Iny Lorentz is the pen name for the husband-and-wife writing team Iny Klocke and Elmar Wohlrath, historians whose tales of medieval action, adventure, and romance reflect their academic interests and love for each other. Together, they've written more than thirty-five books, almost all of which quickly became bestsellers and which are also available as audiobooks. The five-book Marie series, perhaps their most popular, has sold more than five and a half million copies in Germany alone and has been translated into fourteen languages. The first book in the series, The Wandering Harlot, introduced the captivating and beloved character Marie, whose story has since been made into an award-winning German television movie called Die Wanderhure, starring actress Alexandra Neldel. Elmar and Iny live and write in Poing, near Munich.
Q&A with Iny Lorentz
1. What does it mean to be an author?
For us being authors means having the freedom to do what we enjoy most, but also the responsibility to write novels that both entertain and give readers food for thought.
2. How did you first get published?
In 1981, we went to the Frankfurt Book Fair with a friend to introduce ourselves to editors at publishing houses we hoped would be interested in us. We were so excited, but once we got to the fair, we lost all our courage and ended up just wandering around the fair for two entire days, not daring to approach anyone on our list. Finally our friend said he had to go home, so, filled with a sense of failure, we left the convention center. When we got outside, Iny said, "Well, we're some real heroes!" - we had come to find a publisher, but here we were, slinking away like cowards. Like a shot, Elmar turned around, ran back into the center and up to the first person at the first publisher's stand on our list. As luck would have it, that person was the science fiction editor, and he was looking for short stories. And that's how we started our careers as authors.
3. What has been your favorite moment as an author?
At the beginning we wrote separately, but both of us were first published in different science fiction anthologies. For each of us, the best moment was holding that first anthology in our hands.
4. What is your writing process like?
Wir talk a lot about each novel before beginning to write, then we research and develop an outline. At that point, Elmar writes the first draft and rewrites it once with Iny's input. Then Iny revises the story five times, incorporating Elmar's feedback in each round, until we both feel that the story is ready to be published.
5. What does it means for you to be published in English translation?
It's the crowning achievement of our writing career so far.
6. Who is your favorite author whose works are available in English?
Pearl S. Buck, James A. Michener, and J. R. R. Tolkien. These authors showed us that believable characters and an exciting, emotionally compelling plot are the most important elements of a novel.
7. What are your favorite books available in English?
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, Texas and Hawaii by James A. Michener, and The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. From the first three, we learned how fascinating it can be to write about the struggles of regular people, and all of these books showed us how important it is to tell a great story.
8.What is your favorite word?
The End! It means a new novel is finished.
Learn more at www.inys-und-elmars-romane.de
