Award-winning writer Elise Schmit has turned to the English language for her latest projects. She has also been vocal in arguing for the importance of inclusive language in culture. Duncan Roberts: You have just had a short story, Blue Like a Tangerine, published in English. What inspired you to write in English? Elise Schmit: During the first lockdown, I started writing stories for friends of mine, to cheer them up basically. And one of my friends is a writer who doesn’t speak German. So, I started working on two versions simultaneously, a German one and an English one. I was surprised, because I really try to showcase what I do when I write. So, it became a very personal and important story for me. And that is why I gave it to Red Fox Press [with illustrations by Antic-Ham].