News

April 21, 2026

And suddenly it's spring! more …

Finally it’s getting warmer. Frogs, flowers, hikes—and the first squealing jumps into the swimming pond!

And at last I can announce my two new books: Time Jump – Wi-Fi vs. Walkman will be released in October—a funny comic novel for readers aged 10 and up, in which Roxy, a girl from the 1980s, stumbles through a secret door straight into the year 2025. Naturally, she’s completely overwhelmed by everything that has changed over the past forty years—but Roxy doesn’t let herself be pushed around and bravely keeps up in this strange new world full of “Cell-Phones,” which she thinks are mini color TVs. 😊

Penny Pepper 13: Totally Fake is now also listed on Amazon and will be published in November—just in time as a Christmas gift for all Penny Pepper fans.

And the best news: I’m already writing Penny Pepper 14!!!

 

 

January 3, 2026

Happy New Year 2026 more …

A quiet January. After a gigantic Christmas party in our barn, we had a rather stressful turn of the year, as our little Berthie had to undergo emergency spinal surgery. Her chances of recovery were only fifty percent; otherwise she would have remained paralyzed. Thankfully, everything went well, and there is hope for a full recovery. For now, however, it’s strict rest—and that really applies to all of us. Dark, cool days, lots of rain, lots of reading, warm soups. It sounds wonderful to me.

What’s coming in 2026? The cozy crime novel Murder & Breakfast, published under the pseudonym Anne Gordon, in February with dtv; Almost Criminal in March with Amazon Crossing; Penny Pepper Volume 13 likely in the fall; and another middle-grade novel (ages 10+) with dtv junior sometime during the year.

Happy Wintering!

October 4, 2025

Write, write, write more …

So many projects are on my plate right now, and it feels like I’m writing nonstop (why was I so lazy over the summer?). There’s Penny Pepper 13, the second volume of my Scotland series, short stories, translations, and new ideas—all of which I’d love to finish before Christmas. And on top of that, there are kilos of apples to harvest and four dogs to take on walks.The Mean Teacher is doing well, made it onto the hr2 audiobook bestseller list, and even found its way into the ARD Audiothek.

ARD Audiothek

hr2 Bestenliste

And saving the best for last—Oskar goes America! In March 2026, my book Oskar an Bord will be published in the U.S. in English. Amazon Crossing bought it last year and will be releasing it in March under the title Almost Criminal with a brand-new cover. I can’t wait!!

 

August 17, 2025

Summer vibes more …

Today there's no book news, just pure summer vibes. For the first time in decades, I went to the Baltic Sea with my family, and it was wonderful - cold water, mixed weather, but lots of fish sandwiches and fun. There's simply nowhere else in the world with that unique Baltic Sea charm.

Barely back home, it's all about harvesting - does anyone need more tomateos or zucchinis?

And the best part at the end - we've adopted another dog from the animal rescue!

Berthie, a swett little Frenchie with only one eye, absolutely sweet and adorable. I will never understand the way some people treat such gentle litte creatures, but now she's with us, safe and sound, and will live the life of a princess  - that much I guarantee.

July 13, 2025

Good News in Summer more …

A wonderful message came last week to match the beautiful summer weather – there will be another Penny Pepper book. Yay! Book 13 is hopefully coming out in 2026 and this time, Penny will meet some very special friends. I'm not revealing more just yet!

Also, a new collection of cheerful feel-good stories has just been published by dtv, and I'm once again featured with a story (“Blitzeblank”).  Meanwhile “The Meanest Teacher in the World,” has been wreaking havoc in bookstores for a few days now. For those who are interested (and brave enough), the story is also available as an audiobook, published by DAV.

Apart from that, I’m enjoying the beautiful summer weather at our swimming pond or the lake, movie nights in our barn, the hundred thousand zucchinis from the garden, and I’m looking forward to a trip to Germany in August. I just can’t quite motivate myself to go to hot yoga in this heat.

Happy summer!

 

May 11, 2025

Beautiful spring more …

Sun, warmth, flowers. Vegetables and chicks that both seem to grow overnight each day. We haven't had such a beautiful spring in a long time. I'm in a between-books phase and have time for nature and animals. We even managed a short trip the Pacific Ocean.

What's new on the book front? This summer there will be the new children's book plus audiobook. The Penny Pepper Series has been sold to China, I'm working on volume 2  of my cosy crime series and  will also have a short story in the dtv anthology with the beautiful title "Alles wird gut" (Everything will be fine). Let's hope so!

March 5, 2025

Husky love more …

Husky Ramsey is now part of the family for good and is getting cuter and more lovable every day. Our chickens lay colorful eggs and occasionally it even stops raining. Hopefully temperatures will rise soon too, but first there's the Leipzig Book Fair, a new wonderful project in the US, an audio book contract for my new children's book and the finished manuscript for my new cozy crime series. Yay!

Let me know if you want to meet up at the Leipzig Book Fair!!

 

January 4, 2025

Happy New Year 2025 more …

The new year starts with a new book. Although technically speaking it's the new edition of Alma & Jasmin. Digital Publishing has revamped it with a fresh new cover, a quirky new title and a few updates and so "Verliebt, Verplant, Vertauscht" is arriving on January 25th. Hopefully it will find plenty of enthusiastic readers.

In 2025 I look forward to my new children's book, the Leipzig Book Fair, plenty of excitement on the agility course with Amy and Ramsey, lots of flowers and vegetables and the green (!) eggs from our new chickens and hopefully some dry weather soon.

 

Happy New  Year!