Bettina Balàka
Bettina Balàka (born 1966) is an Austrian novelist, poet, essayist, playwright and short story writer. Recent novels include "Eisflüstern" (The Whisper of Ice, 2006), "Kassiopeia" (2010) and "Unter Menschen" (Among People, 2014). Biography. Born on 27 March 1966 in Salzburg, Balàka studied English and Italian at the Institut für Übersetzer- und Dolmetscherausbildung (Institute for Translation and Interpreting Studies) in Vienna, earning a master's degree in 1991. Her studies included extended trips to Britain and the United States. She has since worked as a freelance writer and translator in Vienna. In addition to her novels, poetry, drama and  radio plays, Balàka has frequently contributed to literary journals and anthologies. She lives with her daughter in Vienna. Her novel "Eisflüstern", the story of a soldier returning from war, is one of the few Austrian thrillers set during the turning point of the First World War with the collapse of the Austrian Habsburgs and the establishment of a new republic. "Unter Menschen" is a humorous yet sad tale tracing a dog's experiences of a series of different owners. "Die Prinzessin von Arborio" tells how a restaurant owner who has committed three murders is interrogated by a psychologist who falls  in love with her. The Austrian newspaper "Kurier" quotes the author's explanation: "I'm a very curious person. That's why I always look for new themes. In "Die Prinzessin von Arborio" I've chosen criminal psychology, hybristophilia, and falling in love as the most beautiful form of psychosis." Awards. Balàka's many awards include the Salzburger Lyrikpreis (Salzburg Poetry Prize, 2006) und the Friedrich-Schiedel- Literaturpreis (Friedrich Schiedel Literature Prize, 2008). Selected publications. The following publications are all in German: