Interview with Karen Kuegler-Rugowski on Dietmar Kuegler

Interview with Karen Kuegler-Rugowski on Dietmar Kuegler

Dietmar Kuegler has not only been a personal friend of the late editor Horst von Allwörden, but he had also been a friend of the Zauberspiegel and we published a lot on and from him till his death in Dezember of 2022. He has been one of the great friends of the United States in general, and in particular of the Wild West and its history.

Caring for his legacy and heritage has been the task of his wife, Karen Kuegler-Rugowski, who answered some questions on Dietmar's heritage and the publishing of the first of his stories in the United States. (German version see here)

Zauberspiegel: Dear Karen, thank you for this opportunity to talk to you about Dietmar and the changes that happened after his death. We know each other already from our chat contact and the personal friendship between my husband Horst von Allwörden and your husband Dietmar - so I allow myself to ask things I already know privately. How are you doing, now, about 18 months after Dietmar's death?
Karen Kuegler-Rugowski: It has been a challenge. I now understand why in past times families had extended mourning periods. Such a shock takes weeks to absorb and process all of the grief and sadness.

Zauberspiegel: You often call Dietmar somebody "larger than life", what exactly do you mean by that? What is it that made Dietmar such a large personality?
Karen Kuegler-Rugowski: I consider Dietmar larger than life for several reasons. First, he had many subscribers and friends who respected his vast store of knowledge. And this knowledge itself was incomparable...I still find it fascinating how one person was so knowledgeable about The Native Americans from throughout the USA, the American Civil War, the history of the settlement of the American West, the clothing of these periods , the Native American crafts, and I am sure that I overlooked a few things. When I donated his research library to the Karl Mai Museum, they received one ton of books. And there were more. Dietmar had the energy of three active people. Sometimes I think that he passed because he used up all of the energy allocated to one person during a lifetime.

Zauberspiegel: Dietmar has left behind a large legacy, being an author, a publisher, a tour operator, a networker, speaker - all of it related to the United States, Western, native American ... it must be a legacy that is a treasure and a burden at the same time. What did/do you have to deal with?
Karen Kuegler-Rugowski: Dietmar's enthusiasm spread beyond his publishing ventures as you mention.
At the beginning, it was very difficult as I had many phone calls regarding book and magazine orders. I had to inform these people that Dietmar had passed, and received many emotional reactions. I decided to stop publication of the magazine as no one could be as knowledgeable as Dietmar to take it over. Notifying everyone was challenging as not all subscribers used social media. I have donated many items and books to the Karl Mai Museum (as Dietmar wanted), sold some artifacts to collectors and am still working out publishing arrangements.

Zauberspiegel: We have heard that the publisher Blitz Verlag has begun a cooperation with Dusty Saddle Publishing - what of Dietmar's books will the publish? Whose idea was it to extend Dietmar's heritage as an author to the United States?
Karen Kuegler-Rugowski: I suggested to Jörg Kaegelmann the possibility of translating Dietmar's novels and making available in the USA. Through the help of technology and Dietmar's long-time friend Alfred Wallon, this was arranged with Dusty Saddle Publishing in the USA. I believe there are two novels available now in the USA.

Zauberspiegel: Alfred Wallon comments in a blog article on the website of Dusty Saddle Publishing "It is just fascinating to see how fast some projects can be realized (...) As I know, it was always Dietmar Kuegler´s dream that his western novels could be published in English language and reach the international market." What part die Alfred Wallon play in this new development? Will you be involved?
Karen Kuegler-Rugowski: Alfred Wallon is the intermediary between Blitz-Verlag and Dusty Saddle Publishing. He is also helping with the translation of the novels

Zauberspiegel: For a long time you have lived on Foehr, you also used to live in New York - quite a difference actually. Will you stay in Germany, or do you plan to/have to return to the US?
Karen Kuegler-Rugowski: I do need to return to the USA for employment reasons and I will make trips back to Föhr.

Zauberspiegel: If I'd ask you to name one thing you'd like the readers of the Zauberspiegel to remember about Diemtar - what would it be (apart from being larger than life)?
Karen Kuegler-Rugowski: I would like readers to know that he had a passion about the American West that persisted throughout his lifetime. I don't think that the words " burn out" ever entered his vocabulary. After our group trips out West, Dietmar continued to tell me stories. The West energized him. And he lived to share his knowledge.
If there is one thing that Dietmar would like everyone to know, it is to try to get as many younger people as possible interested in the events of the past.

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