Smoke from Woolsey Fire fills sky above my farm in Malibu...
Cornelia's To-Do-List: March/April
* Continue work on Dragon Rider 3
* Fourth revision of Reckless 4
* "Artists in Residence" from Devon and Australia
The Labyrinth of the Faun
In July, Bloomsbury London will bring out Pan's Labyrinth , a novel written by Cornelia, inspired by Guillermo del Toro's Academy Award-winning fantasy film. The German edition Das Labyrinth des Fauns will be published contemporaneously.
What do you think of the covers?
Bye Bye Chat
Wednesday, 13 February, 2019
Dear Folks, we had to take the chat offline again, because it keeps disrupting the website. We thought we fixed the problem, but that bug is quite intractable 
So I ask for your understanding that we won't host new Barn Chats for the time being. If you'd like to communicate with your "Barn Chat Friends", you can send us an email to mail@corneliafunke.com and I can help you exchanging email addresses... Best! Insa and Guesty
Cornelia's To-Do-List: February
* Continue work on Dragon Rider 3
* Illustrations for "Die Brücke" (The Bridge), a story about death, which I wrote for children's hospices.
* Preparing for my first "Artists in Residence" from Mexico and Argentina
Cornelia's To-Do-List: January
* Dragon Rider Book 3
* Revise German translation Pan's Labyrinth
Did you know that...
Thursday, 3 January, 2019
Joanne K. Rowling, author of Harry Potter, has something to do with Dustfinger's death? How come? Well, some years ago Cornelia visited her British publisher Barry Cunningham. They talked about her book Inkspell which, at that time, Cornelia was writing. Cornelia knew how the story would go on over the next few pages, but beyond that she had no idea. However, later on, when she got in the taxi, she suddenly saw a picture in front of her inner eye, a picture that startled her: Dustfinger, dead. It cannot be, she thought, that I would kill one of my most beloved heroes. The strange thing with that inner picture was that only hours ago she had been discussing with Barry how J. K. Rowling 'killed' Sirius Black. Cornelia really got upset about how Rowling just swatted him like a fly. How could she??? "Maybe", she later admitted, "that conversation planted a seed in my head from which then grew the idea for Dustfinger's death." The idea kept alienating her for days until, while walking the dog, the thought stroke her, 'maybe he must die in order to save Farid'.
(Photo: © Warner Bros.)
Dear DragonRiders, MirrorTravellers, Inkworlders, Wild Chicks...
... and all you, who travel with me and wings made from printed pages.
I wish you all a 2019 that brings both peace and adventure, a few new ideas, new and old friends and a few seeds you'll plant to make this world a bit nicer.
With very best wishes, still covered in ash, from Malibu,
Cornelia
HAPPY NEW YEAR
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING A NEW BARN YEAR WITH YOU ALL 
These are your wishes for the Xmas Reindeer
Wednesday, 26 December, 2018
We listed them all for "Santa Caribou"...
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A Merry Little Xmas To All Of You!
Monday, 24 December, 2018
Cornelia, Bashar, Chus, Insa, and Guesty wish you a beautiful time with your family and friends
Just One More Sleep Til Christmas...
Christmas is coming...
Saturday, 22 December, 2018
So…… does your kitchen already smell like clove, cinnamon and cardamom? And are the elk and snowman biscuit cutters already knocking in the drawer, calling: "Come on! Let us out! It's baking time!" Or are you one of those who do not like sticky fingers and therefore stock up on gingerbread, snickerdoodles and sand tarts at the supermarket? Pfeffernussen, shortbread, iced hermits, coconut macaroons…. dear me, i have to stop this. Guesty is nervously bustling around in the Barn, looking for all those treats...
Only 4 days ...
Thursday, 20 December, 2018
... until Christmas.
Have you ever seen a Hedgehog Claus before? 
Xmas-mood without the Grinch, Scrooge, and Lord Fauntleroy
Some winter story recommendations (you may not know yet) for you to curl up with by the fire or on the sofa.
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Thank you so much
Friday, 14 December, 2018
for all those warm-hearted birthday wishes, and for the fantastic birthday dragons
It made my day
Warmest wishes from California!
Cornelia
Only 12 days ...
Thursday, 13 December, 2018
... until Christmas.
