The World Stage - Germany

This past week saw the German stage premier of Thirteen Reasons Why. The title over there is Tote Mädchen lügen nicht, and it's being performed at the Junges Theater Bonn.

 

Here is the cover of their program.

 

It's been amazing to see how well this story connects with readers around the world, but the German translation has been especially well received. It's been a bestseller, won a national award, and is taught in many of their schools. Considering that I had no idea it would sell anywhere outside of the U.S. (and I wasn't even certain it would sell within the U.S.), all of these things come as beautiful surprises.

And now a stage performance???

Below are photos taken from the program. If you've read the book, you may be able to tell which scenes a few of them depict. (Click the pics to enlarge.)

I won't be able to attend any of the shows, but I know many of my blog readers live in Germany. So please check out a performance if you get the chance. I just signed a contract to extend the run into November.

And to the cast and crew, "Danke sehr!"

New Philly

I don't know if the citizens of New Philadelphia, Ohio ever refer to their city New Philly, but they should! I didn't want to ask, though, in case the question annoys them. (If you ask people who live in San Francisco if they ever call their city Frisco, they usually answer something like this: "No we do not!!!!!!!" If you get the chance, you should ask them for yourself. It's fun!)

My trip to New Phil(ly)adelphia was my most exhausting speaking gig to fly to. I left my home airport on Monday at 6pm, had a long layover in L.A., then flew to Chicago where I had another long layover, and arrived in Ohio around 10:30am on Tuesday. I scrambled to my hotel for a quick snooze, and when the alarm went off, I jumped into Author Mode. (Author Mode is a biological setting you get upon publication.)

And the travel was entirely worth it!

Before speaking, I had dinner with several librarians, a library intern, teachers, and members of ADAMHS (Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services). In the photo below, Darlene Dotto is to my right. She was the person who organized the visit. Not pictured is Michelle McMorrow Ramsell, the library director. She took this photo, which I borrowed (swiped?) from her Facebook page.

At the library, before I spoke, two members from ADAMHS informed the audience about what their organization provides as well as the warning signs of suicide. It was a wonderful way to start the event, and it was an honor to have them there. (They even stayed to hear me speak!) If I was at all groggy as I stepped up to the podium, the audience had me fully charged within a couple of sentences. They were so engaged and engaging!

Thank you for a great visit, New PhilADELPHIA!