it!

[7 · Posted by tokaiangel · October 28, 2008 at 05:55 AM]

"slutte"!! Amazing! I hope that's as literal a translation as the Weight Watchers. What language will DG get translated into next I wonder? Russian would be fun!

TA x

[8 · Posted by Tamakikat · October 28, 2008 at 06:53 AM]

Hey wow!

Any trips to Norway on the cards?

K

[9 · Posted by ali · October 28, 2008 at 07:02 AM]

how fantastic is that, next russia, then finland, then sweden, then you'll be taking over the world!

I hear you about the clocks going back, it was all good in the morning, nice and bright, but then home time and it's dark... so depressing..

it does make you question your sanity... why are we here???, when we could be experiencing 38 degree temperatures and sunhine!!!!

we're mad!

[10 · Posted by Diane · October 28, 2008 at 07:05 AM]

When's the German edition out Shauna?

D

[11 · Posted by Ally Whitfield · October 28, 2008 at 08:01 AM]

How fabulous being translated into a Scandinavian language!Have they Photoshopped you to Norse strawberry blonde?? Co-incidently, the best thing to survive a Scottish winter is a Norwegian fisherman's cardigan. I survived my impoverished student days with one of these and rue the day I got rid of it!

[12 · Posted by dg · October 28, 2008 at 09:27 AM]

Morning all! Thank you for commenting!

@Karen - thanks for the tips! From what I can see I say "slutte" a lot :)

@Diane - the German edition is out 1 January, I think!

@Sim - "You've made me unpathetic" made me smile... cheers mate :)

@Tamakikat - Alas no, which is a shame; I've never been to Norway!

@Ali - I have to say I'd rather the darkness than 38'C temperatures... is that blasphemy?!

[13 · Posted by beth · October 28, 2008 at 09:32 AM]

Hey, congrats. I loved the Dutch edition of mine -- had a much better cover than the English one (although your English cover was hard to beat), and much less painful to read (because hey, I can't understand a word of it). Hope all's well...

[14 · Posted by dg · October 28, 2008 at 09:36 AM]

Beth! I'm totally with you - I think I'm more excited about this than the English version because I don't understand a word and it could be about knitting or stalking bears in Alaska for all I know... but it's still got my name on it so it's cool :P

[15 · Posted by Katharina · October 28, 2008 at 10:03 AM]

Congrats on the Norwegian edition! You have at least one Norwegian reader right here :)

[16 · Posted by MizFit · October 28, 2008 at 10:14 AM]

uh, DAMN?

youre my bookhero.

[17 · Posted by Jen · October 28, 2008 at 11:44 AM]

Wow, congratulations, Shauna, you're an multilingual lard-buster now!

[18 · Posted by Marla · October 28, 2008 at 11:56 AM]

How exciting! I too am laughing at the "slutte" underneath. I think we can guess what that's about.

Gratulerer til dere! (that's from google translate, it might mean practically anything)

[19 · Posted by Ellen · October 28, 2008 at 12:21 PM]

@ Beth; I cannot find the Dutch version. Can you give me more detail? (title or ISBN). I would like to read and review it.

[20 · Posted by Margaret · October 28, 2008 at 02:36 PM]

Congratulations! I think I'd be just as excited as you if I had a book of mine translated into Norwegian!

I had the original version with the English cover shipped across the pond when it first came out, but I'm going to a bookstore this afternoon and will keep an eye out for the American version!

By the way, is it bad that my trip to the bookstore is to get the next three books in a series that is so good I skipped the gym last night to finish reading the first one? Hmm...I smell trouble for my gym regimen.

[21 · Posted by vickie · October 28, 2008 at 02:47 PM]

Congrats!!!

How many countries will you be 'collecting'?

Ironically - I just finished a Norwegian book translated into English - so there is balance in the world.

[22 · Posted by Ingeborg · October 28, 2008 at 08:12 PM]

A norwegian HEI from the graphic designer who made the bookcover.
nice that you like it! :-)

[23 · Posted by Sagan · October 28, 2008 at 08:20 PM]

Sounds like your book is going amazingly far! And I always turn into a crochety zombie in Canadian winters too. Except it lasts from about October to April. Sighs.

[24 · Posted by am · October 28, 2008 at 09:57 PM]

Hey, and GRATULERER (congrats) to the Norwegian edition! I am Norwegian (well, I am Swedish but living in Norway since long, so it goes for the same I guess).
"Slutte" means to "stop". Så "drømt om å slutte" means something like "dreamt about stopping..."

All best wishes from Norway!

