Interview from DerEfeuBusch

 Interview from DerEfeuBusch

1 : The first question is a tradition... What is your name ? Where do you come from ? In summary, can you introduce yourself to our readers ?

Sigismund Schönfuß of "Der Efeubusch", at your service ! I'm a halfling and a travelling salesman. When i'm at home,  i work as a waiter at my mother's inn, "Der Efeubusch". That's how i got my name ! You can buy everything a halfling needs from my basket, wooden spoons for cooking and tea, nice hair ribbons for the ladies, crocheted bags for the market and even my own newspaper with the latest gossip from my home !

As a human, I'm Frederik, a storyteller, folk musician, writer and assistant librarian living in Austria.

2 : Where does this passion for fantasy come from ? What are things that brought you to this universe ?

When i was 13 years old, we had to read "The Hobbit" in school. I was hooked and immediately read "The Lord of the Rings". The whole of the plot didn't quite get to me at that time but i was touched by the part of the hobbits enduring all kinds of difficulties and in the end as the smallest beings succeed in driving out evil. I have been loving everything hobbit ever since to this day.

3 : Let's talk a little about your store on Etsy if you like... I suppose the items you offer are a passion, but how did it come about ? Do you plan to expand on new articles ? In summary, tell us about your store... :)

Sigismund Schönfuß, my halfling alter ego, is a real merchant !  You can buy his goods not only as part of a playful interaction, but for a fuller immersion also in real life. So people can purchase a handmade item "from a real halfling" and take it home with them.

This is also why I am only vaguely Tolkien inspired with "The Efeubusch": I want to reach not only die-hard fans like me but also people who never heard of fantasy. Sigismund often reminds them of a "Wichtel", a German version of the fairy folk and I like that a lot — for once because as a storyteller I'm in love with everything folklore and second because it shows that their own imagination is triggered and they are already enjoying making up stories in their mind where this funny guy with pointy ears and green waistcoat might come from...

To Tolkien-fans Sigismund Schönfuß is one of the many halflings who simply were busy elsewhere when all the important stuff happened. What was this affair with some piece of jewelry again? And is it true that the honorable Mr Bilbo slayed three dragons and saved a bunch of dwarves simply by throwing them into a river? Maybe someone should tell Sigismund what really happened in between his journeys...

On Sigismunds basket (and also in his digital basket, the Etsy Store) is a variety of selfmade things on display that might as well be found in the shire: wooden spoons, woolen scarfs and caps, crocheted bags in form of fruits and vegetables, hair ribbons, a little newspaper and much more. I craft everything by myself with my own hands from crocheting to sewing and folding my newspaper because I feel we need more handcrafted things in this materialistic world and because I think that's simply the way a halfling would do it.

When i visit an event as Sigismund Schönfuß, you recognize me by my green waistcoat and the large basket on my back with a sign "Der Efeubusch" and lots of stuff attached to its sides. Just say hi, don't be shy ! Sigismund loves to gossip about everything from his home and maybe he's got just the right item for you.

4 : You know that i am a Tolkien enthusiast and that i am part of the Tolkien Society. What is your relationship with Tolkien ? What do you think of his work ? Have you ever read Tolkien ?

Yes, Tolkien was my first connection to fantasy and I've been re-reading his works ever since. I'm amazed by the depth of his stories, not only in worldbuilding but also on a human level. Each time I re-read the books, another story leaps to my attention, touches me and teaches me something.

As a storyteller, i also strongly resonate with Tolkien not inventing a story but letting the story tell itself through the narrator as a medium...

5 : Fantasy is a very broad subject ! What are your main activities in relation to this world ? 

( reading ? collection ? conventions ?) and above all why ?

My activity is "Der Efeubusch" which is mainly the idea of a halfling travelling our contemporary world and bringing with him goods, stories, music, comedy and everything he loves from his home country. I appear as my halfling alter ego Sigismund Schönfuß foremost at fantasy related events and additionally online on social media and etsy.

I am convinced that in our time of machines and coldheartedness,  we need more laughter, smiles, companionship, creativity, simplicity and appreciation for us being human ( and halfling ) with the inherent worth that comes with it, for all of us, equally without exception...

6 : Here we are at the end of this interview... I thank you once again for your availability ! And as tradition dictates, I’ll leave the final words to you ! See you soon, here or elsewhere...

"Take your time to be happy. It's the music of the soul"

U can find DerEfeuBusch on different places :

Website : DerEfeuBusch

Instagram : DerEfeuBusch

Shop on Etsy : DerEfeuBusch