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Lost in Translation
I’m still in the process of translating “Gefangenen des Panthers” (Prisoner of the Panther) into English. I think it’s the most difficult text I’ve ever translated. Okay, it’s my own fault – I wrote it. But I have some quite lyrical paraphrases in there, apart from the short spells that have to rhyme. It’s fun. But it’s also quite a challenge. But: Anything that keeps the mind occupied is good for said mind and also for the suffernig soul, which otherwise these days tends to be caught up in the merry-go-round of international events, wishing it could do something useful with said rhyming, short spells. For example, I wish I could free nice, lovely people from their illnesses and then pass those on to soulless dictators. It’s probably a good thing that nobody can do that. I haven’t really decided on the English title yet. “Prisoner of the Panther” sounds…
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My next novel – Serpent of Malice
The novel “Serpent of Malice” will be published soon in English. The German version “Schlange des Bösen” will come out first, though, published by the wonderful Torsten Low. I can’t give you a link for ordering yet. But I can give you a bit of information. In German, “Serpent of Evil” will be published in two parts, the English version will presumably just be in one book, since English tends to be a much shorter language. Still, it’ll be “big” book. A lot of action, a lot of suspense, a lot of entanglements – it all needs its place, especially when the heart also plays a (not entirely minor) role. And when have I ever been able to write short novels? As requested by the publisher, there are three versions of the blurb: 1. ultra-short 2. medium short 3. more detailed Blurb “Serpent of evil” – Ultra-short: Cambridge University, England…
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“Serpent of Malice” – my next novel
My next novel ‘Serpent of Malice’ is now scheduled by the publisher for February. Since I am known to write fairly voluminous books, while Torsten Low Publishing only publishes somewhat thinner – or at least normally sized – books, the story is to be split into two parts. Well, that’s not new to me: My book ‘World Raiders’ is already divided into two parts, Part 1 ‘Invaders’ and Part 2 ‘‘Abductors’. My novel “Gefangene des Panthers” (Captive of the Panther – so far only available in German) also is divided into two parts: “Verräterinnen” (Traitresses) und “Monden-Feinde” (Moon Foes). Sometimes I wish my first books had also been split into more tomes. That would have made them more manageable. 2 parts “Obsidian Secrets” 3 parts “Dreams of Salt” 2 parts “Beyond the Merry-go-Round” 2 parts “Wings of Stone“. If that had been done I would now have a nine…
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New books and old books
I have a new book out: “Sturmkrallen” (Storm Claws). It is the third volume of the fantasy series “Die Geheimnisse der Klingenwelt” (Secrets of the Blade World). This series was originally published by Droemer Knaur, but they suddenly didn’t want the third volume. That kind of thing happens to authors all the time. Some marketing crank thinks that something else could be better positioned on the shelf, and suddenly a series dies – without a conclusion. This is very annoying for both authors and readers. But it has become “normal”, which is why there are so many unfinished series on the German fantasy market. In fact, there is now even a small publishing house that specialises in ‘finishing’ these series and publishing ‘leftover’ series volumes. I was very frustrated at the time, especially as I had already been well on the way of writing the third volume. That’s why it…
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My next book project
I’m currently finalising the first part of the next novel for the publisher Torsten Low, so here’s a small teaser. Working title: “Serpent of Malice” – this is subject to change Location: Cambridge The year: 1887 “Since flirting with the kitchen staff is bad style in any case…” “Never mind the kitchen staff. I saw a… lady. A young lady. A very pretty young lady. A quite astoundingly gorgeous…” “I get the gist, Drossos. Yes. I saw her too. Smallish, trim, with lots of titian hair and of course a hat sprouting feathers. She is not a figment of your imagination. I saw her – and she saw me… emerging from my afternoon swim in my… well.” Drossos looked shocked. “Dash it, Rudyerd! Did she go blind? I am told they go blind in this country if they see a naked man. Or they think of England. Very patriotic indeed,…
