Cycling envoy pedals across extensive Germany, arrives at Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (MV) destination
Unscripted Take: Lennart Schaefer ain't hauling no library on his cargo bike. He got books with him for those roadside chats, 'cause let's be real, this ain't no bookmobile. This literary road trip is taking the 27-year-old more'n 8K across Germany, and now into Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Yeah, he's got the vibe of a book ambassador, all thanks to "Pettersson and Findus" and Cornelia Funke’s young adult novels that sparked his love for the written word, coupled with his cycling adventures post-graduation. Currently, he's pedaling from the Leipzig Book Fair in March to the Frankfurt Book Fair in October, with a goal to mingle with authors, bookworms, and literacy enthusiasts in all federal states, promoting reading like nobody's business.
Saw him at Pettersson and Findus as a kid, got hooked on imagination and adventure. Now, he's living that life, promoting books and literacy, spreading the joy of reading. Worked for publishers during his school days, trained as a media retailer, and even was a young speaker at the German Publishers and Booksellers Association. Currently with the Oetinger publishing group in the events department, his task is to kindle that love for books, especially when many kids can't read comprehensively after the fourth grade.
Mingles with authors, association members, retailers, and teachers during school visits, libraries, and bookstore meets. Got a chat with Isabel Bogdan from Hamburg, going to hang out with her and others at Gutshaus Lexow near Malchow. Speaking about his journey on June 17, then plans to visit Hinstorff Verlag in Rostock, followed by Kuhlen-Wendorf and Roggendorf, looking for folks who might’ve been part of the "Hands off Mississippi" filming with Detlev Buck and Katharina Thalbach 20 years ago.
Wanna explore less touristy literary places, not just the big cities. Cycles on side roads, taking the “beautiful” route most of the time, admiring the countryside while pedaling for hours. The route’s been planned, contacts established, encounters arranged. About 80% of the program is pre-planned, but the unforeseen often pops up for spontaneous events, readings, and discussions.
Excited about visiting schools, readers he meets, and experiencing Germany’s literary vibe. Sometimes, people are more interested in his bike than his books, so he made an Instagram video explaining what he carries on his cargo bike, provides an eye-opening glimpse at the gear behind the literacy mission. Records his experiences and reflections on social media and podcast platforms. And in the end, he's gonna write a book about it all.
Germany ain't got any "national program" for a singular "Literary Tour," but a melange of literary festivals, author readings, themed travel routes, and smaller cultural gatherings that collectively form this literary journey. These events serve a purpose:
- Celebrating German literary heritage
- Making literature accessible to the masses
- Encouraging cultural exchange with international authors
- Providing educational workshops and outreach programs
Lennart Schaefer ain't a household literary name on a national scale yet, but if his passion catches on, he might just change that in no time.
Engaging in conversations with authors like Isabel Bogdan and exploring lesser-known literary sites off the beaten path, Lennart Schaefer incorporates travel into his lifestyle, adding a touch of adventure to his home-and-garden-inspired journey while promoting reading and literacy. As he continues to pedal through Germany, he hopes to engage with sports enthusiasts in various reading events, striving to make literature accessible to everyone.
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