Recently I had the distinct privilege to chat with Dutch author Koos Verkaik. Mr. Verkaik is a prolific author of novels for both children and adults and is also an accomplished musician. In this sprawling interview, we discuss his life, passions, and inspirations for writing. Whether you are a budding writer or a reader I hope you will enjoy this interview as much as I did!
Being a prolific writer, where do you find your inspiration comes from to write your various stories?
I have written stories all my life, from the age of 7. Wrote my first novel when I was 18 and it got published right away – and I had published many, many comics in weeklies when I was only 16. Often one single line is enough for me to write a novel. It can be just a thought: “What will happen is a dozen mediums concentrate on conjuring up one and the same spirit?” That is the start of The Nibelung Gold, which will be published in a few weeks. Or: “Can a little boy ever become friends with a mean wolpertinger?” So I started writing a series of children’s book, working on part 14 now and will eventually write 30 different titles. There is always inspiration, never had a writer’s block in my life.
You have written in many different genres of fiction, is there one that stands out as your favorite to write in?
No. I am used to writing different books at the same time, mostly a novel and a children’s book. In The Netherlands, one of the big publishers, De Arbeiderspers in Amsterdam, placed three words on the covers of my books to describe my genre: Magic, Mystery & Adventure. Sometimes I burst out laughing when I write Alex and The Wolpertinger books and I can look rather angry when I write dark passages for novels. I love to write about fantastic things in a normal setting. And I always explain what it is all about, I never keep my readers in the dark; after they have finished my books, they will understand everything. When you read Heavenly Vision, for instance, you really only know what it is all about after you have read the last page.
Being from Europe, do you find that the taste for fiction is the same everywhere? Or is there some fiction that does better in Europe say then America?
One of my favorite authors is Jack Vance. He is a great American writer, but I think he was more popular in Europe (here in The Netherlands, where I live, in France etc.). Books from the USA dominated the world for a long time, especially with science fiction and fantasy; horror was more European (but I immediately have to mention the great Edgar Allan Poe from Boston!). Jules Verne from France was unique and influenced many other writers. And now the world has grown smaller thanks to the internet and we notice quicker what happens in other countries.
All Father has a very interesting premise; how did you go about creating that story?
I read lots of nonfiction books and love history. For All-Father I studied the old European gods. The All-Father and Wodan and Odin are the same. Long, long ago the Germanic tribes had special feasts and ecstatic men joined the Army of The Dead that traversed the skies following Wodan with his black ravens and his white horse. It is said that the Army of The Dead was seen through the ages, even in modern times. But it goes further – in those dark ages there were parades of men who entered all houses to steal something (bread or beer, you name it), the had the right to do so on such days. That was how jesters came into being and I studied jesters as well for several novels.
All-Father is special to me. The leading character is a copywriter. Everything he writes actually happens! I have worked as a copywriter myself for a big agency in Rotterdam.
This is how the story of All-Father goes:
Peter Jonker has special gifts at his disposal. As a provoked, frightened child, he has come under the spell of master painter Poolman and his evocative, terrifying canvases. Poolman has spun gory tales about Wodan, god of the Germanic tribes, and the fearless Scandinavian berserkers. And now it seems Peter has seen the magic truth behind those sagas. In his agony, he discovers unknown talents, and soon it is said he has the possession of immortal powers! Haunted by the fantasies of his youth, the adult Peter is going downhill, and in his vulnerable state strangers intervene trying to reach their own dubious goals by taking advantage of him. Wodan is looking for him and wants him to join the Army of the Dead – Berserkers who carry death and destruction… Peter’s life becomes a choking nightmare. Is he responsible for the death of four people, or being set up by unknown forces? Brought under hypnosis, the horrible truth may come out…
All-Father will be published again by Righter’s Mill Press in Princeton and for film it is contracted by Three Corners Entertainment, also in Princeton; both companies have contracted me for 10 different titles; Mr. Al Longden (who was my former literary agent, now the president and publisher) allows me to play with the big boys now! I consider myself lucky that I know so many people in the USA now who are giving me a chance to publish.
You have been called “The Dutch Stephen King” how does that feel to be likened to such a famous author?
There was that Dutch magazine, Aktueel, that was looking for the Dutch Stephen King and in an article, they wrote that I was the one – later Penthouse picked it up and then everyone was talking about it.
And this is very curious: years later one of my agents in the USA asked me if he was allowed to show one of my manuscripts, Dance of The Jester, to Bill Thompson, the editor of the first Stephen King Books (Carry, Cujo) and the first John Grisham books. That was quite a challenge. Bill Thompson was so excited that the invited me to come to his office in the Empire State Building in New York and so I took a plane to the USA. We worked on the manuscript to make it perfect. It will be published again this year, also by Righter’s Mill Press and Three Corners have it for film rights.
Having said this all, I don’t want to be compared with anyone, I write typical Koos Verkaik books. It is just that the press in small countries like The Netherlands likes to compare native authors with writers in the ‘big USA’.
Do you have a favorite novel or author?
Many. In already mentioned Jack Vance. There are Theodore Sturgeon and Roger Zelazny. But my number one had always been Edgar Allan Poe. Not long ago I was asked to tell about him. For the people who are able to read Dutch: http://www.edgarallanpoe.nl/het-rendez-vous-met-koos-verkaik/The work of Poe is so intense. I must have read some short stories a dozen times or more.
In a few of your book ads you play music (Very well I might add) Do you listen to music to get into the mood for writing a certain type of story?
Yes, I have my own recording equipment here in my workroom and play lead and rhythm guitar, bass, drums, mouth harps and so on. And I always listen to music when I write. Bob Dylan’s Blonde On Blonde has been a favorite for years. These days I listen to Johnny Winter records, Eric Sardinas, Dave Hole, and other guitar heroes. And I play my great Fender ’63 every day! You can find some songs here: https://soundcloud.com/user-224641692
Are you working on any new books at the moment?
Finished another novel yesterday (Nicolaes Nimbus)! In Dutch, of course, so now I have to translate it. But it is already contracted by Outer Banks Publishing Group in North Carolina; they also publish my series of children’s books Saladin the Wonder Horse and Alex and The Wolpertinger and other novels. And I am working on book 14 of the Wolpertinger series. After translating the novel, I will start writing another one immediately.
Out of the more than 60 titles you have written, do you have a favorite?
I have 60 titles under my own name, more than 60 other ones under a pseudonym to make a living. I have written 4 books per month. IBM once asked me to come and write in a lab, connected to a computer, so they could see what was happening in that odd brain of mine while writing. It never happened, but it was an intriguing idea. My favorite book is always my last one and I finished Nicolaes Nimbus yesterday, a book about our scientists working on a fantastic future with artificial intelligence, and human hybrids etc. But Nicolaes Nimbus is a phenomenon from the past who might know all about eternal life. Scientists start tracking him down. This is a book for the present, a book with all ingredients for curious, modern people. But okay, my real favorite novel is Dance of The Jester – there is a lot of me in the main character, Prince Oscar Man, the crazy jester…
Lastly, what is your favorite movie?
I seldom have the patience to sit and watch a movie on TV and also seldom go to a theatre. I think The Godfather is still one of the most impressive movies made. Three Corners Entertainments is working hard with my books for film and it starts with HIM, After the UFO Crash this year. That will be a great movie. Well, let’s wait and see…
Thank you, Mr. Verkaik, for taking the time for this interview, it was a true pleasure!