LENA KRAUS (L. K. Kraus)

I’m a writer and translator with ties to Germany, Cornwall, and Norway. I write realistic fiction, exploring how stories can tell the truth without being the truth. I’m a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, with a creative writing thesis focussing on chronology.

Before moving to Edinburgh to write, I was the chair of the European Democratic Education Community, promoting Democratic Education in Europe and beyond and researching narratives of achievement. I attended EUDEC conferences in various European countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Greece, Ukraine) and other Democratic-Education-related events in the UK, Spain and South Africa. I am a Guardian Member of the Phoenix Education Trust.

I believe that sports and movement are for everybody and have founded Leinpfad parkrun in Germany and Whitekirk Hill parkrun in Scotland.

I have translated more than twenty novels from English into German, and I translate Norwegian to German, too.

I was the editor-in-chief rom Arthur’s Seat, an anthology of short prose and poetry, managing a team of 28, and 50 writers.  From Arthur’s Seat is the University of Edinburgh’s annual anthology of creative writing, and getting this project off the ground was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.

I’m now the editor-in-chief of Hillfire Anthology, having founded Hillfire Press in 2022. Volume 1 was published in May 2022,Volume 2 in May 2023, with pre-sales for Volume 3 starting soon.

I’m the Managing Director of The Selkie, a magazine publishing underrepresented voices.

I love paddling and have completed one of the longest canoe races in the world twice. The Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race is 125 Miles long, and it’s one of the most awesome events I’ve ever been part of. I have so much respect for anybody who attempts it! At the moment, I mainly do surfski paddling on the North Sea off the Scottish coast and have competed at world championships for GB. I also love canoe slalom, whitewater and my paddleboard… anything paddle-powered on the water.

I love mushrooms, and I tend to find them when I’m not looking, out on a walk or run, when I have to repurpose scarfs, coats, cups or even shoes as containers to get them home. Discussing mycology with various international folks, I’ve picked up most of the Latin names of what I collect by now.