Sevin Okyay (Istanbul, 1942) is a Turkish literary critic, journalist, author, regular columnist and a prolific translator. Sevin 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 Yıldız Moran, the first formally educated female photographer in Turkey. Okyay is best known for translating the Harry Potter books,[1] and for her positive and appreciative criticism in Radikal, a Turkish newspaper. Her son, Kutlukhan Kutlu, is also following his 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 cats who were twins, named after the Weasley twins. A serious jazz aficionado, she was the host of a radio show in Turkey, and her playlist included mainly jazz standards.
Ilk Dünya Hikayeleri YKY, 1999,
Türkiye Tatlari, YKY, 1999,
Yükseltin Tavan Kirisini, Ustalar ve Seymour - bir Giris, with Coskun Yerli, YKY, 1999,
Hayvanlar Çiftliği, YKY 2000
Harry Potter ve Sirlar Odasi, YKY 2001,
Harry Potter ve Azkaban Tutsagi, with K. Kutlu, YKY 2001,
Harry Potter ve Ates Kadehi, with K. Kutlu, YKY 2001,
Fantastik Canavlar Nelerdir, Nerelerde Bulunurlar?, with Gül Sarioglu, YKY 2002,
Harry Potter ve Zümrüdüanka Yoldasligi, with K. Kutlu, YKY 2003,
Harry Potter ve Melez Prens, with K. Kutlu, YKY 2005,