Andreas Wisst was born in Brühl near Cologne, Germany. As a child, his parents moved to Göppingen, a city close to Stuttgart in the south of Germany. He and his wife, Katrin, live in Göppingen adjacent to a Nature Reserve.

History and stories have fascinated Andreas since his earliest youth. This fascination attracted insights from science and research as well as unconventional theories and parascience ideas. Andreas still maintains a burning interest and indestructible curiosity for youth literature even as an adult. With his debut novel, Leas Erbe: Sterne Blut (Lea’s Heritage – Star Blood Vol. 1), he realized his long-cherished desire to write a novel that he would like to read and share with others, an all-age adventure that unites his favorite genres. He combines sci-fi, dystopia and fantasy into an exciting story in which romance cannot be missing.

Visit Andreas Wisst’s website and Amazon Author Page.
You can also find Andreas on Twitter.
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What motivates you to write and how did you get started?

The perhaps naive thought of reaching people and changing something in this world. I want to make my readers think for themselves and build an independent view of the world. Since the mistakes and misfortunes of this world are mostly due to insufficient reflection and to uncritical acceptance of given information.

I started very slowly with little notes and short stories. For a long time, there was no fiery thought that would have had the power to take me away like a hurricane and carry me into a longer novel. This long awaited igniting spark was the story of the German-French family of my wife; with a French grandfather who had been a member of the Resistance Army and a German grandfather imprisoned by the Nazis.

What’s most rewarding about writing?

To immerse in my thoughts and to create an adventure filled with different characters of my imagination that may arouse all emotions in me.

What’s your favorite genre and why?

Dystopian science fiction with a touch of fantasy.

I am a forward-thinking person. We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it and influence the future through active interaction with our present. On the one hand, it somehow ties me to my experience and the present, while on the other, it gives me all the freedom of “what if” when writing. Apart from the fact that this genre fits perfectly with my great interest in technology and research, where the dark tones of a dystopia allow many tensions, while the elements of the fantasy genre gives the little romantic part of me a good stage.

Where do your characters come from?

Like little vampires, my characters suck their existence from the people out of daily life or news. Those who had the misfortune to attract my attention, in good as in bad, will finish between the pages. The quotes on the cups for the authors are real!

Who is an author who inspires you and why?

To name but one of many, George Orwell and his dystopian novel “1984”.

The novel, written in 1949, today receives a scary timeliness. Secret surveillance is a big buzzword and brainwashing is in full swing. History should teach us better, but people are again victims of deception, misleading terminology and manipulation. With shocking ease, they are encouraged to oppress and fight each other with incredible wickedness and cruelty.

What do you look for in other people’s books?

A well thought-out plot that leads to a credible story and characters. My favourite is a mixture of action, dark conspiracies and a threatened love.

What are you writing now?

The third volume of my five-volume dystopia, which will be released in 2019. In addition, countless notes for two novels independent of this project, which stack in a holding pattern.

What kind of book would you like to be known for?

Stories that take the readers from everyday life into a fantastic world, where they will find a bunch of friends, family and enemies for an enjoyable and thrilling time.

What has writing taught you about yourself?

That I am a lot more stress-resistant than I thought.

How has your life experience influenced your writing?

From every encounter and every event, I take something with me. Starting with the school time and regattas in my youth, through my professional career and the more or less complex people I have met there privately or professionally, I believe that I have come to know a wealth of behaviours and reactions. A knowledge that not only makes it much easier for me to view situations and people without prejudice, but also to create and harmonize plots and characters.

11. What encouraging advice can you offer new writers? ***
It is important to write and read a lot. Routine and skill come through practice, which also brings the ideas and creativity. Never give up and do not get discouraged, even by mistakes. It is essential to learn from mistakes, not to let you destroy by them.

Remember every time that you are frustrated: Everyone makes mistakes! Everything else is a lie or showing-off.

Publishing is a stressful and tough world, and there are many who want to discourage you. That is why it is so important to exchange with others and to support other authors. We may have different backgrounds and prefer different genres, but we all are a big family that has to stick together and that allows you to make wonderful friends.