ril 2010: Asking yourself what I was doing in the last year? Working on my next novel, of course, and finally, it's done. Its working title is "Hybrid". As soon as it's officially announced I will post the cover here, too. It's a novel not about Peter and Patrick and ancient cultures. Instead, it's a thriller set in Hamburg and Brasil: A journalist and a medical student investigate mysterious dead bodies and find out about secret medical experiments. Not for the weak of stomach ...!
  Two more announcements: My third book, "Projekt Atlantis" will be out as paperback mid June. Also, I'll hold to more readings end of April:  On the 28th in Lichtenstein (between Zwickau and Chemnitz) and on the 29th in Wilsdruff near Dresden. Both events will start at 8 pm, but opening is already at 6 pm, because included in the entry there is a glas of sparkling wine and a buffet. Maybe you can come?
 

Reading from "Projekt Atlantis"     28.4.2010  20:00 Waldgasthof "Alberthöhe", 09350 Lichtenstein 29.4.2010  20:00 Landhotel "Keils Gut", 01723 Wilsdruff

arch 2009: Ok, so now you can see why I will not set up a blog. I just can't manage to post regular news. At least I do so as soon as there is something to tell. And in fact, the news is: My latest novel, "Project Atlantis" is finally available.

As usual, I have also set up a website for the book, containing not only a book trailer but also a sample chapter (German only) and some background information.
Have a look here: www.projektatlantis.de and don't forget to select the English version. I hope you enjoy it!

ovember 2008: Again, quite a while has passed. So much has happened in the last couple of months. I finished the work on the manuscript for the third part of the series. It will be called "Project Atlantis". This time, my two protagonists will dive even further into the past. Literally "diving" indeed, since their ongoing search for the origin of knowledge and wisdom leads them about 3,500 meters below the sea. This third and last part of the series will come out early next year.
  In September I held the Montségur Writers' Forum Conference in Oberursel near Frankfurt for the second time. We had a great weekend, with over 80 members of the Montségur Writers' Forum attending. We listened to great readings by some of our most acclaimed writers, there were workshops, speeches and above all a lot of talks about the trade and life as a writer in general. I hope to continue the tradition of these conferences next year in September, and from what I hear most of the members look forward to it, too.
  What else is new? Oh yes, I started the work on my fourth novel. It'll be a science thriller set in Hamburg and Brazil. There will be more action, it will be faster, more dramatic and more terrifying. Let's see if you enjoy it.
  And last but not least: "Project Babylon" has now come out in Poland. Now there is next to the Dutch version a Polish version of the book's website. Also, my Polish publisher has put his own advertising trailer onto You Tube. This is really exciting!

arch 2008: Unbelievable, it's been so long since I last updated this page. Well, I'm still out there, still working on the last pages of the third novel. In the meantime, "Projekt Babylon" has come out as paperback edition, "Projekt Sakkara" is to follow this summer. I'm very happy to hear that foreign rights to the second part have been sold to seven countries so far: Estonia, The Netherlands, Spain (Spanish-speaking countries), China, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic.
My Spanish publisher has even set up his own "Projekt Sakkara"-website.
  What else can I tell you? It's been a busy time. I am spending much time on managing my writer's discussion and networking platform "Montségur Autorenforum". It's great to be in touch with so many professional writers, some of which are bestselling authors. We talk, exchange information on the craft, on the trade, we meet. In my spare time (laugh here) I am also working on a project with some of "my" members to set up an anthology. Not unlike the book "Mortification: Writers' Stories of Their Public Shame" we'll write down some of our own most embarrassing experiences. This should be fun and I am really looking forward to it. Of course, I'll also contribute. And although the book will be in German for a starter (it's mostly German authors, obviously), here's an English story of mine to give you an idea of what I am talking about, I hope you like it: Celebrity Writers

une 2007: While I am busy working on the third part of my "Project"-Series, there are finally some news on the website, too. My reading from "Project Saqqara" in the Hamburg planetarium was very successful, even though the techniqual equipment we used was quite challenging. I had a lot of fun and the 180 guests were also excited. I'm now planning to arrange more multimedia readings at the location together with some other authors. As soon as there are more details on this, I will post it here.
  On the occasion of the "Vattenfall Lesetage" (Northern Germany's largest literature festival) I was invited to join a TV talkshow, parts of which I have embedded here as a video (German only). Also, Domradio from Cologne asked my for an interview (3 MB MP3 - also in German).
  Regarding "Project Babylon" there are also some news. People keep asking about the film project. Well, no, I still don't know if it will really be made into a move. You only know for sure when shooting starts. Maybe next year, maybe never. At least I may now announce which one of the five bidders finally bought the rights to "Project Babylon": It was the renowned Neue Constantin TV.
  There are also some of the translations of "Project Babylon" available now: In Estonia, Spain, Slovakia and The Netherlands. My Spanish publisher hast produced his own book trailer. While in The Netherlands they have even set up an own website and aired two radio ads for the book:
10-seconds (MP3) and 5-seconds-reminder (MP3)
  You should also have a look at the various different covers in other countries!

