K.E. Semmel
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Kansas State University (MA)
K.E. Semmel | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Writer, literary translator |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (BA) Kansas State University (MA) |
| Genre | Fiction, literary translation, essays |
| Notable works | The Book of Losman (2024) |
| Website | |
| www | |
K.E. Semmel is an American author, literary translator, and disability advocate. He is best known for his translations of contemporary Danish and Norwegian literature into English, including works by Jussi Adler-Olsen, Karin Fossum, Simon Fruelund, and Naja Marie Aidt.[1] In 2024, he published his debut novel, The Book of Losman, which explores the intersection of translation and Tourette syndrome.[2] A 2016 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Translation Fellow,[3] Semmel is also a prominent voice in the Tourette syndrome community through his writing and public speaking.[4][5]
Semmel was raised in the United States and attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts.[6] He later received a Master of Arts in English from Kansas State University.[7]
Semmel has lived in Denmark, where for two years he was employed as a mailman for the Danish postal service,[8] an experience that facilitated his fluency in the Danish language and provided the cultural immersion that informed his later career as a translator and a novelist.
Career
Semmel is a prolific translator of contemporary Scandinavian literature. In 2016, he was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Literature Fellowship for Translation.[9]
In addition to translation, Semmel is a fiction writer and essayist. His debut novel, The Book of Losman, was published in 2024 by SFWP.[10] The novel incorporates autobiographical details from Semmel's life, and the life of a translator living with Tourette syndrome.[11] The book was recognized by Debutiful as a noteworthy debut of 2024.[12]
Advocacy and personal life
Semmel resides in Scottsville, New York,[13] near Rochester. Having lived with Tourette syndrome since childhood, he is an active advocate for the community. He was a keynote speaker at the 2025 TIC-CON (Tourette Association of America) Conference [14]
Published works
Novels
- The Book of Losman SFWP, 2024) ISBN 978-1951631369
Selected translations
| Year | Author | Title | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Jussi Adler-Olsen | The Absent One | Dutton |
| 2011 | Karin Fossum | The Caller | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |
| 2013 | Simon Fruelund | Milk | Santa Fe Writers Project |
| 2014 | Naja Marie Aidt | Rock, Paper, Scissors | Two Lines Press |
| 2014 | Erik Valeur | The Seventh Child | AmazonCrossing |
| 2015 | Thomas Rydahl | The Hermit | Oneworld |
| 2017 | Jesper Bugge Kold | The Wall Between | AmazonCrossing |
| 2018 | Mathilde Walter Clark | Lone Star | Deep Vellum |
Essays and short fiction
Semmel's short stories and essays have appeared in The Southern Review,[15] Huffington Post, The Washington Post, and World Literature Today.[16] Notable pieces include:
- "How Should Debut Novelists Measure Success?" (The Millions, 2024)[17]
- "Want to Write Better Fiction? Become a Translator" (The Millions, 2024)[18]
- "7 Novels Set in Copenhagen" (Electric Literature, 2024)[19]