If Cornelia's Xmas reindeer could grant you one wish, what would you wish for? Maybe you'd like to reveal it to us: mail@corneliafunke.com
Candle number two is lit
Happy Second Sunday of Advent. Knead the dough, get a steamy mug of hot chocolate, crawl under the blanket, and listen to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (that is Guesty's favourite one 
).
Happy St Nicholas Day
I know, most of you celebrate it on the 4th of December, but here in Germany St. Nicholas fills the children's boots with gifts and sweets in the night of 5 December. We put one of Cornelia's Christmas baubles into the "Barn boot". Cornelia loves to collect tree ornaments for her Driftwood Xmas Tree. This one she brought from England. The Christmas mouse could well have jumped out of the pages of "The Wind in the Willows".
Cornelia's To-Do-List: December
* feeding ducks and donkeys
* answering Emails
* drawing a chicken 
HAPPY FIRST CANDLE
Have a cosy first Sunday of Advent.
From today, you will regularly find something here in the Barn Times to get into a Holiday Season Mood.
Nestle down on the sofa and have some cookies
Just to give you an idea...
Here are some videos Cornelia's gardener Alfonso sent us. They show Alfonso and his men while valiantly protecting Cornelia's animals and her farm from the Woolsey fire.
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News from Cornelia
Sunday, 18 November, 2018
Jake, Tabby and I are still in exile in Venice, close to my son's house. We hope, that power will be restored in my street by tomorrow and that our part of Malibu will be opened for residents. I know, the donkeys and ducks are fine. Roberto, a friend of Alfonso Fuentes, my magical gardener, looks after them and my wonderful neighbors Larry and Laurel Thorne check on them too from time to time.
I went to the open part of Malibu today so Jake and Tabby could run on the beach. So much seems unchanged, but then suddenly there is a burned slope covered with the skeletons of torched trees. I will be grateful for every tree that is still alive on my land.
Love from Venice!
Cornelia
Rerelease of Angel Heart
On 7 December 2018, the classical music label Pentatone publishes the first international edition of Angel Heart. Originally released in 2013, Angel Heart is a music storybook narrated by Jeremy Irons with an original story by Cornelia and music by Luna Pearl Woolf. Learn more at angelheartmusicstorybook.com
California fire: Cornelia evacuated her farm...
Monday, 12 November, 2018
... and sent a message from Venice Beach to all of you. Read what she tells of what she experienced the past few days...
Read more
9 November, 2018
The Barn Brain
Wednesday, 7 November, 2018
Don't worry, Cornelia did not switch genres and dedicated herself to writing horror fiction or dark fantasy And Guesty is alive and kicking, too That new "decorative object" (have you already spotted it? That old school television) represents our new quiz section. From today you can test your knowledge of Cornelia's books. Guess, which book is first? There are more to come. We hope you have just as much fun as we had making it.
31 October, 2018
Bronchitis But dogs are the best medicine
Coughy greetings from Malibu! Cornelia
Something new to thumb through
We've put two new notebooks from Cornelia's collection under the workbench.
Podcast with Cornelia and Barry Cunningham
Listen to this a Scholastic podcast featuring Cornelia and her editor Barry Cunningham talking about Cornelia's return to Dragon Rider.
Cornelia's To-Do-List: October
* Working on chapter 5 of Dragon Rider Book 3
* Preparing next chapters of Dragon Rider III
A beautiful blog entry on ...
Monday, 8 October, 2018
... "The Glass of Lead and Gold". Blogger Gordon Askew posted a very nice review of Cornelia's new story. You find it on Magic Fiction Since Potter.
* Breaking News *
The audiobook THE GRIFFIN’S FEATHER is shortlisted for the Digital Book World 2018 Award – The Super Bowl of Publishing. Keep your fingers crossed!
14 September, 2018
There are five cellists practising at my avocado farm this morning. Students from Toronto, who are doing a workshop here with Matt Haimovitz, as part of my Rim of Heaven projects. I wish you could hear them!
Did you know that ...
... in the first versions of Reckless it was not a mirror but a wooden door leading to the other world? When Cornelia started to write Reckless she, too, had the strange feeling of stepping through some kind of door. I can't help having the impression that behind that door I have discovered the world of someone else, and now I am writing about that very world, she said while reworking one of the earliest manuscripts. When writing down Jacob's story it almost was the same for her as for her hero: finding the way to another world. Later the symbol of the wooden door being the entrance to the fairytale world was replaced by the dark mirror.
