Peter Kraft Interview Published on: 03, Jul 2025
After building and selling three successful tech companies, what inspired you to write the novel Unlocked, and why now?
I’ve always been fascinated by the unexplored frontiers of human potential. After years of building companies in the education and technology space, I began to wonder—what if the next great innovation wasn’t digital, but biological? Unlocked was born from that curiosity. It felt like the right time to pivot from building tech to building a story about how technology and science might unlock something extraordinary in ourselves.
How does your experience in education technology shape the narrative or themes explored in Unlocked?My work in edtech constantly reminds me how people learn, adapt, and grow when given the right tools. Unlocked reflects that optimism—but also the danger. Just as AI and learning tools can be misused, the unlocking technology in the book forces us to confront the ethical gray areas of innovation. In both cases, the question is the same: Are we ready for what we’re building?
Was there a specific moment or idea that sparked the story for Unbound?Yes. While writing Unlocked, I became fascinated by how people react when power is suddenly distributed unequally. Unbound asks: what happens when the ability to unlock potential isn’t rare anymore? The story explores the chaos and consequences that follow when this power spreads beyond labs and into the world.
Many entrepreneurs write business books—why did you choose fiction instead?Fiction gives me the freedom to explore “what if?” at a deeper, more human level. In business books, the goal is to teach. In fiction, the goal is to reveal. With Unlocked, I wanted to spark curiosity, wonder, and maybe even a little discomfort about the future we’re building.
How do the characters or plotlines in Unlocked reflect the ethical dilemmas you've faced in your career?As a tech entrepreneur, I’ve seen how innovation often outpaces regulation—and ethics. In Unlocked, Natalia Accorsi has to decide whether her breakthrough should be shared with the world or hidden away. That’s not unlike decisions I’ve had to make about whether to prioritize speed or safety, scale or substance. The dilemmas are very real.
Do you see parallels between coding or building a business and the process of writing a novel?Absolutely. In both cases, you’re starting with nothing—just a blank page or an empty repo. You build structure, logic, and momentum. You test, revise, scrap, restart. Storytelling and startup building both require vision, execution, and the humility to edit your own work.
What was the biggest challenge in transitioning from entrepreneur to author?Letting go of control. In a startup, you can guide every piece of the process. In writing fiction, the characters start making choices that surprise you. You have to trust the story. That was new for me—and freeing.
Unlocked dives into science, ambition, and the human condition—how do you balance those complex elements without overwhelming the reader?By grounding everything in character. If the reader cares about Natalia, they’ll follow her through complex ideas. I wanted the science to be intriguing, but never at the expense of the emotional arc. The real tension isn’t just in what the tech can do—it’s in what it does to the people who use it.
How much of Peter Kraft is in the characters or storyline of Unlocked?A lot more than I expected. Natalia’s moral uncertainty, Gustaf’s ambition, even Michael’s vulnerability—they’re all fragments of me at different stages of life and career. I think any first novel reveals its author, whether you mean to or not.
As someone deeply involved in technology, how do you feel about the influence of emerging tech on storytelling itself?We’re entering a new era. Tools like AI can help with outlining, editing, or even character development—but great stories will still come from human experience. What excites me more is how storytelling is becoming interactive, immersive, and immediate. That’s where tech and fiction truly converge.
Did your family—especially your kids—influence any part of the book’s development?Yes, especially my son Mac. He played a huge role in shaping the idea for Unlocked. In fact, it was Mac who first introduced me to the idea of ancient Mayan civilization and their mysterious beliefs about human potential. That spark of historical intrigue became a major thread in the novel. Our conversations about ancient knowledge and untapped abilities helped me realize this story could be much bigger than just science fiction—it could be a bridge between the wisdom of the past and the possibilities of the future.
What’s something surprising readers might learn about you from reading Unlocked?That I’m a closet romantic. For all the tech and tension in the book, it’s the relationships—Natalia’s vulnerability, her quiet moments of doubt—that readers have told me feel the most real. That surprised me, too.
How has your approach to storytelling evolved from pitch decks and boardrooms to novel writing?In a pitch deck, every word has to earn its place. That discipline helped me write lean, efficient prose. But fiction gave me the space to breathe—to dwell in moments, to let characters evolve over time. It’s been a welcome recalibration.
What do you hope readers take away from Unlocked, especially those who come from non-tech backgrounds?That technology isn’t just something “out there”—it’s deeply human. Unlocked isn’t about circuits and code. It’s about possibility, temptation, and choice. You don’t need to be a scientist to ask: what would I do if this power were real?
How has your experience of working with AllAuthor been?AllAuthor has been a great platform for helping authors connect with readers and gain visibility. I appreciate the tools they offer to promote books and engage a broader audience. It’s a valuable resource, especially for indie and emerging authors looking to build momentum.
