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3:00 PM-5:00 PM, CT

On the Road: Readings with Young German Writers in Austin, TX

Readings and Discussion|Two German writers on a roadtrip through the U.S.

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Ein Einbahnpfeil mit der Aufschrift „On the Road” neben Porträts der Autoren Louise Kenn und Mücahit Türk vor einem orangefarbenen, wüstenartigen Hintergrund. © Ricardo Roa

A one-way arrow with the words "On the Road" alongside portraits of authors Louise Kenn & Mücahit Türk on an orange, desert-looking background © Ricardo Roa

Join Goethe-Institut Houston and the German Texas Heritage Society for a reading and conversation in the beer garden!

Organized by the Goethe-Institut, in cooperation with the German Literature Institute in Leipzig and local partners throughout the USA, ON THE ROAD presents two up-and-coming young German writers, Louise Kenn and Mücahit Türk for a month‑long literary journey across the United States.

As they venture the country, stopping along the way to gain impressions of daily life in America, they will share their insights on writing, culture, and the art of storytelling through a series of public readings, lively discussions, and thoughtful conversations with local audiences. As part of their cross‑country travels, Kenn and Türk will stop at GTHS in Austin, TX where they will share their texts and stories in a reading that offers a distinctive cross‑cultural glimpse into contemporary German literature.

About ON THE ROAD

ON THE ROAD is a project by the Goethe-Institut in cooperation with the German Literature Institute Leipzig and under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Ulrike Draesner. This project seeks to make the transatlantic partnership tangible for a new generation and to foster a deeper literary exchange between Germany and the United States. This endeavor can only be realized with the generous support of our local partners and co-presenters. ON THE ROAD is part of the initiative AMONG FRIENDS, a nationwide campaign to celebrate and strengthen transatlantic friendship.

At each stop of their road trip, the writers will share their experiences and reflections in the Goethe-Institut’s online magazine www.goethe.de/gegenuber and on social media, offering personal insights into the people, places, exchanges, and perspectives they have gathered throughout their journey.

About the Writers

  • Louise Kenn

    Author

    Louise Kenn, born in 1992 in Munich, studies Creative Writing at the German Literature Institute in Leipzig. She works as a freelance writer and publishes essays, prose, and poetry, the latter of which she understands as being in constant dialogue with the visual arts. Kenn has published in various anthologies as well as in Zeit Online. Her writing explores themes such as nature and climate change within the broader context of gender roles and privilege. She received the Leonhard and Ida Wolff Memorial Prize in 2021, was shortlisted for the Wortmeldungen Prize for Young Writers in 2023, and was awarded the Munich Literature Scholarship in 2025.

  • Mücahit Türk

    Author

    Mücahit Türk, born in 1997 in Neuwied, studies at the German Literature Institute in Leipzig and writes prose and poetry. He has published in various anthologies, most recently in the art magazine Common Pink. His texts revolve around the multiple subject that locates itself in the gaps, fractures, and empty spaces of language. In spring 2024, as part of TRANSLETTING, he took part in a literary exchange with Columbia University, the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, and Bard College. Also in 2024, he was awarded the Wortmeldungen Förderpreis for his text “Holunder–”. He is currently working on his first novel.

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