WILLKOMMEN, WELCOME, BIENVENIDOS...
... IN DER SCHEUNE, TO THE BARN, AL GRANERO!
Cornelia's To-Do-List: September
Third revision Reckless 4
Preparing new picture book: The Bridge
Research for Dragon Rider 3
Working with Matt Haimovitz on cello story and preparations for September concert
The Griffin's Feather - the audiobook
Tuesday, 21 August, 2018
The next Dragon Rider adventure for your ears. Cornelia's own audiobook production company, Atmende Buecher has recorded the audiobook of "The Griffin’s Feather" and released it as the company’s first ever English-language release.
31
Jul
The sequel of Dragon Rider
Wednesday, 1 August, 2018
The Griffin's Feather is now also available in US bookstores. It is out in Hardcover and for Kindle on July 31, 2018 from Scholastic imprint Chicken House.
Cornelia and the Sea Lions
Friday, 6 July, 2018
My foundation RIM OF HEAVEN has been supporting the California Wildlife Center since May. The pictures show you how they invited me to release one of two sea lions, which had received all the necessary treatment and care in the center, back to the wild.
I also watched while they an injured hawk was taught to fly again and how elephants seals returned to the ocean.
They are, by the way, much more hesitant to do so than the sea lions are.
Dragon Rider - The Opera
Saturday, 23 June, 2018
On 22 June, the Luebeck Theatre presented the world premiere of the opera adaptation of Cornelia’s Dragon Rider story. The company received standing ovations and we have beautiful photos for you...
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One Week After
Tuesday, 12 June, 2018
Last Tuesday was World Environment Day. Actually, every day should be World Environment Day. This year's theme was 'beat plastic pollution'...
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The Glass of Lead and Gold
Friday, 8 June, 2018
Pushkin Press will publish a new story by Cornelia in September.
Read moreCornelia's To-Do-List: June
Reckless 4 - Chapters 36-41
22
Apr
Today is Earth Day
Saturday, 21 April, 2018
Maybe yesterday's Google Doodle caught your eye...
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The Wild Chicks are about to "land" in the United States
Wednesday, 4 April, 2018
Breathing Books will republish Cornelia's entire Wild Chicks series. The books about the adventures of a gang of five girls and their sometimes more, sometimes less adverse boys' gang - the Piranhas, are very, very popular in Germany. The first two of the series - The Wild Chicks and The Wild Chicks: Class Trip - will come out in the US in May 2018.
Cornelia's To-Do-List: March/April
* Edit Pan’s Labyrinth
* Final edit of 'The Glass of Lead and Gold'
* Illustrations for 'The Glass of Lead and Gold'
* Comments for the fairy tales collection of Pushkin Press
A Parcel from the Jane Goodall Institute Germany
Wednesday, 7 March, 2018
In preparation for our upcoming conservation area on Cornelia's website, we contacted the Jane Goodall Institute Germany, because we would like to introduce Jane's impressive life and work to you. Look what they sent us...
Read moreCornelia's To-Do-List: February
The last ten chapters for Reckless - The Islands of the Fox
21 February, 2018
My courageous gardeners getting the HundredYearSleep-sycamore ready for spring.
14 February, 2018
Fluuuuuuuuuuuu....
May we introduce...
Tuesday, 13 February, 2018
... the Funke Farm Friends. Last autumn, Cornelia moved to an old avocado farm. Look who has moved in with her
Inkheart in Taiwan
Thursday, 25 January, 2018
In 2017, the Department of German at the National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology adapted "Inkheart" for the stage. Go to our film/theatre section, where you will find the video and more pictures of the stage premiere.
Read moreCornelia's To-Do-List: January
* Working on:
The Color of Revenge
Next Dragon Rider audio-play
A Christmas story for Pushkin Press
Cornelia's To-Do-List: December
* continue choosing fairy tales for the Pushkin Press Fairy Tales Collection
* write Dragon Rider 4
* learn everything about puppies
Cornelia's To-Do-List: This month
* choose fairy tales for the Pushkin Press Fairy Tales Collection
* write Reckless 4
* and… learn everything about donkeys
Niklas Goodfellow jumps from stage onto big screen
Thursday, 16 November, 2017
The famous German Augsburg puppet theatre brings its stage version of Cornelia's "When Santa Fell To Earth" to cinemas in Germany and German-speaking countries
Read moreCornelia's To-Do-List: October
* Reckless 4, Chapter 32
* story for the Getty exhibit Golden Kingdoms
10 October, 2017
Writers feel inspired by things that tell stories. Maybe that's why I love to write kneeling on that old Kelim by the weather beaten Indian table on my back porch.
