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Martina Hefter reveals secrets: Schkeuditz is becoming a literary hotspot!
On September 14, 2025, book prize winner Martina Hefter presented her reading in Schkeuditz, shed light on themes in the novel and answered audience questions.
Martina Hefter reveals secrets: Schkeuditz is becoming a literary hotspot!
On September 14, 2025, a very special event took place in the Schkeuditz Observatory. The author Martina Hefter, who was recently awarded the German Book Prize 2024, welcomed an enthusiastic audience. Her reading from the newly awarded novel was a complete success and quickly booked out. Due to demand, the event was held in two stages.
Martina Hefter's book, "Hey good morning, how are you?", highlights topics such as love fraud and border crossings. The plot revolves around the artist couple Juno and Jupiter and asks questions about truth and self-deception. Originally conceived as a radio play, the work also criticizes love scamming, particularly against older women. To this end, Hefter conducted intensive research into global inequalities.
A look into the writing process
During the reading, Hefter answered questions from the audience, including the expectations of the book prize. Regarding her own motivation, she explained that she feels no pressure from the publisher and that her writing process cannot be planned. “I'm working on what's important to me at the moment,” noted the 59-year-old from Leipzig, who, in addition to writing, is also active as a dancer and performance artist.
A bouquet of flowers presented to her at the end of the reading was not only a token of appreciation, but also a way to share her enthusiasm for reading and writing. She announced that she is working on a new project that is scheduled to be completed in December.
The German Book Prize and the jury
The award that Hefter received was presented for the 20th time and highlights the best German-language novel. The jury, consisting of seven members, viewed a total of 197 novels from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In addition to Hefter, other works by well-known authors such as Maren Kames and Clemens Meyer were also nominated. The total prize money was 37,500 euros, with the main prize of 25,000 euros going to the winner.
The jury justified its decision with the words: “A cleverly choreographed book that combines everyday life with mythological figures and cosmic dimensions.” This makes it clear why Hefter's novel is not only very popular in the literary circle, but also arouses the interest of the general public.
The lively atmosphere in the Schkeuditz observatory and the exciting reading by Martina Hefter made this evening a special event. Literature enthusiasts had the opportunity to get in touch with one of the most exciting voices in German-language literature and gain insights into her creative processes.
For many present, the question remains: What will be the next story that flows from Hefter's pen? One thing is for sure: this won't be the last we hear from this talented author!
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