Claudia, how does it happen that a German writer ends up in Brno?
Good question! I was the lucky one who won a writer-in-residence scholarship this year. It is awarded by my hometown of Leipzig and our Czech twin city, Brno.
What surprised you most about Brno?
There is a lot to discover here. But mostly the beautiful architecture, with many historical sights and the cloisters around the city.
And if you had to name one thing you like here and one that didn’t quite suit you, what would they be?
I love the culture here – and the fact that people really enjoy it! There are lots of young people in the audience at the opera, at concerts, and at the ballet. It’s lovely to see!
However, I don’t like the fact that I have to be so disciplined when it comes to the food here. That is, if I want to maintain my weight… Svickova, kolatsch, the fantastic French toast at Café Placzek… It is all so tempting. Czech cuisine is so good, especially when it gets colder and you crave something warm and sweet.
What are you working on during your residency? Is a new text taking shape here, or are you continuing a project you had already started?
Here I wrote about my family roots in Bohemia for the very first time in my life. My mother was born in Hostinné near Vrchlabí. But she and my grandparents never told us anything about the loss of their beloved home in 1945. So through writing I was thinking about my path to my family’s history, what this loss means to me, and what it must have meant to them. What would they think if they knew I would be here after so much time has passed?
In Germany, you are known primarily as the author of crime novels. Where do your stories usually take place, and has your stay in Brno perhaps inspired a “Czech trace” in your writing?
My crime novels are set in the north-east of Germany, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. But now I write about family issues – themes like family roots and their loss, the long shadows of German history in the last century, and what I can learn from my own family’s past. Fun fact: a large part of my next novel, Elbland, takes place in the Czech Republic, in the former home of my mother’s family.
Photo: Rezidence Café Kaprál
How do you find Brno as a city and its surroundings? Have you discovered anything here that inspired your writing?
Brno is stunning in itself, yet so similar to Leipzig. I mean the architecture, the feeling of being in a world city without feeling lost in it. The young spirit of the city makes a difference too: so many students, lots of culture. And the countryside and its lake – the Brněnská přehrada. I liked it there very much. I would say I felt at home here. In these four weeks I missed nothing but my family and friends.
As for what inspired my writing, it wasn’t just the city but my whole stay here. I had never truly been alone with myself and my work for weeks before. Being alone with myself, I learned how few things can make you very happy and how much history can teach us. My stay was a bit like meditation, or a spiritual journey – almost like a stay in a monastery. I found contemplation. Being here with my own thoughts led me to the idea of writing about myself and my path to my family roots, which I started two years ago.
How does your writing change when you’re away from your home literary scene, for example here in the Czech Republic?
I feel like I’ve found more time for contemplation and my own thoughts.
The Frankfurt Book Fair this year strongly highlighted Czech literature. Do you feel that Czech writing resonates more in Germany now than it used to? Is there anything in contemporary Czech literature that has particularly caught your attention?
Czech writing is sadly underrepresented in Germany. It’s really a shame – we are missing out. But of course I know Jaroslav Rudiš and Kateřina Tučková, who are paving the way for more Czech literature in Germany.
What does a literary residency mean to you, professionally and personally? Do you already feel that your time in Brno has influenced your writing in some way?
It means a lot to me. Above all it means time, silence, and contemplation for me and my writing, plus lots of walks, which are great for any kind of writing. So many great writers were passionate walkers! I hope I can hold on to this in my life and my writing back in Leipzig. I am very thankful that I get to be here.
The interview with Claudia Rikl was conducted by Karolína Tomečková.