I’m really happy to welcome Antje Hergt today. Antje is a German author, whose children’s novel has a Grimms’ fairy tale feel to it, in the tradition of her country’s great storytellers.
One of my favourite things (among many) about Germany is their wonderful cafes. I’ve made Antje some Kaffee and Apfelkuchen, with plenty of whipped cream, just to make her feel at home!
Willkommen, Antje!
Where do you live, Antje? I just moved to Germany for a new job, but I have lived in Canmore, Alberta for the last 10 years.
Where is your favourite place in the world? Canada. The Rocky Mountains. On top of one of their mountains.
Being a writer is a great job. What’s the worst job you’ve ever had? As a student I worked as a temp in an accounting company and I had to double-check rows after rows of numbers. I am not a number person… I hate them and that job took me forever.
I know how you feel about the numbers. That would be my nightmare job!
What book do you wish you’d written? Something very similar to Harry Potter. I had started a YA novel about a school for magicians in the mountains when I was in university. I had three books outlined and named, but I never continued past the first 40 pages of the first book. If I would complete it now, it would sound like a cheap copy of Harry Potter.
What a great shame! I hope you managed to salvage some of your ideas, at least :(
What’s your favourite song? Oh, there are so many. I think I would pick “Ich dreh mich um dich” from Herbert Groenemeyer.
I was intrigued by your choice, and I must check it out! I used to listen to a lot of German music, and Roland Kaiser’s Dich zu lieben was a favourite :)
If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say to them? Buddha. I would say. “Please enlighten me.”
Interesting choice!
What’s your happiest childhood memory? Riding with my friends on my bike to the local swimming pool.
The simple memories are the best :)
If you had to marry a fictional character, from film, television, or books, who would it be? The 10th Doctor Who. ;^)
I love Dr Who! I’m looking forward to the fiftieth anniversary in November.
What’s the most important lesson life has taught you? To commit to something with your heart and follow its path, because it opens a way through the mountain of trouble and worries.
And finally, please tell us about your latest book, where we can find it, and where we can find your blog/website
I just released my first middle grade fantasy novel Darinel Dragonhunter, which is a modern fairy tale with a prince who sat out to fight a dragon, but found a friend instead.
Here is a quick peek at the back cover with the book summary:
Prince Darinel is traveling–for what feels like forever. Expelled from his father’s kingdom, he just wants to find a new home. When a shadow lures him to a wealthy kingdom, he stays to discover more about the darkness, but the citizens are tight-lipped.
Their king welcomes the foreign Prince hoping that he will solve his two problems: the dragon and his strong-willed daughter. Coming from a warrior kingdom, Darinel despises violence, but charmed by Princess Tuskja’s dare, he sets out to confront the beast. Instead of finding a fierce dragon, he finds a friend. The dragon’s malicious humor and his love of fairy tales entangle Darinel in a summer of adventures, while danger stirs in the East, the Dark Prince. Being refused by the Princess and humiliated by the dragon, this proud prince seeks revenge.
In compliance with the king’s decree, Darinel is torn between his friendship with the dragon and his love for Princess Tuskja, whom he can only marry if he kills his friend. Before he can make a decision, the kingdom is under attack. Now it is up to the dragon to either help his friend or respect his wish to not interfere.
You can find it on the following sites:
If you would like to check out before hand, you can go to my webpage: www.antjehergt.com or my facebook author page: Antje Hergt or follow me on Twitter: @antjehergt
Thank you so much for having me on your blog and for taking the time to read about my new book and me. I hope you find it as exciting when you read it as I did when I wrote it.
Antje, it does sound a really exciting book for children. Thanks very much for sharing your story with us, and have a great trip home. Auf Wiedersehen und alles Gute!
If you’ve enjoyed Antje’s interview, or if you have any questions or comments at all, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you!
Helena Fairfax 
Interesting interview! Best wishes Antje on your book! We have visited Germany and would like to return some day. My husband is of German ancestry and he had a fun time conversing with locals when we visited.
