I’m glad to receive, today, Sebastian Fitzek. He has been nice to answer few of my questions. I really hope that this kind of article will be enjoyable to read to people who wanted to.

Part 1 : The author, his books, his imaginary.

• In few sentences, describe yourself to people who don’t know you yet…

My nose is a bit too big and a journalist once said I look like Harry Potter. I’m just the guy next door.

• You organize your ideas… How much time do you dedicate to write per day ?

My days are quite busy, I chose to write in a co-working space. I get a lot of ideas just by watching others. If an idea pops up in my head I wait to see if it goes away or if it sticks till the point where I can’t sleep. Then I start the research phase and plotting the story.

When I start writing I try to be very disciplined. I start at 9 in the morning the end is uncertain. I reach the pont where I realise that I’m finished for the day. During writing I am not very social, but my family and friends are aware of that.

• What connections do you got with your characters ? Are they close or far to you or your personnality ?

As a writer I need a lot of empathy. The characters I create come out of mind and my subconscious, so they are a part of me. Fortunately I am not a psychopath or murderer, that is the creative part .

• What does « writing » mean to you ? To what extent do you put your personnality in your characters ?

I am very lucky that I could shift my hobby into an actual carrer. It gives me the freedom to express my creativity and the possibilty to tell my stories to others.

Part 2 : The author, more personal things.

• Your duology « Der Augensammler » and « Der Augenjäger » is incredible. The first one is one of the best book i’ve ever read. Without spoiling the potential readers who haven’t discovered theses two books yet, i would like to know how did this idea of writing this book come ? And believe that the start can also be the end…

It’s always the case that bizarre everyday situations inspire me to create my thrillers. In fact, I know a physiotherapist who, although not blind, specializes in Shiatsu massages like Alina. At the end of her treatments she always tells me what she “read” from my body. And while I was lying on the floor one day and being kneaded by Ms. Jungbluth, I thought to myself: “What if I were a serial killer?” Ms. Jungbluth would then notice that I (fictional example;) shortly before our appointment was a woman Cellar? And so the character of Alina Gregoriev was born – a blind physiotherapist who claims that she can see into the past of her patients just by touching them.

And regarding the start and the end, every reader has to decide for him- or herself.

• The most of your books are « one shoot ». Each time, a new hero to guide us. It is important to you to change, don’t you know what to tell if you keep one character or are you annoyed to do a « saga » with one character ?

It is important to me when I have decided to follow an idea or created a character that I am in the mood to deal with it for a long time, because that is what it takes to get a book done, a long long time.

And here is a tiny spoiler, in my new book « Playlist » we will meet Alina and Zorbach again.

• The major part of one of your book happens in a boat ( « Passagier 23 » ) and the major part of another happens in a plane ( « Flugangst 7A » ), do you plan to write one book which happens in a train or something other ?

No. It is always the idea that comes first. The inspiration often comes unexpected, for example when I’m on a plane.

• You tackle specifics themes in your books, like paranoïa in « Das Paket », the dreams in « Der Nachtwandler », schizophrenia with « Die Therapie » and the trouble of the memory with « Noah par Lübbe ». Do you think that the brain is one of your best sources of inspiration ? What does attract you ?

The duality of fiction and reality just as good and evil. I get the question a lot how I am able to write such horrible and cruel things. But the reality is even worse. That is also why people are fascinated in reading those things. It gives them the chance to deal with it in a safe place, knowing they can just stop reading when they need a break. In real life there is no such thing. Ask my good friend Prof. Dr. Michael Tsokos, he sees that every day at work.

• Until this day, you wrote one book with the medical examiner « Michael Tsokos », are there other books planned with him ? Or with other authors ?

I did also write with other authors such as Vincent Kliesch « AURIS ». I like working together, there no plans right know but you never know.

• With your hindsight, now, which book marked you the most ? Which book asked you the most of research ?

That is hard to answer all of my books have an impact on myself and I try to do the research as good as I can, even if it means that I have to go to my limits.

• You surprised a lot of readers with your books, what happens inside, the final outcome… Aren’t you afraid sometimes to do too much ?

No. My readers are aware of that and would be disapointed if I change that, I guess.

Part 3 : Confessions.

• One funny anecdote to tell about one of your books ?

