Cornelia Funke – Die offizielle Homepage

Chat on Sunday

Our next Barn Chat takes place on 13 October, from 5.00 - 6.00 pm CEST Berlin time. Check your time zone here: http://www.thetimezoneconverter.com/
Insa and Guesty are looking forward to meeting you.

An Update

Cornelia has written a little report for you on her current writing and on her plans for the rest of this year.

Did you know that ...

... when Cornelia was a child, she started playing the piano? At least she had practised for a year before she gave up on it. It was not because of lack of talent. It was because the piano was standing at her grandmother's home. Cornelia had to walk about half an hour to get there. "So my enthusiasm died down quickly. Today I can not even play two successive notes." Later on she took lessons in classical guitar. She never mastered the instrument, for, as she admits, it requires an incredible amount of discipline she could not keep. But while writing or revising her stories she is listening to classical guitar quite often.
The drawing, by the way, is by Cornelia's uncle Wolfgang Schmitz.
It shows Cornelia sitting at the piano.

Cornelia's new instagram account

Tuesday, 27 August, 2019

From today you find a little instagram logo at the bottom of our welcome page.

It will take you right to Cornelia's instagram gallery.

Looking forward to meeting you there!

The first visitors at the Rim of Heaven

In February 2019, Cornelia started her 'Artists in Residence program', which is part of her foundation. Visit our Rim of Heaven section to see who has visited the farm since then.

New release!

Tuesday, 2 July, 2019

Today is the day! Harper Collins and Bloomsbury publish Pan's Labyrinth. The Labyrinth of the Faun.
You will find all details and an extract on the book's page here on Cornelia's website. Reviews: Goodreads / School Library Journal / Kirkus / The Guardian / Storgy Magazine

A Castle for Igraine

This summer, the German castle theatre company Stromberg brings Cornelia's story Igraine the Brave to the stage.

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"...

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.

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".

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.

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...

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.

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.

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!

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.

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...

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'...

The Glass of Lead and Gold

Friday, 8 June, 2018

Pushkin Press will publish a new story by Cornelia in September.

Today is Earth Day

Saturday, 21 April, 2018

Maybe yesterday's Google Doodle caught your eye...

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.

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...

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. 

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

Don't Say Anything Now

Monday, 9 October, 2017

In September, Cornelia "answered" questions in a very different sort of interview

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

Cornelia's background music

Wednesday, 30 August, 2017

Does Cornelia like it quiet when she writes or does anything accompany her?

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 ...

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...

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.

"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!"

Dragon Rider: The Griffin's Feather...

Friday, 30 June, 2017

... will be published in July!

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" ...

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!

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.

Mirrorworld, Inkworld, and...

Thursday, 22 December, 2016

Cornelia on her projects 2017

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.

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

The Writing(House)Contest

Sunday, 11 September, 2016

The Winning Stories

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).

The little dragon quest

Tuesday, 9 August, 2016

Following the footprints of Firedrake

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.