Susan Bernhardt
http://www.susanbernhardt.com
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Thanks for coming, Susan. Germany is one of my favourite countries to visit in Europe. I used to live in Bavaria, which I love, but most of all I love Berlin and Dresden. Whereabouts in German did you visit? And Antje, whereabouts in Germany do you live?
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We travelled to many cities in Germany. Frankfort, Berlin, Munich, Dresden, Cologne, Hamburg, Weimar, Leipzig, Heidelberg, Lubeck. We thought East Germany was extremely interesting and Dresden was gorgeous…all the architecture. We visited Buchenvald outside of Weimar.
To save on meals, every day for lunch we tried the local bratswurst. You wouldn’t believe the variety!
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You really saw a lot of the country, Susan. What an amazing trip! East Germany really is fascinating, and I’d love to explore it some more. And I have sampled many Bratwurst varieties, and the lovely Kuchen in the Konditoreien! Mmm…. It’s not a good place to visit if you are on a diet :) I have some family and friends in Munich, and am planning to visit in December, for the Christmas market. Wunderschoen! I hope you too get a chance to revisit. There’s so much to explore!
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Helena, this wasn’t all from one trip. We’ve never been to the Christmas market. That should be fun.
Our visit to Hamburg’s port was significant in that, my husband and I each had a grandparent who had emigrated from there to America.
Susan Bernhardt
http://www.susanbernhardt.com
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Oh, I understand – you have visited several times. I would love to visit Hamburg, and the Baltic coast. I’m sure it was poignant for you, with so many family memories. I hope you get back to Germany again for another visit soon!
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What an imaginative story for your book. Love dragons!! My husband was stationed in Germany when he was in the USAF, Berlin and Munich. We made the trip back to visit his old haunts. Loved Rotenburg (sp?) the old city. Do I have that right? We had a floral shop and ordered the nutcrackers and pyramids for the gift shop. What a hit they were in our town. Beautiful. Best wishes!
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I love those nutcrackers, JQ. What a great idea to buy some for your shop. I lived near Munich many years ago, and well remember the USAF guys. I was young and single then, mind. Good times! ;) Rottenburg is a lovely city. Let’s all plan a trip back to Germany!
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There is a Christmas store near us in Stillwater, Minnesota that is the only Kathe Wohlfarhrt store in America. I believe this is the store in Rottenburg that AJ is making reference to. We visited the Rottenburg store. It was beautiful! Here is an interesting link to the sister store in Minnesota.
http://stillwaterchamber.chambermaster.com/directory/jsp/busdir/eBrochure.jsp?ccid=257&memid=1310&qualifier=info
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What a wonderful shop, Susan! Thanks for sharing the link. In the past five or six years, German Christmas markets have become very popular in the UK. There is a massive one in Manchester, quite near me, and another in Leeds, which I visit every year. It’s great for presents. You can get German beers, and Stollen (their Christmas cake), which I love. And you can have a glass of Gluehwein as you walk round. It’s a great day out. I love it!
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Thanks for a lovely post Antje and Helena. I love the excerpt and the idea for your story. I wish you a lot of success with it. I too like German food, especially cakes, ham, sausages…The list is endless! I always visit the Christmas market in Manchester and come back with far too many bags!
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Thanks for coming, Marie, Next time you’re at the Manchester Weihnachtsmarkt let me know, and we can meet up. That would be brilliant!
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Definitely! I will look forward to it, Helena.
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Thank you all for stopping by and leaving the lovely comments. Germany is a beautiful place as you all know. I must admit since I am back I am into sampling German food. Everything I missed when I lived in Canada. :+)
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It’s been great to have you, Antje! I’m glad to hear you’re settlling back in your home country
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I love anything with a Grimms’ fairy tale feeling to it. As a child they were always my favourite type of books as they represented true escapism for me. I have never lost this love of fantasy books. A lovely interview Helena and I wish Antje well with her novel.
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Thanks for your comment, Tina. I loved those fairy tales, too, as a child. They’re actually quite frightening! i expect that’s why children through the ages have always loved them
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