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6:00 PM-7:30 PM

Meet the Author with Clara Umbach

Author Talk | A conversation with the author about her novel Pizza Orlando.

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Author Clara Umbach sits beside a shelf of ceramic objects. © Tara Wolff

Author Clara Umbach sits beside a shelf of ceramic objects. © Tara Wolff

In Pizza Orlando, Clara Umbach writes about the search for closeness under circumstances that continually put it to the test: illness, physical distance, and the challenges of everyday life. Through chat messages, we follow Nina and Clara as they try to sustain a relationship while life pulls them in very different directions.

On 13 October 2026, the author will be joining Meet the Author to discuss her debut novel with Ditte Hermansen. The conversation will take place online and in German, and everyone is warmly invited to take part and contribute their questions.

Clara and Nina are in love. Yet the circumstances of their relationship are far from straightforward. Nina is living with Huntington’s disease and knows that her time may be limited. Clara, meanwhile, is juggling parenthood, university studies, financial worries, and the feeling of never quite being in control of her own life. The two also live in different cities, meaning that much of their relationship unfolds through chat messages. One moment they are discussing something entirely mundane; two messages later, they are grappling with questions of the future, illness, or the fear of not being enough. The result is an intimate and immediate reading experience that is difficult to put down. And if you are wondering what the title Pizza Orlando actually refers to, you will not want to miss the conversation with Clara Umbach.

Meet the Author

  • Clara Umbach (born 1982) studied Fine Art in Berlin, Karlsruhe and Hamburg. Her work explores questions of identity, queer ways of living and relationships, often drawing on autobiographical references. She works across a range of media, including text, film, sculpture, performance and installation. Many of her projects are developed collaboratively and emerge from collective processes with others. In 2024, she contributed to the collective novel Wir kommen (DuMont). Her novel Pizza Orlando was published by Ecco Verlag in 2026.

    claraumbach.net

  • Ditte Hermansen (born 1992) works as a freelance translator and journalist. A native of Denmark, she studied Comparative Literature and German Studies in Copenhagen before moving to Leipzig. On her Instagram book blog, @litteraturdk, she primarily showcases Nordic and German-language literature. Through talks, radio interviews and articles, she offers insights into contemporary German-language literature and advocates for a love of reading, as well as greater visibility for those who work with books.

  • Do you love books and are you looking for your next great read? Meet the Author showcases exciting German-language books, from debut novels and bestsellers to narrative non-fiction. Hear directly from the authors about how their stories come to life and what inspires them. Participation is free and open to everyone. Simply register via the link and join us online!

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