Don't Say Anything Now
Monday, 9 October, 2017
In September, Cornelia "answered" questions in a very different sort of interview
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Breathing Books Blog
Saturday, 16 September, 2017
Cornelia's publishing company Breathing Books started a blog! Check out news about Cornelia, the latest works-in-progress, reviews, and more, here: http://www.breathing-books.com/blog
13 September, 2017
Painting tables All my old garden tables get a new face for my new home.
Cornelia's To-Do-List: This week:
* Polish last 4 chapters of The Labyrinth of the Faun
* Research Dragonrider 4
* Preface US edition Wild Chicks
3 September, 2017
Good morning from Malibu
2 September, 2017
My gardeners cutting the dead wood from my 12 palm trees. I didn't know gardeners need to be such adventurers.
Cornelia's background music
Wednesday, 30 August, 2017
Does Cornelia like it quiet when she writes or does anything accompany her?
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Just...
Monday, 28 August, 2017
... found this in my post box.
Cornelia's new picture book "Fabers Reise" (Faber's Journey") has just arrived! I have already browsed through the pages ...
Read more
25 July, 2017
It's fabulously entertaining to listen to the wild parrots that live in my trees, while having breakfast on the porch of my new house and doing research for the next Dragonrider adventure.
Dragon cake for the queuers
Wednesday, 19 July, 2017
Within the scope of the exhibition Cornelia Funke. Zauberwelten at the Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, Cornelia gave a reading from her book "Dragon Rider". We took some happy photos of little Cornelia Funke book lovers at the following book signing. Enjoy...
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Cornelia Funke. Zauberwelten
Tuesday, 18 July, 2017
Until 27 August, the Kunsthalle Karlsruhe presents a selection of Cornelia's illustrations and beyond. In July, Cornelia arrived from LA to see what the museum team has so fantastically accomplished.
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"The Griffin's Feather"...
Sunday, 2 July, 2017
... is Waterstones' Children's Book of the Month!
Cornelia's comment on Twitter: "I am dancing with dragons to celebrate! A humbled bow and happy hum from Malibu!"
2 July, 2017
Started notebook 7 of "The Islands of the Fox". They fill as fast as if the story took the pen from my hand.
Dragon Rider: The Griffin's Feather...
Friday, 30 June, 2017
... will be published in July!
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Cornelia's favourite books
Wednesday, 21 June, 2017
Many of you keep asking about Cornelia's personal story faves. Take a look into her "Treasure Chest" ...
Read more
14 June, 2017
Writing place
13 June, 2017
The Strawberry Moon is weaving gold through the waves of the Pacific
11 June, 2017
Gathering thoughts for chapter 26 of Islands of the Fox/Reckless 4. The words may taste of salt.
20 May, 2017
Do you see them? Brown Pelicans - my favorite birds by now. To see them fish at sunset- it doesn't get much better
12 April, 2017
Good morning to everyone from Malibu Cornelia
16 March, 2017
Morning greetings from misty Malibu to all of you, wherever you are Cornelia
9 March, 2017
Greetings from Malibu Spring arrived at Point Dume and the grey whales are blowing, passing by with their young ones.
The Book No One Ever Read
Thursday, 2 March, 2017
Cornelia's new picture book "The Book No One Ever Read" will be published on May 14!
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22 February, 2017
Hello everyone, the brush and the paints are taking over. Still writing a lot but now the words have serious competition. And are inspired by the paintings. Here are some that didn't go to the Karlsruhe exhibit as the paint was still wet. Some may make their appearance in the next Reckless book.
Breathing Books Club
Tuesday, 7 February, 2017
Cornelia's publishing company has a "Breathing Books Club" in the works - they will be using a private Facebook group to gather fans and read Cornelia's books together, starting with the Reckless series. Since so many of her fans re-read her novels, they thought that would be a fun way to get some of them engaged with each other. The plan is to read a few chapters a week, to post "quizzes" with prizes for the winners, and to include other fun tidbits. Please message Breathing Books on Facebook if you are interested.
