En de winnaar is

Megan van Kessel received a grant for writing her new book En de winnaar is: a story about friendship, feminism (between women) and ethical dilemmas. Dolores and Cindy meet in a Flemish village and become friends despite, or because of, their differences. While Cindy eats frozen fries in a dilapidated house, Dolores enjoys a meal prepared by a private chef in a castle. They feel like the Grace Kelly of their own Monaco, but without international fame. When Dolores has to leave school, the friendship threatens to fade. But Cindy steals Dolores' plan by going to the same academy, which gives them the same start, reinforces the difference and complicates the relationship. As a reader, you participate in the game in which the transformation from village girls to adults is central.

Megan studied Image and Language at the Rietveld Academy and made her debut in 2023 with Uitzicht van Dichtbij bij Nijgh en van Ditmar. A story about Maggie, her misogynistic father and the struggles surrounding early motherhood. Megan writes short stories, essays and articles for print and online media. She is interested in putting into words somewhat heavier themes such as death by starvation, rape, loneliness and heartbreak in a down-to-earth readable writing style full of raw self-mockery. Her work is (auto)fiction with a touch of absurdism. In her new book she follows the development within the friendship between two women, something that, according to her neighbor, does not exist.