About

I write books to make you laugh and think

Anita is a versatile, award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction for both children and adults.

Born and raised in Bern, Switzerland, and with an MA in Economic and Social History from the University of Geneva, Anita has lived, studied and worked in many different places before making Cambridge (UK) home for herself and her family.

She usually writes in a shed at the back of her garden, drinking English tea and missing Swiss chocolate, with her black spaniel snoring at her feet.

Under the outrageous pseudonym of Walburga Appleseed (!), she also writes for adults. You can find Walburga's website here

 

Things I like:

- English tea (strong and milky)

- Swiss chocolate (dark)

- Listening to my dog snore

- the turquoise waters of the river Aare in my hometown Bern

 

Favourite book of all time

The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander

 

Books I'm reading

The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West

October, October by Katya Balen

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

 

What I'm currently writing

- Pi Magic - a book all about maths but fun

(honest!)

- an adult novel about a silent meditating experience. Think Sister Act meets Eat, Pray, Love.

 

Publications 

  • 50 Amazing Swiss Immigrants, Bergli, 2023
  • How I Feel About My School, Centre for Family Research, Cambridge University, 2023
  • The Geneva Chronicles / Les Chroniques de Genève, Bergli, Spring 2022
  • Goodnight, Switzerland, Helvetiq, October 2021
  • 50 Amazing Swiss Women (co-author), Bergli, February 2021
  • The Princess and the Prick, Harper Collins, UK, October 2020
  • Slobber Slobber Kiss Kiss, Helvetiq, October 2019
  • Zanna and the Something, uTopie, April 2019
  • Virgin, Mother, Crone (co-author), äbe press, January 2019
  • Whittling Away, Cambridge Thinking Press, 2019
  • The Red Hot Fireball, uTopie, 2017

PRIZES & AWARDS

  • Prize Świat Przyjazny Dziecku, Poland (2020)
  • Geneva Literary Prize for Non-Fiction, Switzerland (2018)
  • Winchester Literary Festival Prize for Flash Fiction, UK (2016)

SHORTLISTS