Sevin Okyay

Sevin Okyay (Istanbul, 1942) is a Turkish literary critic, journalist, author, regular columnist and a prolific translator. She had been a radio host and a teacher as well.

She is a graduate of the Arnavutköy American Girl's (High) School. During her youth she worked with Yildiz Moran, the first formally educated female photographer in Turkey. Okyay is best known for translating the Harry Potter books, and for her positive and appreciative criticism in Radikal, a Turkish newspaper. Her son, Kutlukhan Kutlu, is also following her mother's footsteps and is accompanying her in translating the Harry Potter series.

Okyay has been translating since 1963. She started working as a journalist in 1976. She writes mainly about cinema, literature, jazz and sports. She is hailed as a milestone of modern translation in Turkey. She used to have two twin cats named after the Fred and George Weasley. A serious jazz aficionado, she was the host of a radio show in Turkey, and her playlist included mainly jazz standards.

Selected bibliography

 * Ilk Romanim (My First Novel) novel, 1996
 * 120 Filmde Seyriâlem (A Cinema Tour in 120 Films) selected movie critiques, 1996
 * Çiçek Dürbünü (Kaleidoscope) collected essays, 1998

Harry Potter Translation Works
Harry Potter ve Sirlar Odasi, YKY 2001, ISBN 9750802950 Harry Potter ve Azkaban Tutsagi, with K. Kutlu, YKY 2001, ISBN 975-08-0311-6 Harry Potter ve Ates Kadehi, with K. Kutlu, YKY 2001, ISBN 975-08-0331-0 Fantastik Canavlar Nelerdir, Nerelerde Bulunurlar?, with Gül Sarioglu, YKY 2002, ISBN 975-08-0413-9 Harry Potter ve Zümrüdüanka Yoldasligi, with K. Kutlu, YKY 2003, ISBN 975-08-0645-X Harry Potter ve Melez Prens, with K. Kutlu, YKY 2005, ISBN 975-08-0995-5
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J.K. Rowling
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling
 * Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?, by J.K. Rowling
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling