3. What work of yours are you most proud of?
I don’t like the word “proud“ in relationship to my writing. I’m proud of myself if I manage to overcome my inner demon to clean my windows. When I write, I don’t need to overcome an inner demon. Writing is, at best, a great pleasure and, at worst, an absolute need. It’s not just work, it’s a sort of aggregate state - a manner of how to perceive, interpret and understand the world.
4. What inspires you the most?
Basically everything. You never know exactly, or you are not fully aware of what actually triggers the impulse to write.
If you have your eyes open, with perked ears and a sharp mind and spirit everything or nothing can be inspiring. Sometimes it can be a human being, a movement. Another time it can be a word, a voice, a scent… Language is always inspiring to me. It is the big wonder that still amazes me anew every day.
5. How is New York influencing your work?
That too is not so easy to define. Everything I see, hear, or experience enriches me and becomes part of my self. Anything can potentially find its way into a story. One thing is for sure, I’m not in NYC to write about NYC. I’m here to be. Writing is always a reflection and I don’t want to reflect on New York right now, I want to experience it.
6. What is your favorite place in New York?
The neighborhood I live in right now. I feel at home here.
7. What are you hoping to gain from your stay here in New York that you can take with you back to Switzerland?
See above!
8. Where can people see more of your work?
Click on the links in order to find out more about my first novel Tamangur which has been awarded this year with the Schweizer Literaturpreis 2016.
Here you can find out more about me.
9. Anything else you would like to add?
On Monday, June 13, 6:30pm, I will have a reading at Deutsches Haus at NYU followed by a conversation with translator Tess Lewis.
We’d like to give a special thanks to Leta Semadeni for taking the time to answer our questions. This is the fourth interview in a series of interviews with the artists in residence. Follow the hashtag #SwissArtNYC on twitter and Instagram for more Swiss art in NYC!