Susanne Jaspers and the hidden eye -catchers in Luxembourg

From the outside, the construction acts like a pumpkin embedded in the ground. The interior is like a penguin enclosure in the zoo. Anyone who stands in front of this striking building in Birkelt Village, a holiday park at the gates of Fels, is surprised: Which spaceship has ended up here? But when the construction entitled « Tournesol » opens in summer towards the outdoor swimming pool, it is clear what is going on here: the inside can be planned, completely to your heart’s content.

For author Susanne Jaspers, the sunflower shining in orange for several years – formerly in yellow – was more of a random find that she came across when researching her new book « 111 places in Luxembourg you have to have seen ». A book with the same title already exists, but this is all about seeing things in the capital. « For many people abroad, the Grand Duchy stops at the borders of Luxembourg city, » explains the 55-year-old at a meeting in the shadow of the Tournesol swimming pool. « And many at Luxembourg only think of banks … So I found the idea of ​​the publisher Emon: very amusing to present the surrounding around. »

The sunflower bath, a construction from France, which was to encourage people to swim, especially in the neighboring country from the 1970s, was one of the objects that found a place in the book. Susanne Jaspers was strange until the time of research. « Actually, I thought that I knew the country from the effect. » She was by no means just about to write a travel guide for tourists, but also inspired the Luxembourgers for the book. « And to find something new in this sense was not that easy. »

Friends as a source

Friends and acquaintances were primarily available as sources. She herself searched for finds on the net, but also went by car on a journey through the country. « When you keep your eyes, you suddenly discover signs everywhere. For example, the ‘Hoffelter Channel’, which I had never heard of before. » He is number 53 in her Luxembourg collection.

Large -format historical recordings at a crossing in town had aroused their interest and let them get out of the car. Thereupon she came across an information board for the almost forgotten channel building project from the 19th century. At that time, the goal was the construction of a waterway to the Netherlands. « And so one thing came together and more and more. »

In the book there are unusual places, but also small cafes or shops. One of Susanne Jasper’s favorite objects of her 111-piece collection is the actually well-known Michaelskirche in Luxembourg city (number 71): Due to the cannonball from the 17th century, which is still outside in the church tower. The ball must be discovered when you look closely. The author of Meyenburg Castle (number 81) is also very impressed. « For me, this enchanted place is one of the most beautiful in the country. Again and again I meet Luxembourgers who have not yet been there. »

The Parc Mervilleux in Bettemburg or more precisely the Capybara enclosure there may not be missing in the travel guide. Travel author Susanne Jaspers has a particularly close relationship with the creature from the family of guinea pigs, which is also known as water pig under the name and blossomed into a trend animal last year. How closely the bound by the native Germans, who lives in Luxembourg and in the neighboring Northern Eifel, is already recognized by the name of the publisher, which she founded in 2012 with her husband Georges Hausemer, who died in 2018: Capybarabooks.

A heart for water pigs

« I could talk about Capybaras forever, » reports Susanne Jaspers with a loud laugh. At the moment, the animal also attracts your publisher a lot of attention, because the Internet search for Capybaras has risen in a leap in the past few months. « My husband and I got to know the animals on a trip through South America. A large family of Capybara had made it comfortable on the street and blocked our way. We also liked their way of life: the butt in the water and the nose stretched towards the sun. This hedonistic approach to life was immediately sympathetic to us. »

To buy one of the animals has not yet occurred to her – « I’m on the road » – but at least she has been able to stroke a Capybara. « My brother once gave me a sponsorship for an animal in the Krefeld zoo, then I was allowed to touch it. But don’t worry: the animal was not excessively stressed. »

Not only the water pig currently takes increased attention to the publisher of the same name. Some of the books or authors also put Capybarabooks in the spotlight. Both the novel « Mother’s Revenge » by Margret Steckel and the non -fiction book « Luxembourg was never a colonial power » by Yves Schmitz in cooperation with the KunstSkollective towards22 were awarded the Lëtzebuerger Book Presis last year. Like a water pig, she is therefore « Saustolz » on the success of the books from her own house.

“I am pleased that the cooperation with the University of Luxembourg and other institutions is as much as you can see in the book by Yves Schmitz. And not to forget Margret Steckel: that she was at that age (91 years, editor’s note) Started again and writes bestsellers, which are also read abroad, is fantastic. This is also the reward for the many hard work as a publisher. Hard work, which I like to take on myself. « 

Lots of manuscripts

With Antoine Pohu (« après nos désirs », « Nous Sommes Celleux Qui Marchent dans La Ville »), born in 1999, and Jérôme Quiqueret (« Tout Devait Disparaître »), she also has other (young) talents on the fishing rod. And maybe there will be a few more in the future, because more and more manuscripts will end up on their table, including from abroad. « Above all, manuscripts for children are in the post office, this market has been formally exploded in Luxembourg in recent years. But I can always talk myself out of it, because I don’t move children’s books, » explains Susanne Jaspers with a grin. « But overall there are more young people who write what is a really positive development. »

Of course, your own reading preferences are also an issue when talking to the tournesol bathroom. Especially with regard to your upcoming Greece vacation. « I hardly get to read privately, but now I take some thick ham … and of course some manuscripts. » In his luggage, for example, “The Lies” by Mikita Franko, a story about a gay couple in Russia who raises a child. « What is not easy under the conditions there, to put the least. » The book had recommended a waitress in a pub on Lake Constance. « I read across the bed, also a lot from Luxembourg. »

And after the vacation, Susanne Jaspers reaches back into the buttons: As a freelance author, she has to bring three travel guides of the « Marco Polo » series up to date. « In addition, I am working on a novel that I actually want to publish this year … if I would get to it. » Which is almost safe: it will appear at Capybarabooks. « Yes, I’m so free. » Because where, if not in your own publisher with the water pig, your book is in good hands.