I had no idea that the German term for singer-songwriter has made it into the English language. A liedermacher (pronounce approximately: ‘leader-ma-her) is basically a song maker, thus the literal meaning. The word only came up after WW II, notably introduced by German musician Wolf Biermann. Being of a more conservative family background, I wasn’t […]
Let’s Talk! – Grabbing Each Branch for the Climb
What a great prompt from Tyrean Martinson’s book, again! As I am writing this, I can’t switch off my screen, of course, but after having received the topic, YOU can! When I was a kid and a teenager, I LOVED climbing trees. In front of our apartment building, there was an old cherry tree with […]
Across the Fence: Hügelgrab
Today, the Germanism I have chosen will lead us into the Neolithic Age – and what we are still able to find, interestingly all over the world: the burial sites that are falling into the category Hügelgrab (pronounce approximately: ‘hoo-gal-grahb, meaning mound grave). They are gravesites built from rocks, then covered with smaller stones and […]
Let’s Talk! – At the Snap
Whoa, is this even an idiom? It should be “at the snap of a finger”, shouldn’t it? Because this immediately comes to my mind when reading these three words. So, at the snap of my fingers, please, switch off your screens and start contemplating this week’s writing prompt. Snap! You wouldn’t believe that as a […]
Across the Fence: Kutte
The first thing that came to my mind when I came across the Germanism “Kutte” (pronounce: ‘koote with a short “o”) in the English language was the traditional garment of a monk. A cloak with a hood and a rope-like belt; the fabric coarse and simple, the color black, gray, brown, or white. Think of […]
Susanne Bacon Publishes Final Wycliff Novel
Yes, I have heard some protest already. The final novel in my Wycliff series, really?! Indeed. First of all, I never intended to write a series. I started out with Delicate Dreams, an intended stand-alone with lots of German deli vibes (I had experienced a few wonderful months as a team member at Lakewood’s beloved […]
Let’s Talk! – A Sail on the Horizon
The above picture couldn’t have caught my first thought better! That’s exactly what my mind pictured when I found this week’s prompt in the book “A Pocket-Sized Jumble of 500+ Writing Prompts” by my author-friend Tyrean Martinson. A seemingly endless sea broken only by the sails of a majestic sailing ship. But to be honest, […]
Across the Fence: Muesli
Muesli – I grew up on this dish for breakfast that is another Germanism in the English language. My mother changed it up with jam sandwiches for us kids (no peanut butter, mind!). The Swiss term Müesli or German Müsli (pronounced fairly similar as you know it) entered my vocabulary only fairly late. We used […]
In the Book Nook with … Michael Engelhard
Author Michael Engelhard lives in a cabin on the outskirts of Fairbanks, Alaska, among porcupines, moose, and lynxes. This freelance writer used to be a wilderness guide and outdoor instructor in Alaska and the canyon country for 25 years. He has been writing for publication since the late 1990s; his first book was published in […]