Elke Hermannsdörfer

Elke Hermannsdörfer was born in Thumsenreuth, a city in Bavaria, Germany. She trained as a medical technician and worked for several years in hospitals and in molecular biology and genetic research labs. She then studied German and biology for four semesters at the University of Education Weingarten. She went to live in France and Italy for a long time, and presently lives in Naples. From 1985, she worked as a freelance journalist and writer in Cologne. In the years that followed, she often worked for WDR Radio, the German public broadcasting network.

Hermannsdörfer is the author of fiction for children and young adults, usually focused on historical or medical topics. In 1987, Lina Kasunke, her historical novel for young people, received the Eule des Monats (Owl of the Month) award from the Bulletin Jugend & Literatur. In addition, she writes short stories, radio plays, radio features, and television screenplays for general audiences. She is a member of the Association of German Writers.