Burkhard Wetekam explains his Ostseekrimis in Vinnhorst
Burkhard Wetekam found the ideas for his thrillers on the rugged cliffs of Hiddensee, in the Bodden between the old, slightly run-down Barth and the up-and-coming seaside resort of Zingst, in the cities of Stralsund and Greifswald. “The landscape tells me the stories,” says the author at the opening reading of the new “WortOrt” series by the Vinnhorst cultural association. For one year ten authors from Hanover will read from their books one after the other once a month.
Wetekam lives in Döhren, his crime novels are set on the Baltic Sea
Wetekam lives in Döhren, but has been writing Baltic Sea thrillers for five years, but also does a lot of other things, In the summer he was looking for an exhibition of memories from the pandemic period. He won this year’s writing competition “Kurt”. When he compared Döhren with Vinnhorst at the reading (“also a historical core, a village in the city”) he reaped vehement protest from the audience: “Vinnhorst is unique.”
The Kiezkultur is unique, as the Vinnhorster cultural community is sure to have and which also repeatedly attracts spectators from surrounding districts such as Hainholz, Stöcken and Ledeburg as well as from Langenhagen. Petra Dreyer-Schlinker, who has lived in Vinnhorst “only for 20 years”, as she herself jokes, has also noticed this. Friends from other areas are always jealous when they hear what is on offer in Vinnhorst. She thinks it is very good that she can attend a crime reading in her own neighborhood with her granddaughter and not have to drive into town.
Wide range of culture for all generations
There are skat rounds, game afternoons, cabaret evenings, concerts, men’s and women’s round tables, but also a completely new cultural educational offer, as Brigitte Steck from the association “Kulturgemeinschaft Vinnhorst” says. This should include instrumental lessons as well as reading time. “We want to address new target groups,” says board member Jürgen Lüders.
The “WortOrt” series focuses on authors from Hanover. Wetekams main characters are Tom, a private investigator, his girlfriend Klara, an educator and artist, and the policewoman Silke. His descriptions of places are realistic: “I put fictional stories in real landscapes.” Wetekam often photographs the places where his crime novels are set. Sometimes he sees a spot, an ice cream parlor or a bay, and thinks up the appropriate crime story: “I have really nasty thoughts.” His books are about fish sandwiches and environmental scandals, little boys are killed or unpleasant climate researchers.
Ten readings with Hanover authors are planned
At the end of January 2022 there will be the next event in the series that the Kulturgemeinschaft has set up together with the Hanover Culture Office: HAZ editor Bert Strebe will read poetry and prose on January 27, and “Krimi-Förster” Christian Oehlschläger will present on February 24 “Die Hasenpfote”, the 7th drop calf Celle investigator duo. On March 31st, Marco Sagurna gives an insight into his works. On April 28th, Nikola Huppertz will read from her book “Ich und Nikita und der Adopteur” from 5pm, and on May 19th Wolfram Hänel and Ulrike Gerold will present their novel “Der Tote vom Steintor” with rock guitarist Arndt Schulz. The readings are free of charge, please register in advance by email at [email protected].
From Saskia Döhner