Introducing… Friederike Hamann
Today’s new author is Friederike Hamann.
Friederike grew up in the industrial Ruhr area, where scrap yards, quarries and forests merge into a giant adventure park. She made the most of her unsupervised childhood by bushwhacking through brambles and exploring abandoned factories. It sparked a lasting fascination with the wild, green corners of a city, which now serve as backdrops for her storytelling. She lives with her family in Berlin, where squirrels have serious attitude. When she’s not in her studio making wobbly sculptures or running art workshops for kids, she walks around town in search of new, unruly plots.
What is your writing routine?
I usually begin by drawing and sketching. It brings ideas out of my head and onto the page. By adding comments and thoughts, I ease into a writing flow. Then I switch to a sketchbook dedicated to writing. I often just start with a list of thoughts and ideas that turn into sentences or small vignettes. This will create a collage for characters, plot and world building. Once I have an idea of the plot, I write the first draft by hand, then continue on the computer.
Who is your favorite author and how have they inspired you?
It’s hard to pick just one author. I’m inspired by children’s book authors who see their readers as imaginative, intelligent beings and who reflect our complex world through timeless stories and characters. I love Michael Ende for his unique blend of fantasy and philosophy and Astrid Lindgren for her ability to understand childhood from the inside. Although not an author, I adore Jim Henson for being a fantastic storyteller who created endless worlds full of humor, kindness and imagination.
What was the inspiration for your manuscript?
I wish I could pin it down, but it really is a blend of all the different ideas I had during the course.
Who is your favourite character in your book?
Young witch Tilla and her raven Mr Poe. I see them as one character, because they are inseparable. They have such a sweet bond and complement each other perfectly. Vampire nanny Berta is close behind. I always had a big grin on my face, when I wrote a scene with her. She's so loud and boisterous… quite the anti-nanny.
What inspires you first: character or plot?
Character
Describe your perfect day.
A lawn chair under an old tree on a sunny day. A good tea, sketchbook and pencil. The ocean and the people I love nearby.