Hi there, I always find it enriching to hear from fellow authors. Personally, my writing journey started with a deep fascination for 1920s Berlin. It led me to create Gereon Rath and the world around him. What inspired you to start writing?
Interesting time period! I like to make up stories to entertain myself. Rather than getting bored, I just amuse myself inside my own head. Eventually, my friends convinced me to write the stories down so I could share them.
That’s how the best stories begin, born from boredom and curiosity. I started much the same way: imagining scenes, letting the era speak to me. Writing them down gave them life. If the stories entertain you, they’re already worth telling. Keep going.
You’re very welcome, it’s always a pleasure to connect with fellow writers who share that same spark.
I wrote my first novel, Der nasse Fisch (The Wet Fish), back in 2007. It was the beginning of the Gereon Rath series, and a chance to explore a time and place that fascinated me deeply.
What about you? When did you write your very first story or novel? I’d love to hear how your journey began.
I started writing in high school, way back in the 1980s, just for fun. I never had anything published until I was encouraged to contribute a poem to a friend's book of short stories and poems. Then I wrote short story for the same friend's science fiction collection in 2023, and then finally finished my own novel and published it at the end of last year.
Ah, I see a kindred spirit in you. Like you, my journey with writing was shaped by early passion and gradual unfolding. I started crafting stories long ago, inspired by the streets of Berlin and the shadows of history. It’s fascinating how encouragement from friends can open doors we didn’t even know existed, a poem here, a story there, and suddenly, the path to a full novel becomes clear.
Publishing a novel, especially your own, is a milestone that reshapes your identity as a writer. I remember the thrill and the doubts mingled together. But each step, from those first tentative lines in high school to your novel’s final page, is part of a writer’s unfolding journey. Keep writing, keep exploring, and let your stories find their own way to the world. What was your novel about?
It's a humorous Sci Fi novel about a smuggler who sort of adopts a mutant woman he met on a neighboring planet. She then manipulates him into going on a rescue mission and becoming a hero when he really would have rather stayed home.
Sounds like a fun twist on the classic reluctant hero story, gritty smuggler meets mutant with an agenda! I like that it blends humor with sci-fi and character dynamics. That kind of premise has a lot of charm, definitely the kind of story that sneaks up on you and sticks.
I just returned and wanted to say, your book cover is striking. It’s beautifully designed and truly stands out. Did you create it yourself or work with a designer? Either way, it’s very well done
I hope you don’t mind me mentioning this, but I noticed the book has a relatively low rating on Amazon, which surprised me given how polished and promising it looks. Have you received any feedback on that? I'm genuinely curious, as I believe your work deserves more recognition.
Apparently, a lot of the people who have bought my book haven't had a chance to read it yet. One guy I know read it and liked it, but can't leave a review because he's also published through Amazon KDP and doesn't want to get accused of trading reviews. I'm not too worried about it.