When I wrote « Der Heimweg » I was in the office and suddenly I heard very strange noises. In real life I am pretty much a wimp. I got scared and suddenly I heard a man talking to me. He was a craftman and my collegue forgot to tell me he was in the house. He was under my office between the walls. After I calmed myself down we had a good laugh together.

• In your life, when you aren’t writing, what are you doing ?

I like to spend time owth my family. We travel a lot together. Sometimes we take good friends with us. As my time is very limited I try to enjoy the company of the people close to me a lot. And I’m a big fan of the movies.

• If you hadn’t been an author, in which way could you have expressed yourself ?

I would daydream about being a writer. Earlier in my life I wanted to be a musician, I played the drums.

• Did you tie some friend relationship with some authors ? Which ones ?

With a bunch of them. We already talked about Michael Tsokos and Vincent Kliesch. Another very good friend of mine is Peter Prange he writes historical novels an outstandind talented person.

• Are you sociable or in your cave ? What kind of relation do you have with your friends, your family ?

I am a social person. A regular family guy. I don’t like to go to mass events, I make exeptions when I am with a friend who absolutly wants to go.

Time to go and to say many thank’s to Sebastian FITZEK and the coordinator, which handle the author public relations : SEBRINA RABOW. Good luck for the future to both of you !

You can find some of Sebastian FITZEK books right here :

Summary

No witnesses.
Twelve-year-old Josy has an inexplicable illness. She vanishes without a trace from her doctor’s office during treatment. Four years later, Josy’s father, psychiatrist Viktor Larenz, has withdrawn himself to an isolated North Sea island in order to deal with the tragedy.
No body.
Then he’s paid a surprise visit by a beautiful stranger. Anna Glass is a novelist who suffers from an unusual form of schizophrenia: all the characters she creates for her books become real to her. In her last novel she has written about a young girl with an unknown illness who has disappeared without a trace.
Where is his daughter?
Can Anna’s delusions describe Josy’s last days? Reluctantly, Viktor agrees to take on her therapy in a final attempt to uncover the truth behind his daughter’s disappearance. But very soon these sessions take a dramatic turn as the past is dragged back into the light – with terrifying consequences.

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Summary

Ready or not, here he comes…
It’s the same each time. A woman’s body is found with a ticking stopwatch clutched in her dead hand. A distraught father must find his child before the boy suffocates – and the killer takes his left eye.
Alexander Zorbach, a washed-up cop turned journalist has reported all three of the Eye Collector’s murders. But this is different. His wallet has been found next to the corpse and now he’s a suspect. The Eye Collector wants Zorbach to play.
Zorbach has exactly forty-five hours, seven minutes to save a little boy’s life. And the countdown has started…

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Summary

The only survivor of a killer known in the tabloids as ‘the hairdresser’ – because of the trophies he takes from his victims.
Or she thinks she was.
The police aren’t convinced. Nor is her husband. She never even saw her tormentor properly, but now she recognises him in every man.
Questioning her sanity, she gives up her job as a doctor in the local hospital and retreats from the world. It is better to stay at home. Quiet. Anonymous. Safe. No one can hurt her here.
And all she did was take a parcel for a neighbour.
She has no idea what she’s let into her home.

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Summary

Every year, on average 23 people disappear without a trace from cruise ships.
No one has ever come back.
Until now.
Five years ago police psychologist Martin Schwartz lost his wife and son. They were holidaying on a cruise ship when they simply vanished, the case written off as a straightforward murder-suicide.
They are not the only parent-and-child pair to have disappeared from the ship in recent years – and yet, the authorities seem unconcerned.
But when a missing girl reappears – carrying Martin’s son’s beloved teddy bear – the police won’t be able to avoid the truth that something sinister is lurking on board…

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Summary

Mats Kruger is terrified of flying. But his daughter, Nele, is about to give birth to his first grandchild, so, for once, he’s taking the risk and making the thirteen-hour flight from Buenos Aires to Berlin.
Of course, he’s taken precautions. He’s bought the five statistically safest seats on the plane, as well as seat 7A – the spot where you are most likely to die in a plane accident – so no one can sit there. Just in case.
But Mats has to give up seat 7A to another passenger. Moments later, he receives a phone call. Nele has been kidnapped. The caller has a single demand.
Convince the pilot to crash the plane. Or Nele dies.

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