6 February, 2017
Love from Malibu, where the rains continue and the mountains are green for the first time in four years. Let’s take it as a sign of hope in these troubled times! Cornelia
7 December, 2016
Happy Holidays from Malibu! As you see my Treehouse is filled with writing, paint and Christmas things.
Firedrake on stage
Tuesday, 15 November, 2016
The German Wuppertal Theatre for Young Audiences presents a fabulous pre Xmas stage adaptation of Cornelia's story "Dragon Rider". For more information, go to our Film and Theatre shelf.
Knitted Underwater Heroes
Tuesday, 11 October, 2016
In May 2017, Cornelia's underwater adventure story "Lilli and Fin are swimming to America" will be published by RandomHouseKids. Next to Cornelia's original illustrations, the book will include pictures of some charming knitted dolls by Rabbit Hole Knits designer Sara Elizabeth Kellner.
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2 October, 2016
Saturday afternoon at my TreeHouse in Serra Canyon. (I call it that, but it's not really a treehouse, sadly). Working on "The Labyrinth of the Faun", the project I do for Guillermo Del Toro. The chalk on the table is often used by my younger visitors to draw on the porch wood.
23 September, 2016
Hi everyone, I currently don't have much time for writing as I am still unpacking books at my new home in Malibu and - am looking at land in the mountains to finally start my wilderness sanctuary. More about that as soon as I found it! Love from Serra Canyon, Cornelia
New home, new website
Saturday, 17 September, 2016
The website received a new polish at just the right time. This summer I moved from Los Angeles to Malibu. I have never been a city person. I missed the wild despite my wild garden, the wide horizons, the silence... As my son Ben said, when he saw my new home: "Now your whole house is your writing house, Mum." It is.
And I have space to paint on big canvases (listening to loud music) and a choir of dogs and coyotes echoing through the canyon that I now call home. I see the Pacific ocean on my left and the mountains on the right. I hear horses walking by from time to time and the number of cars passing my house during the day is seldom more than the number of fingers on my hands. I have a drummer amongst my neighbors who is very good, and at sunset bats are fluttering around my house. Let’s see whether you’ll soon taste all that in my stories.
O yes, I can walk to the Lagoon, and apart from my very nice human neighbors, I have pelicans, cormorants, seals and dolphins for company.
Greetings from the house among the trees, Cornelia
16 September, 2016
Here you'll sometimes find short messages or photos, that show what I am up to. If there is nothing new for a while, you can always blame that on a new story. Love from LA, Cornelia
Cornelia started her own German audiobook label!
Sunday, 11 September, 2016
Atmende Buecher (German for 'Breathing Books') is a joint project of Cornelia and Eduardo García, owner of the sound studio German Wahnsinn).
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If I could be a grown-up for one day....
Friday, 5 August, 2016
In Cornelia's book "The Thief Lord", thirteen-year-old Scipio is desperate to ride the magical merry-go-round to grow older. If you had the chance to take a ride as well, if you could be a grown-up for just one day, what would you do?
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Do you believe in ghosts, Cornelia?
Thursday, 4 August, 2016
Cornelia spent some writing time with ghosthunters, ASGs and IRGs. But does she actually believe in ghosts?
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Felt Fervour in the Chamber of Miracles
Monday, 1 August, 2016
"Suse Federschmid, feltmaker, Giantling Alley, Schwanstein": A letter sent to this address will be returned, but a feltmaker bearing the name Federschmid ... reads quite like a resident of MirrorWorld.
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Ghost Knight: Reading and Exhibition Opening at Isny
Thursday, 28 July, 2016
In September 2011, Cornelia and German painter and illustrator Friedrich Hechelmann opened the exhibition of the original illustrations of Cornelia’s new book Ghost Knight.
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Angels, Pigs and Pirates: A Picture Book Story
Tuesday, 26 July, 2016
Kerstin Meyer is an illustrator. She has illustrated many of Cornelia's books and her pictures always hit the right note for Cornelia's stories. We paid a visit to Kerstin's studio in Hamburg Altona.
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Interview Barry Cunningham
Saturday, 23 July, 2016
"My job is to represent children" Barry Cunningham, Cornelia’s British publisher, tells about his favourite books, about his polar she-bear, a secret passion and his work as a publisher.
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Voices behind the mirror
Thursday, 21 July, 2016
In June 2010, Rainer Strecker and the publishing company Oetinger recorded Cornelia’s new novel Reckless at a studio in Hamburg.
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