Special guest country
Sanneke van Hassel, born in 1971 in Rotterdam, studied theatre arts and cultural history. Her debut collection of short stories IJsregen (Ice Rain), published in 2005, was nominated for several literary awards. Her stories, regularly published in literary magazines Tirade, Passionate and Bunker Hill, were included in anthologies of contemporary Dutch fiction. In 2006 she wrote about every day life in Sarajevo after a three week stay: Pieces of Sarajevo. In 2007 she published her second collection of short stories titled Witte veder (White Feater). For this book she won the BNG Literary Award. In February 2010 her first novel is expected: Nest. At the moment she is also programming a short story festival in Amsterdam, Hotel Van Hassel, that will take place from 16-18th of April 2010. Sanneke van Hassel lives and works in Rotterdam. www.sannekevanhassel.nl
Ton Rozeman was born in 1968 in The Hague, Netherlands. He studied Dutch and received a degree from the writers’ college ’t Colofon where he now teaches writing short fiction (though he thinks that writing can not be taught in a schoolish way, but one can coach writers and give them feedback). His literary debut was the 2001 short story collection ‚Intiemer dan seks’, which in 2004 was followed by the collection ‚Misschien maar beter ook’. Both collections were short- and long-listed for several awards, and even won one. He is an avid supporter of the short story genre, and founder and chief editor of the website ShortStory.nu. His stories are ‚slices of life’ and are mostly about human relationships. His novella ‚Nu gaat het gebeuren’ has been published in 2007. In his leisure he practices yoga and helps his daughter with her homework. www.shortstory.nu
Maartje Wortel (27 years old) lives and write in Amsterdam. She is gratuated at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, were she studied image and language. In 2007 she won a price for best young writer in the Netherlands. Her short stories were published in several magazines. In september 2009 she got hor first published short story book called: this is your home! At this moment she is working to get a new novel finished.