In the organizer's words:

With "Mein ganzes Leben, Öl auf Leinwand, ohne Titel" (ET January 29, 2026), bestselling author Alena Schröder presents a new, haunting family novel - emotional, warm-hearted and full of subtle nuances. And we are delighted that she will be presenting her latest work at Uebel & Gefährlich on February 19, 2026. At the center of the story is a canvas that is seemingly inconspicuous - and yet connects two women over decades: Güstrow, May 1945: Young Marlen survives the last days of the war hidden in a chest of drawers. When she emerges from it, she finds a small portrait that accompanies her from then on. Wilma, who takes her in, harbors a secret that threatens to tear her apart. Berlin, 2023: Hannah Borowski, 34, has the feeling that her life is slipping out of her hands. Her girlfriend moves out, her father suddenly re-enters her life after a long absence and then there's her grandmother's lost canvas, which she can't let go of.

With great sensitivity and narrative warmth, Schröder tells the story of how traces of the past continue to have an effect. She shows how pain and happiness overlap like layers of paint on a painting and how family ties shape us, sometimes in unexpected ways.

Alena Schröder became known for her successful novels "Young woman, standing at the window, evening light, blue dress" and "It's always so eerily quiet with you", among others.

Hamburg author and journalist Till Raether will host the event.