arch 2007: My novel has been out for about a month now and first reactions in the press have been very positive! But I am even more excited at this moment about my upcoming reading from "Projekt Sakkara" on the 20th of April during the literature festival "Vattenfall Lesetage".
  Should you happen to be in Hamburg at that time, don't miss the book's first presentation which I will be holding at the planetarium. It's a really stunning location. And on top of my usual multimedia accompaniment, the planetarium staff will provide a small star show and talk about the "Stars of the Pharaohs".
  It will be worth a trip - and afterwards there will be a glass of wine for everyone and a chance for talks.
  Don't miss it and book your tickets in time.

"Projekt Sakkara" Website (incl. English trailer!):
http://www.projekt-sakkara.de

ecember 2006: I am pleased to announce the cover for my next novel is finally available - and once more I think it's really great! The book itself will only be out and available in the shops some time in February, so I ask you to please be patient, it will be worth your wait.

  The big surprise for me in 2006 was the incredible demand for foreign publishing rights of "Projekt Babylon". In fact, it was one of my publisher's best sellers, in the rights realm. I am grateful for the opportunity "Projekt Babylon" may have around the world and I am hopeful that "Projekt Sakkara" will continue the line of success.

  Peter Lavell and Patrick Nevreux' search for the legacies of ancient cultures, and their sources of knowledge, is not over. This time, they decide to accept an invitation to Cairo to continue the research of Sir John William Guardner, who died in the 1930s, and they soon realize that they are not the only ones following this quest...

ugust 2006: The film rights to "Projekt Babylon" have been sold! Now will I become rich and famous? Will the book become a Hollywood blockbuster? Well, certainly neither is a high probability. It's not even sure that the film will even be produced. So what does it actually mean when film rights are sold then?

  First of all, buying the film rights only means that a small upfront is paid and no-one else may buy the rights for 12 to 18 months. During this time, the acquirer tries to get the financing for the production settled and the whole setup together. Only if and when the shooting actually starts, the rights contract is disbursed. It may as well happen that the contract is withdrawn a year from now. From experience, only about one in every five rights purchases results in a movie. All I can do is wait and keep my fingers crossed for the next year or two.
  At any rate, this is very exciting and a good sign for me.

  In light of the contract disbursement being tied to shooting starting, I am not allowed to name the company who bought the right until then. Of course, I will do so as soon as I am permitted.

uly 2006: I'm so excited about my publisher! On top of the three foreign llicenses, for Estonia, Russia and The Netherlands, four more countries have bought the rights to the book: Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic  and Lithuania. An Audio Book will also be produced by Random House Audio. I'm very happy about this broad interest in the book!

  On this website there is also something new: Now, you can sign up for my newsletter. At irregular intervals, whenever there is something new and exciting to report, I'll be sending out an e-mail newsletter to whomever it may concern. Especially for readers waiting for news on the upcoming second novel of this series this may be interesting. Unfortunately, for now, my newsletter is in German only.

une 2006: I've held my first author's readings and so far, people have liked them. Lately, I was in Solingen-Ohligs, reading at the request of the Ingo Klaus bookstore. About 70 people attended, and as far as I could tell they all enjoyed their time - at least I did! Here are some photos from the event: Photos

  In the meantime I have received news from the licensing department of Random House. I learned foreign rights for "Projekt Babylon" have been sold to three countries: Estonia, Russia and The Netherlands. Further contracts are in the works. Since the book has only been out for four months now, I am especially excited about the news.

  At the beginning of the month I was asked to give an interview at Domradio in Cologne which as really exciting, too. The 8-minute interview can be downloaded here as MP3 files (in German only):

MP3 - Interview Domradio 4. June 2006, part 1 (2,6 MB)
MP3 - Interview Domradio 4. June 2006, part 2 (3,8 MB)
 

ebruary 2006: Finally, my current novel, "Projekt Babylon" is out - and it looks great! I am really proud of what my publisher has produced here and the first couple of reviews are also very positive:

  "The best German Thriller since Frank Schätzing's 'The Swarm'" noted the magazine "bücher" in its February issue.

  At the same time, the website for the book is also online (in German only):

http://www.projekt-babylon.de