Koos Verkaik may be one of the most prolific writers you’ve never heard of. A citizen of the Netherlands, he has been published in one format or another, starting with his comic strip, Scotty Clay at the age of sixteen. His latest work explores a topic that has crossed many a mind, especially recently, what if corporations truly took over the world. I was given the opportunity to conduct an interview via email with Mr. Verkaik, and because it is all written word, this interview captures his unique style.
Looking at the novels that are available on Amazon you have written, I have noticed a couple of ongoing themes. And I am curious why the jester is such an important symbol for you?
As a kid, I was confronted with the stories of a mythic figure in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany; Tijl Uilenspiegel. A fantastic medieval jester. The figure intrigued me, scared me, and inspired me.
A (court) jester can say and do as he pleases without getting punished.
When I write novels, I feel like a jester myself – I can tell what I want. You can read my books as pure entertainment – magic, mystery, and adventure – but when you are able to read between the lines, you will also understand my opinion about life, about the Big Questions.
In a recent essay about me, historian Max Moragie wrote:
“Anyone who has read or reread a novel by Koos Verkaik (I am now re-reading it for the second time) has enjoyed a story that continues to fascinate and surprise, even if you know the outcome, but is also encouraged to muse about the essence of existence. A pulp writer doesn’t make you think like that, sometimes a literary author, but apparently a Verkaik always does.”
What fascinates you so much about Teutonic mythology that you incorporated it into several of your urban fantasy novels?
It is about the origin of everything – rituals, habits, sagas, stories; where does it all come from, how did it start? I live on the old ground here in The Netherlands, the Germanic tribes were here, the Celts, the Romans.
In my novel All-Father, I write about Wodan (Odin) riding the skies with his Army of the Dead. Men covered their faces with soot and got themselves into a trance; that way they joined the Army of the Dead and followed Wodan.
These men also roamed the villages and had ‘the right to steal’; they went into the houses and took things away, like a piece of bread, some fruit, or some beer – this was the origin of the jester! The man with the fool’s cap and the bells who can go as he pleases.
It is our entire history that fascinates me.
Scientists and wealthy owners of high-tech companies have pumped millions of dollars into the search for immortality. But does the future look bright or is there disaster waiting behind the horizon of time? The world is getting more complicated by the day, but who’s actually in charge?
A group of scientists in Germany has unmasked a cheating visionary. An intriguing phenomenon from the past turns up. Who is Nicolaes Nimbus? Is he an immortal man of flesh and blood from our ancient past? The hunt is on! The secret is priceless! Who is in control, the scientists or the mystic? The novel embraces modern developments… and warns against ancient magic that never dies, waiting for the right time to manifest itself.
With the average person, no matter what country or political affiliation they seem to have, becoming more and more aware of corporate involvement with their governments, how does your new novel, Dance of The Jester interpret this awareness that has spread so much over the globe?
Greed – that is what it is all about. Money and power.
This is what Dance of the Jester is about:
Suddenly, at the end of the twenty-first century, the world changes.
The tycoons rule and name themselves kings. It Is a time of extravagance and decadence, extreme power and richness.
The world is one big party.
And there is chaos!
No one seems to wonder how this all had come to be.
No one seems to wonder what is actually happening.
No one seems to care about anything anymore.
Except for Oscar Man (the jester!), the illegitimate son of a tycoon, Otto Man.
The Dance of The Jester is an intriguing novel that runs parallels with the reality today, and contains strong elements of future predictability which are subtlety revealed especially to those with discernment and who are able to read between the lines…
Tycoons rule the world (business first, no matter what).
24/7 festivities for all people all over the globe (unlimited bread and games).
The ones who rule are the ones who divide the cake (only the tycoons themselves benefit).
Everything around you changes (and there is nothing you can do about it).
It is all about more monetary gains and greed, and the lust for ultimate power!
Those who hold the power shall deliberate and plan about your future (except you are not invited).
The runaway train of greed has left the station (and no one is able to stop it).
Governments have disappeared (powerful bankers in collusion with business corporates have come to the throne).
A colorful world from the outside (yet grey and dull becomes the reality as experienced from the inside).
We all knew deep down in our conscious awareness that this would happen someday (and now the signs are doing the telling that it has all already begun).
The entire world has gone raving mad (and only a jester can change things around).
–From “Dance of The Jester” preview.
With your current children’s series about Saladin, and another children’s series announced, why is it the goal for these two series at 30 books each?
Yes, I intend to write 30 books about Alex and the Wolpertinger. I am working on book 14 now. The first 7 books will be published in a couple of days. First in English, later there will be translations in Spanish, French, Hindi, Russian and Japanese – all contracts already signed.
Little Alex, a medieval son of a tinker, leaves home and enters a kingdom ruled by giants. Magical wolpertingers visit this kingdom. Wolpertingers come from the mysterious Downhills, where monsters and dragons live. Everyone is afraid of wolpertingers. But then there is a real friendship between little Alex and Ludo the wolpertinger. I work hard on this series, I really love the characters.
As an author who uses mythology and symbolism throughout his works, why do you think archetypes such as the gesture, the primitive human, and the dark vigilante, and characters like them still have such a hold on people’s imaginations throughout popular entertainment and literature?
I can be very clear about that. In this technical world, we can all use that magic, mystery, and adventure. And our past is always interesting, it tells so much about ourselves, about how we have become what we are. I have a couple of thousand books here in my workroom and I read nonfiction every day. The dark ages are full of interesting figures and stories. In Dance of the Jester, I also write about the Renaissance, and in Legio, I write about the Aztecs. Alchemy is just as interesting as real science. In HIM, After the UFO crash, I write about the Sixties. Our past is one big treasure and everyone loves to read good stories about things that happened or could have happened a long, long time ago.
What has the journey been like for you getting Dance of The Jester published and to the public?
Again that word; magic! My first novel was published when I was only 18 years of age. The printer invited me to come and watch my book getting printed. Magic! A couple of weeks later I saw my own book in a window shop. Magic! Now, about 70 books later, I still get excited when a publisher sends me a new book. And Dance of The Jester is special to me, very special! I was invited to New York by Bill Thompson, the editor of Stephen King and John Grisham, to discuss this novel and we worked together on the plot. I think this is one of my best books. Seeing it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and so on, gives me such a good feeling. The book is there, the story is told. I am up to new work because I write every day and never had writer’s block.
What can we look forward to from you in the near future?
Recently I signed 12 new contracts. New novels to come: Legio has been published this week, other books will come soon: Mortals & Gods, Merlin and Mephisto, Nickel Dime Boulevard, and more. I have other books ready and my new one already counts 75,000 words – it will finally count about 100,000 words. Most of my books will also be translated, mainly in French, Spanish, and Hindi. My publishers take good care of me. HIM, After the UFO Crash is also available for film, thanks to Three Corners Entertainment in Princeton; they contracted it and are busy now selling it to a film company. Exciting times! I also try to get animation studios interested in my Alex and the Wolpertinger project.
The pile of books is growing.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to tell everyone about my work, greetings from The Netherlands!
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