[25 · Posted by Sweet Southern Belle · October 29, 2008 at 12:17 AM]

Congrats on the new edition. I was about to email a Norwegian friend for a translation of "Så "drømt om å slutte" til I read the comment by am. I've been planning on ordering from Book Depository because they offer free shipping to US-but they're out of stock. Yikes! I really want to read the original version with all the aussie/scots slang. I don't need someone to translate chips to french fries, etc. It's more fun to me exactly the way you wrote it.

[26 · Posted by Gabrielle H · October 29, 2008 at 12:44 AM]

Just out of interest, why didn't they translate the title? Is Diet Girl the same in Norwegian?

[27 · Posted by rand(om) bites · October 29, 2008 at 12:56 AM]

For the first time ever, your blog comes up on my news feed properly! WHOO HOO and well done to being published in another language and hardcover!! :-) x

[28 · Posted by Fat4Now · October 29, 2008 at 03:41 AM]

Fantastic read
gl with the book

[29 · Posted by Hallgeir · October 29, 2008 at 06:54 AM]

Hi
I'm very glad to see that your book is released here in Norway. I've read it in english and I'm buying it for my wife this evening.
From the small snippets of norwegian I can see in the pictures, the translation looks very fine. Yes, I know we have a strange and funny language.
We incorporate more and more english words into our language, I guess that's the reason a lot of the words are not translated. Diet Girl in norwegian would be Slanke Piken. Weight Watchers do (to my knowledge) not exist in Norway, the closest is diet by a lady called Grete Roede. She has adopted much of the philosophy of Weight Watchers I think. Anyways, great book.

Cheers!

[30 · Posted by dg · October 29, 2008 at 09:21 AM]

Ooooh hello there, Norwegians! HEI HEI HEI! :)

Inegborg - I love the cover, it looks very cool!

Hallgier - thank you very much! and a potential sale in Norway, ka-ching! :)

Gabrielle - Hallgeir's comment should answer your question :)

Margaret - I've done that too! It's so hard to pull yourself out of a good book. I guess the only answer is to read and treadmill at the same time!?

[31 · Posted by Amanda · October 29, 2008 at 10:19 AM]

Wow that cover looks delicious... very tempting to try and pick the candies off there... hehehe. :)

[32 · Posted by Genki · October 29, 2008 at 01:52 PM]

Not strictly related to a norweigan copy of the book but book related - I was on hols in Tanzania until this morning (boo) and guess what I saw in the book shop in Dar Es Salaam... yep indeed! Sorry, no photographic evidence, you'll just have to trust me!

[33 · Posted by Liz · October 29, 2008 at 02:49 PM]

I already own the English version of your book (naturally!), but I have to say that this Norwegian cover looks positively delicious. Like a gingerbread house.... YUM.

[34 · Posted by Laura N · October 29, 2008 at 07:56 PM]

WOW! What a great looking book. You are a world wide phenom, chica!

We change our clocks this coming weekend. I hate it, too. I think we get a bit more sunshine than you all do, though, so I suppose I shouldn't complain. I do enjoy these lower temperatures & fall leaves, regardless of how fleeting they are.

[35 · Posted by Sophie · October 29, 2008 at 09:41 PM]

How cool is that!

I just spent quite a long time twisting my head trying to make sense of the words on the cover pic. V. glad you explained it is the Norwegian edition - thought it was just all related to a long day at work...

[36 · Posted by Ash · October 30, 2008 at 12:55 AM]

OOh!! How very exciting!! I love the cover!!

Hope you sel lots and lots!!

[37 · Posted by Hallgeir · October 30, 2008 at 06:56 AM]

I bought it last night (yeah in norwegian) and my wife loved it!
She had to restrain herself from reading it in one sitting. She recognized herself in a lot of the stuff that you went through especially the things with you family/mother. Always thinking she was fat, when in fact she was perfectly normal. She told me to say your book is fantastic, and that she will be tucked in under a warm blanket reading the other half today, wishing it wouldn't end.

[38 · Posted by dg · October 30, 2008 at 09:21 AM]

@Genki - Tanzania, now that is very cool!

@Hallgeir - That is great to hear! All hail the translator :)

[39 · Posted by ali · October 30, 2008 at 09:45 PM]

You'd seriously choose darkness over sunshine!?!?!?!

maybe I'm not the mad one! ;o)

[40 · Posted by Charlie Hills · October 31, 2008 at 04:15 AM]

Can "Doktor G" be my rap name?

[41 · Posted by Annel · October 31, 2008 at 12:10 PM]

I'm norwegian, and has almost finished reading your book. I simply love it!!! :-)
The translation is very good, so no worries, mate! (as Aussie's in Norway say.... don't know if it's a common expression...)

