Wera Lou Gmeiner

What was your favorite book as a child?

If you asked Wera what her favourite book was when she was little, she wouldn't hesitate for a second to say: The Adventures of Vanya, as she always dreamed of making coincidental decisions using a 3-kupeke piece and ending up in the land beyond the white mountains. But then, she couldn't shake the feeling that she hadn’t fully appreciated all the other worlds that lit up her youth.

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

Salinger's Holden wanted to call his favourite authors to have a chat with them. So did Wera. Since that wasn't possible she did the next best thing — she wrote, so she could at least talk to herself. 

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

When Wera reads interviews of writers, ironically, many of them say that they are boring people. And if you then questioned her for the most adventurous or exciting thing that she's ever done, she just shrugs her shoulders and says she doesn't know, not able to put into words how writing gives her every adventure she needs.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

Wera's stories are shaped by the sounds she listens to on repeat.