Unangepasst - Frauenstimmen über Mut und Selbstermächtigung
Four authors, four moving stories of women who face the challenges of their lives. Their texts tell of beginnings, resistance, the search for meaning, and self-determination. An inspiring literature festival about female strength, then as now, on International Women's Day.
The literature festival runs from 11 am to 3 pm and takes place on the 4th floor of the cultural center. Between readings, there is the opportunity to engage in conversation with the guests and the authors. A stand from our restaurant Comedia will provide drinks and snacks. The authors' books can be purchased at the book table of the Uwe Mumm bookstore.
Our literature festival authors:
Hanne Hippe with “Die Geschichte einer unerhörten Frau” and “Von einer, die auszog, kein Fürchten zu lernen”
Hanne(lore) Hippe was born in Frankfurt am Main and grew up there and in Cologne. After studying in Heidelberg, she lived for a long time in Ireland and England, and today resides in Cologne, along the Moselle, and in Norway. For over 30 years, she worked as a freelance journalist for ARD and has published ten crime novels, two societal novels, and three non-fiction books since 1994. One of her novels was adapted into a film. The movie “Zwei Leben” received an Oscar nomination and a Lola.
The societal novel “Die Geschichte einer unerhörten Frau” was inspired by her mother's life story. It recounts the life of Gussy Fink between 1945 and 1966, who had the courage to divorce in the conservatively shaped post-war era in order to build an independent life with her two small children.
“Von einer, die auszog, kein Fürchten zu lernen” follows the coming-of-age of daughter Eva Fink in the politicized scene of the years between 1967 and 1976. From the uncertainty of what love and sexuality mean in the real life of a teenager, she experiences the awakening to unimaginable possibilities of self-realization and its wickedly described failures in the new shared apartments and groups.
Elisabeth Sandmann with “Wir dachten, das Leben kommt noch”
Elisabeth Sandmann, as a passionate publisher, dedicates herself to the life stories of extraordinary women. She studied art history and comparative literature in Bonn and Oxford, received her doctorate, and founded her own publishing house, the Elisabeth Sandmann Verlag, in 2004. Since her debut novel and bestseller “Porträt auf grüner Wandfarbe”, she has also celebrated successes as an author.
In her new novel “Wir dachten, das Leben kommt noch” (Piper), she gives a voice to the forgotten agents of the British resistance. In this novel, time layers and destinies are interwoven with finesse. It tells the story of daring women who, under cover as British agents in occupied France, carried out explosive sabotage acts, sent secret radio messages, and learned to kill silently. It is a book about women who significantly influenced the outcome of the war, silently and often unnoticed. However, after the war, it was mostly the men who were awarded high military honors, while the achievements of the women have only been re-evaluated in recent years in a completely different light.
Helen M. Sand with “Im Meer der Himmel”
Helen M. Sand studied English, Romance languages, and German studies at Heidelberg University. She lived for a while in Argentina and the USA, and today lives with her family and cat near Karlsruhe. There, she works as an English and German teacher. She prefers to spend her vacations in Wales at a campsite by the sea. Helen M. Sand takes you on a road trip to the rough sea of Wales in her reading and invites you to accompany Lily and Zoe on their emotional journey. A journey full of friendship, hope, and trust: in oneself and in life. Because life can change from one day to the next, and then it takes courage to embrace something new.
Stefanie Wally with “Rosa”
Stefanie Wally, born in 1971, studied German studies, history, and political science in Heidelberg and worked for many years in secondary education. As a trained communications and body language trainer and theater educator, she offers a wide range of theater and communication activities in addition to her literature. She has also made a name for herself as a moderator in recent years. In 2016, her first autobiographical novel “Akte Luftballon” was published (Elisabeth Sandmann Verlag / 2019 as a paperback by Insel / 2025 as an audiobook by Charles Verlag). In 2024, she will publish her second novel ROSA with Panima Verlag. “With ‘Rosa,’ Stefanie Wally has not only memorialized her grandmother but also the women of the 20th century.” Nicole Köster, SWR 1 Leute.
Personally and with deep intimacy, Stefanie Wally narrates the life story of her grandmother Rosa, who faced loss, pain, and death early on and had to take on responsibilities. Even in times of deprivation filled with losses and despair, Rosa relies on her cooking and storytelling skills, for she knows: Good food and exciting stories can bring people together and chase away shadows. Using old family recipes, actress and moderator Stefanie Wally traces the life story of her grandmother, born in 1905, and manages in an unparalleled way to combine literature, acting, and culinary art into a unique experience in her readings. As a passionate storyteller, she stages her reading passages with acting finesse, supplemented by historical documents and homemade culinary samples from her family's old cookbook.
Admission: 10:45 am
Hallo, ich bin Maya.
