The Healer: A new medical thriller from German-born author Christoph Fischer

My guest today is an eclectic writer of many genres: his first published book, The Luck of the Weissensteiners, the first in the Nations Trilogy, is a historical fiction, followed by Sebastian and the Black Eagle Inn. But then, German-born author Christoph Fischer went on to publish two contemporary novels, Time to Let Go and Conditions, and has just released a medical thriller, The Healer. Christoph is a prolific writer who's not afraid to explore new genres, and whose portraits of relationships capture the challenging dynamics within families and life in general. His last book, The Healer, is a spiritual journey with its good share of mystery, intrigue and corruption.

I really enjoyed reading The Healere, and here's an excerpt of my 5-star review: "Reminiscent of Paul Coelho's the Alchemist, The Healer is a beautiful tale about not just healing but also self-discovery and second-chances."

Welcome to CHIMERAS, Christoph!

EEG: You were born and raised in Germany but now live in the U.K.: what brought you there?

CF: Chance. I came to the UK during a student exchange programme in 1993. I fell in love with a Welsh man and was offered a great job in London. What was intended as a temporary stay turned into something permanent. The timings of subsequent break-ups and job changes were such that I never got round to live anywhere else (as I had originally planned). My wanderlust, however, got satisfied by working for an airline, while using the UK as my base.

EEG: Did you always write in English? If not, when did you start?

CF: Yes, I’ve always written in English. Back in 1993, when I arrived in the UK, I didn’t know any other Germans and had to speak English 24/7 right from the start. I began to think in English very quickly. My writing didn’t happen until much later. By then my German was even more under-used and rusty. My niece calls me an Englishman because she says my German has a thick English accent. A cousin of mine is currently translating “The Luck of the Weissensteiners” into German since my own attempts at it were so poor.

EEG: Interesting. I can relate to that, as my Italian friends now tease me that I no longer know how to speak proper Italian. :-) What German authors would you say influence your writing?

CF: Hermann Hesse. I adore his raw and honest writing style and his themes of authenticity and self-knowledge. Berthold Brecht wrote political, confrontational and ‘documentary stage plays’. A lot of his style has found its way into my historical novels. Siegfried Lenz is my favourite German author and I’m sure he has influenced me a lot: he writes about similar subjects as I do.

EEG: I absolutely love Hermann Hesse! Siddharta is my favorite of his. Correct me if I'm wrong, but your books seem to all rotate around family relationships: what is it that fascinates you the most about this aspect of life?

CF: I come from a large family on my mother’s side and a tiny one on my father’s. That contrast clearly has left its mark on how I see and write things. I’m not really sure I would say that I’m fascinated by family relationships as such but I may be compensating for not seeing my family abroad very often.

My new book, “The Healer”, has no family theme and neither has my next historical novel. I may have got it out of my system.

EEG: Tell us about your new book, The Healer.

CF: “The Healer” is a medical thriller about an advertising executive with nothing left to lose. She decides to try her luck with a controversial and now retired healer, but throughout their meetings new and different doubts arise and both of their pasts come into play, too. You could also call it a mystery and a psychological thriller.

EEG: Did the book represent a genre shift for you?

“The Healer” is my first thriller, which is a big genre shift from my previous historical novels and family dramas. As author I enjoyed the challenge and hope that my readers will bear with me. I’ve met a few healers in my life; some were amazingly good and some seemed more like charlatans. The ambiguity of something that can’t be measured by science and puts people into a conflict of mind and senses, faith and doubt, that seemed a fascinating premise for a book.

EEG: And that certainly makes an awesome premise! Thanks for chatting with us today and best of luck with your new release.

How to find out more about Christoph's book: visit his website, follow his blog, find him on Goodreads, Facebook, Pinterest, and Amazon.