For the fourth year running, the Ministry of Art has reaffirmed its decision to give independent publishers and their books more support: With 50,000 euros, it is again supporting ten publication projects by independent publishers and has published a recommendation list with ten outstanding new publications, among which Art Minister Blume discovered “some of the most beautiful and exciting new releases of the year”. Whether it’s a novel, a bibliophile art book, a volume of poetry or a picture book – all award-winning publication projects and recommended new releases are characterized by unusual topics, sophisticated translations or their special creative implementation.
The award-winning publication projects include a biography of a novel about the eccentric Munich artist Manuela Margareta Hahn-Paula, an astonishing volume of pictures and reading about living creatures under the earth, and a literary approach to Erich Kästner from a new biographical perspective.
The list of outstanding independent books includes Ulrike Anna Bleier’s finely spun story novel “Spukhafte Ferneffekt” (Lichtung Verlag Viechtach), Linda Bondestam’s picture book on the consequences of climate change “My Life as a Lonely Axolotl” (Limbion, Dießen am Ammersee) or Bernd Siegler’s non-fiction book “Howling with the Wolves” about the history of the Jewish members of 1. FC Nuremberg during the National Socialist era (Starfruit Publications, Fürth). Group-independent publishers with a company headquarters in Bavaria and a turnover of up to one million euros could apply.