The Isen author Leonhard F. Seidl ventures into new territory.
After six novels, the 46-year-old has now written a travel book - about the Frankenhöhe.
Isen - "111 places in the Frankenhöhe that you have to see" - is the name of the latest work by the writer Leonhard F. Seidl, who grew up in Isen.
He has already written six novels, including the local thrillers “Genagelt” and “Fronten”, which are set in the Erding district.
Now the 46-year-old has gone under the travel book authors.
As an Isener, how do you get around to giving tips on the height of the franc?
Leonhard F. Seidl: In 2020 I was awarded the literature scholarship of the Medieval Crime Museum on the occasion of its 111th anniversary.
At that time I lived in the gypsum mill in Taubertal and was spoiled with culinary delights in the evangelical educational center in Wildbad.
At that time, of course, I explored the area on foot and by bike and learned to love this unique, diverse landscape.
Do you make better money with travel literature?
(laughs) I'll probably soon be a millionaire and no longer have a 50-hour week, but cultivate the cliché of the artist who lives for the day.
No, seriously: Of course I hope that the book will sell well.
And since numerous places in Rothenburg ob der Tauber can be found in it, the destination of thousands of tourists worldwide, this is within the realm of possibility.
They are in different genres. Why?
Different genres keep the mind alive and flexible.
In my case, there are also the scholarships that have taken me to various national parks in Germany, but also in Austria and the Czech Republic.
And since being out and about in the wilderness and the mountains is existential for me, it made sense to write about it as well.
Which genre do you prefer?
That's hard for me to say.
Of course I like to write novels in which the history of an area is mixed with my imagination, like in my last detective novel “Vom Untergang”, which takes place in Isen 100 years ago.
But writing the 111 places was also a great pleasure for me, because I was also able to do literary work to a certain degree.
Poems by Rilke have been included, quotes from the first official Bavarian nature conservationist, Otto Kraus, and of course historical delicacies, such as the mistaken murder of a house butcher on another butcher, of which the atonement cross still bears witness today.
Will you soon also be writing 111 places in the Isen, Sempt or Vilstal valleys?
Why not?
What projects are you currently starting?
I am active as chairman of the Association of German Writers, regional group Middle Franconia, organize readings and moderate.
In addition, I am involved in the PEN Center Germany for persecuted colleagues worldwide who are not lucky enough to be able to write in peace and without censorship.
And of course new novel material is working in me.
But that will not be revealed yet.