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Sturmkrallen – my latest novel, just out
„Sturmkrallen“, (=”Storm Claws”) is the third and final volume in the series „Die Geheimnisse der Klingenwelt” (“Secrets of the Bladeworld”). It rounds off the story of the cruel Urgorrn monstrosities and the intrepid heroines and heroes who fight them. Sturmkrallen Vol. 3 der Serie „Die Geheimnisse der Klingenwelt“ Amazon KdP, 516 Seiten, broschiert ISBN 9798323173631 Preis € 18,40 / E-Book: € 5,35 The first casualty of war is the truth, and in the eight Duchies of Predorenn truth has been dead for a long time. War has raged here for centuries, and the achievements of culture and reason of a more civilised day and age have long fallen victim to the ever-present violence and treachery. Any knowledge or information may just be an enemy ruse – or not. No one can still distinguish between superstition and a fact-based lore warning of a danger far greater than all the armies…
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My latest novel in English – World Raiders
For my English readers : I have a new book out in English: “World Raiders“. This is a novel placed in three different time frames; – NOW (more or less: I wrote the German version some 8 years ago). – in 1952 (a period somehow caught between postwar and ROARING FIFTIES ( 50ies ): a time of a new and better life after a period of dread and the memory of war and brutal oppression. Still, a time of poverty for many. – SOMETIME, – SOMEWHERE across a gulf of time in an expiring post-apocalyptic future world that has forgotten the technical and scientific achievements and take the remnants of their knowledge for wizardry or magic. One thing they can do, though, is use the dimensional portals or gates into other time periods and different realities. But this is forbidden and punished by death. But the truly fanatic will…
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Short Stories
I just realised that I’ve written 28 short stories in the last few years that have been published in anthologies. And then there are short stories that fill three short story volumes of my own, two in German: “Bisse” (BOD) and “Machtschattenspiele” (Edition Roter Drache). And one in English: “Call it a Knight“. Plus a few that I’ve written but haven’t fit in anywhere yet. Two short stories are also finished and waiting for future projects. That was fun. I love short stories. They are my proof to the universe that I can be brief at times. Still, I wish short stories would pay. But they don’t. At least in Germany they don’t. L’art pour l’art. All the same. Here’s an overview, in case anyone thinks they should aspire to own my complete works ? 1 Short Story „90-60-90“ in: Der Arsch auf dem Sessel von Margit Schönberger…
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Wings of Stone – Schwingen aus Stein
I have already mentioned that the English version of „Schwingen aus Stein“ is now finally available as “Wings of Stone“. It’s always great when a new book arrives. You’ve been sitting at it for ages: writing, improving, writing, correcting, writing, editing, writing, sweating and sometimes swearing profusely, because at some point self-doubt always sets in if you sit on a project long enough. And then it’s finished: the new book. The wonderful Marilisa did the editing. And hopefully we have not missed any mistakes. (You can find them in every book, no matter how well you’ve paid attention). When you write in two languages, as I do, it’s always interesting to see if you can create the same mood in both. I actually wrote “Wings of Stone” in English first. Nevertheless, the German version came out first, long before the English. Well,…
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New novels!
I was a busy girl. Very busy. I have three new books out: Gefangene des Panthers – Teil 1: Verräterinnen (Prisoners of the Panther – Part 1: Traitors) in German Gefangene des Panthers – Teil 2: Monden-Feinde (Prisoners of the Panther – Part 2: Enemies below the Moons) in German Wings of Stone (Steam Age Quest, Vol. 5 – English edition of the award winning novel “Schwingen aus Stein“). It’s always a terrible fuddle until you’ve got it all correct, have sliced your path through Amazon KDP, until even the last robot spirit is satisfied with the manuscript or the cover. It could give you grey hairs, but then I’ve already got those. A positive experience: nice KDP staff actually helped me. But now they are out, the novels: at the moment just as print editions, I still have to tackle the e-books, but I needed the printed books right…