Zoë Strachan

Gute Nachrichten: I’ve been awarded the Hermann Kesten Stipendium 2008, an international fellowship given biennially to writers, journalists and other artists from Nuremberg’s twin cities. I’ll live and work in Nuremberg for a few weeks, participating in a programme of readings, excursions and discussions that encourage mutual exchange of ideas.

I’m really looking forward to meeting writers from such diverse countries. Nuremberg is a fascinating and challenging city, and it’s also near my old stamping ground of Bamberg. Who knows, perhaps my fellow Stipendiats and I will find ourselves wandering down the Obere Sandstraße towards Weinstube Pizzini . . .

Established in 2000, the fellowship is named after the famous writer and world citizen Hermann Kesten (1900 - 1996) who spent his childhood and youth in Nuremberg until he was expelled by the National Socialists and later became an honorary citizen. Previous fellows from Glasgow are Alasdair Gray, Donny O’Rourke and Donal McLaughlin.