Thank you for an inspiring read that makes me laugh out loud at the subway, and keeps me in a good mood even though the dark winter is depressing. ;-)

[42 · Posted by Isabelle · November 01, 2008 at 11:46 PM]

World famous Dietgirl - splendid.

[43 · Posted by Peita · November 02, 2008 at 02:49 AM]

The cover of the Norwegian edition is 'unreal banana peel!' You're truly global now!

[44 · Posted by andrea · November 02, 2008 at 08:24 PM]

How many countries has your publisher sold rights to? It's looking good!!

[45 · Posted by K · November 03, 2008 at 10:28 AM]

That. Is. So. Cool.

I once wrote a magazine article which was published in a Welsh edition, and that was fun, but this is much more impressive.

Clearly the top quote is about Gareth's thesis defence, but that's about all I can make out. I don't speak any Norwegian although I could ask you to dance in Swedish.

Are there any other translations in the works? I might have to buy a French or German edition.

[46 · Posted by Elana Bowman · November 04, 2008 at 02:30 AM]

Hi

I read your book - the UK version a few months ago in one sitting and loved it! What a fantastic book and a great read!
I love the Norwegian copy of the book, I wish the smarties were real. Congratulations and thank you

[47 · Posted by MB · November 06, 2008 at 12:55 AM]

I'm jealous the Norwegians are getting their Diet Girl before the states and we don't even need translation. :(

[48 · Posted by JB · November 06, 2008 at 07:12 PM]

I live in Norway, and I bought the Norwegian version of the book today. I cant wait to read it :)

[49 · Posted by Eva · November 07, 2008 at 12:54 AM]

I`m from Norway and I`ve just read your book. I`m impressed over you. You`ve been very clever. You are beautiful and your transformation is fantastic. The book was very good to read and I liked it. I`ve worked whith the weight over many years and are still doing it. I felt that you sat words on things and situations that I strangled with. Go on girl, I also like bicycle and body pump an have been in the trainingcenter here this evening.

[50 · Posted by Stine · November 11, 2008 at 01:57 PM]

Another Norwegian da house! I am definitely going to get a copy of your book. You've done extremely well, and you truly are an inspiration to all of us!

Ps - Eva (the above comment):
By 'strangled' you probably meant 'struggled' ;)

[51 · Posted by Susanne · November 11, 2008 at 03:49 PM]

Hey! Im norwegian too, and I'm so gonna buy that book! =D

[52 · Posted by Nina · November 12, 2008 at 06:18 PM]

You have another Norwegian reader to your blog.

I am a member of a Norwegian weight watcher club online called "the weight club". It was on that web site I was recomended to read your blog. So now you now, we are watching you ;-)

Your blog is fantastic. What an inspiration to us not so slim girls. :-)

Bye the way "slutte" means "stop"....

[53 · Posted by dg · November 12, 2008 at 06:23 PM]

wow, thank you Elana!

And hello to all you lovely Norwegians, it's nice to meet you :)

[54 · Posted by Denise · November 13, 2008 at 09:09 PM]

Hey!! Im Norwegian- American, do speak the language though.. I was actually just sent to your blog today(by some Norwegians at a diet forum), and ordered your book just now.. Too bad I cant get it until christmas though... I´m in the process of big time loosing, so this motivation is very welcome. Thank You for providing some!!

[55 · Posted by Annette · December 29, 2008 at 11:13 PM]

Another Norwegian!
I'm very sad to say that I had never heard of your blog until I saw your book in the store a week ago. My birthday was coming up, and you were on my list of wishes! I just finished the book tonight, and I absolutely LOVED it! I love the way you write, and I can relate to a lot of what you're saying. I've always had a normal weight, my problem is that I'm short. I've learned to deal with it now that I'm almost done with my teenage-years, but it was really nice to read about somebody elses thoughts about their problems. And I loved the part where we first hear about Gareth. It felt like it was one of my close friends telling me about a new crush, and seeing how it ended up in marriage =) You are a true inspiration, and I will read your blog everyday from now on :D

[56 · Posted by Lostris · February 19, 2009 at 06:24 PM]

Hey- Have just a few pages left of Norwegian edition ;) LOVE the book, love the girl, love the hope you give anyone with weight problems :D

Miriam, 30, Norway.

drømt om å slutte means dreamt about quitting.

If you want to see more Norwegian words, visit my Norwegian Fat Blog

http://hiddenagenda.vgb.no

As you see we people here like English titles to Norwegian text.

Will keep in touch! Miriam.

[57 · Posted by Lostris · February 19, 2009 at 06:25 PM]

Oh sorry, just saw we shouldn't mention our own blogs in the post :D Sorry, just remove it. You wouldn't understand a tad anyway! Haha :D