Claudia Nieuwenhuizen from Achel bundles her writings in a first book: “For those who don’t feel like reading a novel” (Hamont-Achel)

In the book ‘The clear view of Aunt Claus’, Claudia Nieuwenhuizen from Achel bundles her columns, short stories, but also song lyrics. By day she is a wordsmith teacher, but she also writes about what concerns and surprises her, often in a disarmingly funny way.

It was during her studies of African languages ​​and cultures that Claudia’s old love for theater and texts flared up again. “I became a member of the Belgian Improvisation League and that’s where I got my taste back. Afterwards I started teaching at a youth theater in Leuven, after which I could start at the Municipal Academy in Geel. I have been writing texts and stories for as long as I can remember. And song lyrics have been added, including for choirs. With a text for the Amsterdam Naomi Inez, also known as De Liedjestovenaar, I was even nominated for the Willem Wilmink Prize, an important Dutch prize named after the lyricist of Herman Van Veen and Sesame Street, among others.”

Everyday

Claudia has now collected her writings from recent years in her first book ‘The Clear View of Aunt Claus’. “I started browsing back to 2016. My book is ideal for those who don’t feel like reading a novel. You can choose a text at random and start reading it on the train or between soup and fries. I get my inspiration from the everyday things I experience with my husband and two children. But stupid things I encounter can also be a starting point. Someone who snaps at me in the supermarket, or on an outing, especially ordinary things. This often results in humorous texts, but I have also opted for a few sad stories that I cannot reread with dry eyes.”

Claudia is always a little surprised when people recognize themselves in her writings. “That’s nice. People recognize themselves in the situations I describe and often encounter the same issues, are amazed or irritated by the world or your own shortcomings. There is something poetic in the smallest things. As long as you want to see it,” she concludes. The book will be available from May 3 via www.boekscout.nl.