Maartje Wortel (1982) was kicked out of the School for Journalism because she made up too much. Nowadays, she writes novels, short stories and has transformed into one of the most recognised faces of her generation. For her debut, Dit is jouw huis Maartje received the Anton Wachterprijs (for the best Dutch literary debut), and with her third novel, IJstijd, she won the BNG Literature prize. Her latest novel Er moet iets gebeuren is a collection of stories about small events with big consequences, whilst the bigger events disappear into the background. A married couple tries to revive a dead dog; the arrival of two young boys next door creates chaos for an entire family and the writer is seemingly open about her trip to Istanbul during which she falls in love with a barmaid and whilst her girlfriend awaits her return home back in the Netherlands. Her stories are alienating and totally logical at the same time, chaotic and structured, funny and tough. Just like life really.

“In life, there are many moments that you say you won’t forget, but without language, you will forget them eventually”