Katja Stergar

Katja Stergar studied comparative literature at the University of Ljubljana. Since November 2022, she has been director of the Slovenian Book Agency, and since the establishment of the agency in 2009 and has been the head of international cooperations. She previously worked as a proofreader and editor, was also active as a literary critic and promoter of reading. Since 2010, she has been the representative of the agency in the Traduki network. From 2019 to 2022 she led the European project Every Story Matters in Slovenia, and from 2019 the project Slovenia as Guest of Honour at the Book Fair 2024 in Bologna.

What is Slovenia, the guest of honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2023, preparing for the literary year 2023?

We will represent Slovenia as a country of diversity both in the fields of literature and other arts, as well as through cuisine and the presentation of our nature. Did you know that approximately 2 million people speak Slovenian, and at the same time we have more than 30 dialects. Slovenia is located at the crossroads of cultures and languages, in Slovenia we have the Alps, the sea and the plains. Since time immemorial, different ideas have crossed over and flourished in this area. And we would like to show at least a piece of it to the world. Throughout the year, we will be intensively present in the German-speaking environment - our cultural centers (SKICA) are in Berlin and Vienna, which take care of ongoing events, and this year their focus on books is even greater. We brought more than 10 authors to the fair in Leipzig, a tour of Slovenian poets is planned for June, Ensemble Modern will hold a concert by Slovenian composers on the theme of Slovenian literature right before the fair, Laibach will hold an Alamut concert based on Vladimir Bartol's novel during the fair in the Jarhundertshalle. There will be an exhibition of Maruša Sagadin in the Kunsthalle Schirn, and an exhibition about the poet France Prešern in the Romantik Museum. Slavoj Žižek will not be missing either, we will try to ensure the screening of Slovenian films, and there will also be an exhibition of illustrations at the fair. During the fair, the stage will be devoted to demanding international topics about the publishing houses of small countries and the reading culture in the age of screens. Many events will be international and unifying, I hope also resounding.

What are the highlighted topics and goals?

Highlights are probably something different for everyone, everyone has their preferences and loves. We want to increase the visibility of Slovenian authors with each event, we want to open up new paths to world markets for our artists. We want to be remembered for original voices and global ideas. We wish that after the fair, a verse or a sentence would echo in the heads of the visitors, so that they would continue to talk about heated philosophical debates for a long time, so that they would be aware of the importance of reading in the age of screens. We want people to think of the diverse nature and diverse languages that make up our country when they hear the word Slovenia, or to see images of Slovenian illustrators in their dreams.

Why is Slovenian literature so special?

When I read Slovenian literature, I don't know if there is a characteristic that would make it Slovenian. In children's books, illustration stands out, I often hear that our books are too artistic, that the texts are too long. But we grew up with picture books with exquisite illustrations and more challenging texts, so we appreciate them very much.

I used to think that there is not much humor in Slovenian literature and that the focus of the authors is on the artistic language and less on the story, but modern literature has both humor and excellent stories, as well as excellent language. Slovenian literature really seems to me to be diverse and rich. All the birds are already chirping about the fact that we love to read poetry in Slovenia. Well, a short story, this is also a form that has excellent texts. Perhaps now I have found a typical Slovenian thing, many authors write for both children and adults, so children's literature is not children's.

What literary works do you recommend?

My recommendations depend on who I recommend the books to. It is good to know at least approximately the taste of the individual to whom you are recommending books. Among children's literature, I would highlight Anja Štefan's Ein Haus für Hase (Baeschlin Verlag, 2022), with illustrations by Hana Stupica, or Adam und seine Tuba (NordSüd Verlag, 2022), by Žigo X Gombač and illustrator Maja Kastelic. Both enchant me with their illustrations. Among the stories for young people, there is the mischievous heroine Jana Bauer: Die kleine Gruselfee (S. Fischer Verlag, 2019). Ana Pepelnik, who will be included in the anthology Mein Nachbar auf der Wolke (Hanser & Deutsche Akademie) and Anja Zag Golob - Dass nicht dass nicht mehr kommen wird... (Edition Korrespondenzen, 2022), take me over when it comes to poetry. Among the comics, the most outstanding author for me is definitely Samira Kentrič - Balkanalien: Erwaschsenwrden in Zeiten des Umbruchs (Verlagshaus Jacoby & Stuart, 2021). The most is always said about novels, I admit that I can't wait for the autumn release of the novel by S. Fischer Verlag Maruše Krese Angst? Ich? It will be a wonderful pair with the novel Drago Jančar: Die Nacht, als ich sie sah (Folio Verlag, 2015). In a month, my recommendations will be different, as more new books will be published in the meantime.