Frieda Temper

What was your favorite book as a child?

My thirteen-year-old self would frown at the book choice of my eight-year-old self, so I dare not choose one book above the others. A book I used to love to come back to, however, is the Austrian classic “Maikäfer flieg!” written by Christine Nöstlinger. I found it in the shelf at home as a remnant of my mother’s childhood and it wandered into my own shelf that day. One of the reasons why I love the novel is because it takes place in Vienna which makes it oddly interesting and relatable.

Do you remember the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

I’ve always loved expressing myself — for myself, and myself only. Writing creatively is a different thing, though, and I’ve started writing poems only after encountering the works of the Mercy Sound Scene in a library in Liverpool. Reading Adrian Henri’s poetry was the literary earthquake my 19-year-old self so desperately needed. I went outside and sat down on a park bench and wrote my first poem. It was inspired by the moment, as were many poems that followed.

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

I’m an advocate of the ordinary. I celebrate the thrills of everyday life (and you should, too). Unexpectedly making friends, opening oneself up to other people, and doing things for the first time are all adventures which I cherish with all my heart (I actually keep a list of things I’ve done for the first time!). You’re here for the adventures, though, so here is one: I once read a poem out aloud and I was so nervous I had to read it all over again.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

As a rule of thumb, I don’t listen to music while reading or writing as I’m distracted so so easily. I do love listening to instrumental tracks, though, especially video game soundtracks because they’re so unobtrusive and simply create a nice, soothing, positive atmosphere. My top picks are Mort Garson’s Plantasia, Eterna City (Daytime) from Pokemon, and the tracks accompanying Minecraft and Stardew Valley.