"Amanda's Journey" is a book about the friendship of two dogs, the death of one, the grief of the other, about life itself, how quickly it can be over and the insight to work every day on doing what you really want to do. The story is experienced, not invented, and continues. It runs in two directions, into the future, which leads into the United States to the two brothers of the author, where at the end will be the farewell of Amanda and into the past to Amanda's birth. The helplessness and despair to witness the death of Amanda has changed something in thinking and attitude of the author. It is not simply a story about two dogs. It is a story about connecting with people and animals, with nature and above all with oneself. It is also a story that teaches that there is a time for everything and when that time has not come yet, it is infinitely hard to let go. And finally it is the story of a dog whose name included, what it was: Amanda, the lovable.
But it is more than a book. Normally, after such an experience, you would say "you ought to". You ought to have more time, you ought to do more of this or that, you'd have to live a healthier life, you ought to, you ought to, you ought to. The author has decided that it's over with, "you ought to", now it's just "I will" ... I will travel to the U.S. to visit my brothers and write the book.

I want to write this book. Point. The bundle of emotions and insights with Amanda's dying that infested me is worth writing about. The book is a blend of biography (the dogs), autobiography (me, but only as far as it relates to the dogs and the thoughts about them), philosophy (all that I've learned, understanding by the friendship of the two and the end of it, what is worth to be passed on to) and simple narrative. I hope that it touches the reader, that they cry as much as I do where it is sad and laugh as much as I do where it's funny. I hope that those who are not related to dogs or animals in general snap the book shut at the end and begin to feel and understand, and that those who have dogs and love animals in general close the book with a smile and know. And I want to give an example that you can't just talk, but in fact implement what you have learned.

So there is not THE audience. But probably the one who will delve into this book who can withstand both, large and small emotions.

Why should you support this project? Because the author is so personable and self-evident because of her beautiful blue-gray eyes, which she will direct from the book to the audience at a private reading. Because you enjoy the story and you are touched, because you kick the author in the pants to write the book quickly instead of strolling around and because you would like to get an autographed copy which then will come either in English or German ...
The more time has passed, another concern is clear: to bring this closer to people who have no relationship to animals, and especially to dogs. All the suffering that is inflicted to animals everywhere in the world arises from the lack of understanding and lack of compassion for those beings entrusted to us.

First and foremost, it gives me the freedom to write every day, because I do not have to do a job that takes me 10 hours a day out of action. Part of the project is to travel to the United States. There I will have the quiet to write.
Furthermore, I'm an old-fashioned bookworm and love to have a real book printed in the end and not just virtually wandering around somewhere.
And thirdly I would like to translate the story in English but need corrective aid. For this I have two options: My sister in law who is a native American and professor for German studies and a good friend who is an Englishwoman and lives here in my area.
Through my music project (www.sankthansaften.com and www.reverbnation.com/sankthansaften) I have much contact with English-speaking people who know of AJ and have said, "if you only write in German, we will not be able to read it." Well, that of course shouldn't happen in any case ... :-) On these music sites, there are two songs that I wrote the lyrics for in English. You may get a first impression. And - if you speak German ;-) - in "Meet Little 16 – Briefe an das 16-jährige Ich", a collaborative project of several authors, you’ll find my first published short story "sunny-side-up."

Me. There is just me standing behind this project. I will take the responsibility of implementing the project. It is always difficult to trust a complete stranger and also to give money for something that you do not know what will come of it afterwards. For me personally it is a gift when trust is given to me and deserves special protection and caution. Why you should trust me? I don't have an answer. If I were you, I would follow my feelings. This has worked for me well up to now.

I can no longer hold my statement from above completely, because in the meantime I have received enthusiastic support, especially
Carsten Knauer, my cameraman (the 1st time) - who has been running with me on the fields for hours in sweltering heat and
Armin Solero, composer and producer of "Anna's Angels", who I could finally convince that the track is ready to be used for this video.