ruth901
Around 150 participants in the “Junior Murder Award” made the jury of this year’s writing competition work up a sweat. The award ceremony took place on Friday in the Fuldaer Kulturkeller.
Fulda – No “Fulda crime scene” without a writing competition. Or to put it another way: “The 'Junior Mord Award' has also taken place in years without a crime festival,” Michael “Shaggy” Schwarz recently told the Fulda newspaper said. That's why I could the co-organizer of this year's reading series now welcome numerous girls and boys to the final of the 15th writing competition. The Fuldaer Kulturkeller is bursting at the seams at the ceremony.
“Junior Mord Awards” presented in the Kulturkeller in Fulda
The jury was spoiled for choice. It consisted of Schwarz, Katja Schmirler-Wortmann (managing director of the Kreuz Cultural Center), Sarah Kuhnt from the university, state and city library, the teacher Susanne Bonzel and the student Livia Rupp, who won a “Junior Award” last year. Many afternoons, Schmirler-Wortmann said, “we sat together, laughed, were frightened and were thrilled.”
They still are. Because they got to read so many great crime novels – 66 in total, as there were several collaborations – the categories were expanded. In addition to three age groups (up to the third grade, from the 4th grade and 13 to 18 year olds), prizes were also awarded for entire class groups that submitted “thick envelopes,” as the jury announced, as well as special prizes.
When the award-winning texts were presented, it became clear how much wit and even more imagination the young authors brought to their work. A foal has to be rescued, a child abduction turns out to be a ploy for a house break-in, a writer is not allowed to complete his work, and the Louvre is also a popular target for burglars during the “Junior Award”. Or better: burglars. At least when they would rather sit in prison with their friends than be a burden to the family in old age.
There is no question that Fulda also becomes the scene of literary crimes. By the way: In one story even “our Shaggy” is kidnapped, as Katja Schmirler-Wortmann said. The jury was also enthusiastic about texts that had a serious background and dealt with topics such as racism or AI. (Due to the large number of winners and the quality of all texts, we deliberately refrain from mentioning individual names at this point.)
