Darmstadt table talk with crime writer Andreas Roß
Between 1950 and 1975 there was the legendary series of events "Darmstadt talks", which was about making socially and culturally relevant topics visible in public discussions. The “Darmstadt table talks” should be a little less, where those who make their contribution to preservation and further development of our society at different points. This time the journalist and publicist W. Christian Schmitt, together with cameraman Werner Wabnitz, is a guest with Andreas Roß, a Darmstadt crime writer.
It can be assumed that Andreas Roß belongs to the very small circle of those crime writers who have been able to experience up close (so on his own body), how things are actually going on at the police station during a "recognition-related treatment" with photos, fingerprints, etc. At the time, and arranged for a column contribution by Bert Hensel published in the Echo, published in the Echo Darmstadt Echo. In retrospect, Roß hopes that this crime -technical acts have long since been deleted.
Photo: Werner Wabnitz
And we can start with our table discussion, which begins with the very simply sounding question: Why is crime novels write, where everyday reality not only read in the boulevard press, reflects all of this or even anticipates what writers think about afterwards. Mr. Roß, what does that look like for you? What fascinates you, and what more crime readers about murder and manslaughter and all the territory?
"I am," he says, "was socialized during my studies". He also worked in the Dieburg correctional facility. On the side of the good, of course. How he then became a crime thriller can be read at the end of this article. Let us first talk about how such a novel arises. What should happen in it. "I am one," he reveals, "who is driven to the desk" because he has to put on paper what "grown in me". Inspired by external events, sometimes even "forced". And for times he wondered if he should be published what to read then. He then started to change what was written so far that no conclusions can be drawn about his life. Sure, there is a certain plot at the beginning, but the story develops chapters by chapter completely. The outcome of an case often only arises when writing.
Then I ask him how many murders he plan to do, whether the investigating commissioner is rather tüttelig and how long he is working on such a manuscript. "Sometimes even a whole year," he says. But then the case was solved. The number of murders results in the course of the writing. But, I follow, they have already written crime novels, where - as in real life - there was no education. "That happens," he says. He remembered a book in which the perpetrator could not be determined.
And what about role models? Do you also think as an author of flagship officers such as Colombo, Brunetti or Maigret and their procedure when you work on a new book? Of course you read, saw or hear one or the other, but adaptations are not an option. "I am a storyteller," says Roß, "one who seeks and finds his own stories." Well, then everything is written, but what's next? Who - except later the editor - checks the text for possible factual discrepancies? Crime expert Roß: "I have some test readers who look closely and of course at the end of the book mentioned in the thanksgiving". And then there is a chance to improve something if he reports to readings from the manuscript and listeners.
And we also talk about it in his apartment in the Martinsviertel: If you look at the bestseller lists, you will discover more and more crime novels in the front places. And the (remaining) newspapers are also increasingly presenting crime novels on their literary sites; The FAZ, for example, even on your own review pages. The only thing missing is that a crime writer will soon be awarded the Büchner Prize-or was it like that?
Finally then as promised: So here is the answer to my entrance question why he is writing crime novels. Andreas Roß says that the time of Dieburg, where Peter Zingler, "a professional burglar", had to spend several years in jail. The Zingler who later (also) caused a sensation as a writer and screenwriter (ua "A case for two"). Also when he was read at Wikipedia at the time, in 1985, among other things, “the brothel owner Dieter Engel and Herbert Heckmann, the President of the German Academy of Language and Poetry ... the Frankfurt Roman factory" launched.
When Andreas Roß saw the example of Zingler that you could entertain and find it very well with crime novels, his decision was clear. Incidentally, too: "I've been retired for April 1, but not in retirement," he says in conclusion.
To the person of
Andreas Roß, currently 63 years old, tendency rising, married, two almost completely adult children. He is a social worker, worked for various southern Hessian construction societies for over three decades and always found clues for his bizarre stories during his work in the long dark corridors of the rental houses that are aged. In addition, there is love for his adopted home of Darmstadt. In addition to two short story collections, six crime novels have been published, and the politicians "Mensch Maier". From 1996 to 2008 and currently from September 2013, he wrote short thrillers in the Darmstadt magazine "Curtain!". He is a member of the Poseidon literary group and part of the crime writer association "Das Syndikat". More about him at https://www.krimiautor-ross-darmstadt.de/
With Mayor Hanno Benz, the next conversation partner, after 18 episodes we conclude the "Darmstadt table talks" series.
