Isabel del Rio is a British-Spanish professional writer, writing both fiction and poetry. Born in Madrid, she has lived in London most of her life. She mostly writes in English, but she has also published books in Spanish.
Her books include the short story collection 'La duda', shortlisted for two literary awards in Spain; and 'Zero Negative-Cero negativo', a bilingual book on the subject of bloodshed. Other fiction includes: 'Paradise & Hell', Dissent and 'Una muerte incidental'; her poetry includes: 'Madrid, Madrid, Madrid' and 'Punto de fuga'. Her most recent poetry collection is 'Dolorem Ipsum', dedicated to the victims of the 2020 pandemic. Her website is www.isabeldelrio.com
Isabel is also a professional chartered linguist and specialises in literary translation. She has worked as a full-time journalist and broadcaster for the BBC World Service, and as a full-time linguist for a UN agency in London. Her most recent literary translation (into Spanish) is 'The Secret Garden' by FH Burnett, published in Spain in 2020. She regularly takes part in performance poetry, spoken word and literary events.
At present she is working on three projects: a memoir, a spy novel and a collection of dystopian short stories.
Fiction and poetry:
- “Dolorem Ipsum”, poetry (FoA, UK, 2020)
- “Madrid, Madrid, Madrid”, poetry (FoA, UK, 2019)
- “Punto de fuga”, poetry (FoA, UK, 2019)
- “Ataraxy”, short stories (FoA, UK, 2019)
- “Paradise & Hell”, short stories (FoA, UK, 2018)
- “Dissent”, novel (FoA, UK, 2018)
- “El tiempo que falta”, short stories (FoA, UK, 2018)
- “Una muerte incidental”, short stories (FoA, UK, 2018)
- “The moon at the end of my street”, poetry collection (FoA, UK, 2017)
- “Zero Negative”, short story collection (Araña Editorial, Spain, 2011)
- “The Dedalus Book of Spanish Fanstasy” (Dedalus, UK, 1999)
- “Los cuentos que cuentan” (Anagrama, Spain, 1998)
- “NomadAsNómadas” (London, 1998)
- “La Duda” (Tusquets, Spain, 1996), a short story collection, shortlisted for 'Nuevos Narradores' and 'Ícaro' literary awards
- “Ciudad del Interior" (CODA, Spain,1993), poetry collection
Spanish courses:
- “BBC Spanish Master” (BBC Books, 1993)
- “Get by in Spanish” (BBC Books, 1993)
English courses:
- “That's English” (BBC Books, 1996)
- “BBC Muzzy Series” (BBC Books, 1990)
Literary Translation (selection):
- “The Secret Garden” de F. Hodgson Burnett (Ediciones Siruela, 1992)
- “Poetas suicidas”, poetry by Sylvia Plath and T.L. Beddoes (Ediciones Fugaz, 1990).
Freelance work for publishers:
- Scala Publishing (translation of catalogue for “The Spanish Portrait Exhibition”, Prado Museum)
- Oxford University Press (lexicographer/contributor for two bilingual dictionaries) (1992-1994)
- British Tourist Authority (national and regional brochures produced in Spanish) (1989-1994)
- Forward Publishing (translator and sub-editor for IBM Helpware magazine) (1992)