Anja Tuckermann [ Germany ]

Anja Tuckermann was born in 1961 and grew up in Berlin.  From 1980 to 1987 she was involved in young girl’s feminist activities.  She founded the Treffpunkt Mädchenladen Spandau club and the children’s magazine 'Tigermädchen'. Between 1988 and 1991 she worked as an editor for RIAS-Kinderfunk, and as a freelancer for DeutschlandRadio Berlin until 1997.

From 1998 to 1999 Tuckermann was writer in residence for the Berlin district of Hellersdorf.  "My friendship with the young people will stay with me", says the author.  Her interviews with adolescents from this outlying districts can be found in her book 'Horror oder Heimat? – Jugendliche in Berlin-Hellersdorf'. The youths talk about hopes and dreams, drugs and racism.  This issue of being "different"or being perceived as "different" is a focus of her play 'Asra – Die von Gegenüber' and in her novel 'Muscha', which earned the Rote Tuch prize in 1994.

Her radio programme 'Muscha – Eine Kindheit im Nationalsozialismus', in Panther & Co series, won the ARD Kurt Magnus Prize in 1992.  Her play 'Komm wir knutschen' was nominated for the Niederländisch-Deutscher Jugenddramatikerpreis.  She also received the Hans-im-Glück-Preis for 'David Tage Mona Nächte' in 2000.  Tuckermann lives in Berlin.

© international literature festival berlin