Twice around the world to become a novelist

My bio

In my earliest days, when I roamed the earth in pursuit of adventure and a home, I tried my hand as a barista in London, a background actor in Tokyo and a staff reporter in Pretoria.

My academic background is inspired by my desire to understand people. I hold a Masters in Cultural Anthropology and British and American Studies from Humboldt University Berlin. My studies included deep ethnographic research and have given me an understanding of human behavior and social dynamics — it enriches my storytelling.

While in grad school, I taught classes at the undergraduate level. Later, I moderated panels, designed and facilitated workshops and training programs and gave a couple of keynote addresses. My ability to communicate complex ideas in an accessible and engaging manner has been a cornerstone of my career.

My professional journey started in advertising and brand communications as a copywriter and creative strategist. For over a decade, I crafted narratives for diverse clients ranging from startups to global corporations. This experience has sharpened my skills in creating compelling, persuasive content across various media.

The next career step focused on sustainability. The global headquarters of an organization that promotes sustainable business practices selected me to establish their German chapter. As founding CEO of B Lab Germany, I led initiatives that required a blend of strategic vision and storytelling to engage and inspire a wide audience.

Two years ago, when I proudly told a dear friend that I had started learning the bass guitar, she looked at me and said with exasperation rather than excitement, “Katja, when are you going to use your real gift and start writing your books?”

It was a moment like when you finally get the passcode of a vault right, all the bolts align with a shudder and the door unlocks.

I sat down that day and started writing my first novel and when that one was completed, I started writing the second.

At long last, I have dedicated my career to my first love: Telling stories. Sharing them. Writing novels, essays, short fiction. It’s what I want to do for the rest of my life. That's all I want to do.