Manja Präkels on East Germany, Her New Book and the Bundesverdienstkreuz

Writer Manja Präkels, who divides her time between Berlin and Brandenburg, met for an interview at a café on Berlin's Mehringplatz on a windy autumn day, a few weeks after the state election in Saxony-Anhalt. Her new book, Radiorauschen im Sternenpark, has just been released; she says a radio must always play in the background while she writes. During the conversation she mentioned almost in passing that she would receive the Bundesverdienstkreuz a few days later, adding, "Schadet nicht." The interview addresses how right-wing forces are gaining influence in East Germany, why some people want the Wall back, and which stories were forgotten after the Wende. Präkels also describes where she still sees hope. The conversation is published by der Freitag, with the full text available in the current issue.