Sebastian Fitzek

Sebastian Fitzek
At the Leipzig book fair in 2017
At the Leipzig book fair in 2017
BornSebastian David Fitzek
(1971-10-13) October 13, 1971 (age 53)
West Berlin, West Germany
Pen nameMax Rhode
OccupationWriter
LanguageGerman
Nationality
Alma materHumboldt University of Berlin (PhD)
GenreCrime thriller
Years active2000-present
Notable worksTherapy, The Package
Children3
Website
sebastianfitzek.de

Sebastian David Fitzek (born 13 October 1971 in West Berlin) is a German writer and journalist. His first book, Therapy (dt. Die Therapie), was a bestseller in Germany in 2006, toppling The Da Vinci Code from the first position.[1] Fitzek is currently one of the most successful writers of Germany.[2]

Biography

Sebastian Fitzek was born in West Berlin, West Germany and grew up with his father, headmaster of the Lilienthal-Gymnasium in Berlin-Lichterfelde, and his mother, a teacher. After High school in Charlottenburger Wald-Gymnasium, Fitzek started studying veterinary, but stopped after 3 months. He attended law school until the first state examination, earned his doctorate degree in copyright and worked then as editor-in-chief and program director for different radio stations in Germany.[3]

He wrote his first book titled Professor Udolphs Buch der Namen with Jürgen Udolph, which came out in 2005. Since 2006, Fitzek started to write psycho-thriller novels, which all became a best-seller.

His very first novel was Therapy (dt. Die Therapie). He got his idea for Therapy in 2000 while waiting for a girlfriend in the waiting room of an orthopedist's office. It contains similar themes to the urban legend the Vanishing Hotel Room (also known as The Vanishing Lady), however, inspiration from the story has not been officially confirmed. After 13 cancellations from different editors, he finally released his book in July, 2006 under Droemer Knaur Verlag. The Odeon Film AG bought the movie rights for Therapy and it was subsequently turned into a TV series in 2023. In 2007, Therapy was nominated for best crime-debut for the Friedrich-Glauser-Award.

His next novel, Amok game. (dt. Amokspiel.), was released in 2007 and Goldkind Film AG bought the movie rights for it. In 2012, his very first film version of The Child (dt. Das Kind) came out.

On 29 October 2016, he published his book The Package (dt. Das Paket.).

In 2017, he published EightNight. (dt. AchtNacht.) and his first children's book called Pupsi & Stinki together with illustrator Jörn Stollmann. In 2017, EightNight was the bestselling work of fiction in Germany.

In 2018, The Package was the bestselling work of fiction in Germany. The Inmate (dt. Der Insasse) peaked at number 3.

Near the end of February 2018, he created the Viktor Crime Awards, where a new voice for thriller and crime literature would be awarded. The first winner was writer Michaela Kastel with So Dark the Forest (dt. So dunkel der Wald).

In November, 2020 The Package was published in English by Head of Zeus, translated by Jamie Bulloch.

Influences

According to Fitzek himself, he was inspired by Enid Blyton, Michael Ende and Alfred Weidemann during his childhood and later by Stephen King, Michael Crichton and John Grisham. Today, he reads everything written by Harlan Coben.

Personal life

Sebastian Fitzek lives in Berlin. He married his wife in 2010. In August 2019, he announced his separation from his wife via Facebook. Fitzek has 3 children.[4]

Works

Fiction (Psychothriller)

Year Original Title English version ISBN Editor Genre Writer Ref.
2006 Die Therapie Therapy (transl. by Sally-Ann Spencer) 978-3-426-63309-0 Knaur Taschenbuchverlag Psycho-thriller Sebastian Fitzek [5]
2007 Amokspiel. Amok (transl. by Jamie Lee Searle) 978-3-426-63718-0 [6]
2008 Das Kind. The Child (transl. by John Brownjohn) 978-3-426-63793-7 [7]
Der Seelenbrecher. The Soul Breaker (transl. by John Brownjohn) 978-3-426-63792-0 [8]
2010 Splitter. Splinter (transl. by John Brownjohn) 978-3-426-50372-0 [9]
2011 Der Augensammler. The Eye Collector (transl. by John Brownjohn) 978-3-426-50375-1 [10]
Nicht einschlafen (Shortstory) Do not fall asleep ASIN B0076OCDU8 [11]
2012 Der Augenjäger. The Eye Hunter 978-3-426-50373-7 [12]
2013 Der Nachtwandler. The Nightwalker (transl. by Jamie Lee Searle) 978-3-426-50374-4 [13]
Noah. Noah 978-3-404-17878-0 Bastei Lübbe [14]
2014 Passagier 23. Passenger 23 (transl. by Jamie Bulloch) 978-3-426-51017-9 Knaur Taschenbuchverlag [15]
2015 Die Blutschule. The blood school 978-3-404-17502-4 Bastei Lübbe Max Rhode (Pseudonym) [16]
Das Joshua-Profil. The Joshua-profile 978-3-404-17948-0 Sebastian Fitzek [17]
2016 Das Paket. The Package (transl. by Jamie Bulloch) 978-3-426-51018-6 Droemer Knaur Verlag [18]
2017 AchtNacht. EightNight 978-3-426-52108-3 Knaur Taschenbuchverlag [19]
Flugangst 7a. Seat 7a (transl. by Steve Anderson) 978-3-426-51019-3 Droemer Knaur Verlag [20]
2018 Der Insasse. The Inmate (transl. by Jamie Bulloch) 978-3-426-51944-8 [21]
2019 Das Geschenk. The Present (transl. by Jamie Bulloch) 978-3-426-28154-3 [22]
2020 Der Heimweg. Walk Me Home (transl. by Jamie Bulloch) 978-3-426-28155-0 [23]
2021 Playlist. 978-3-426-28156-7
2022 Mimik 978-3-426-28157-4
2023 Die Einladung 978-3-426-28158-1

Fiction (Collaboration)

Year Original Title English version ISBN Editor Genre Writer Ref.
2008 Tierische Helden. Animal Heroes ASIN B0038JPIBQ Der Club Verlag Non-fiction Charlotte Link, Sebastian Fitzek, Iny Lorentz, Jeffery Deaver, Amy Tan, Wolf Serno, Elke Heidenreich, Eva Völler (and many more) [24]
2009 Tödliche Gaben. Deadly Gifts 978-3499-25783-4 Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag Crime Simon Beckett, Linwood Barclay, Sebastian Fitzek, Chris Mooney, Jay Bonansinga, Felicitas Mayall, Leena Lehtolainen, Kate Pepper, Oliver Bottini, Veit Heinichen, Friedrich Ani. [25]
2010 Weisser Schnee, rotes Blut: Mörderisch gute Weihnachtsgeschichten. White Snow, red blood: Murderous good Christmas-Stories 978-3550-08741-7 Ullstein Hardcover Verlag Friedrich Ani, Anne Chaplet, Zoran Drvenkar, Sebastian Fitzek, Elisabeth Herrmann, Robert Hültner, Linus Reichlin, Andrea Maria Schenkel, Heinrich Steinfest, Michael Theurillat, Jan Costin Wagner. [26]
P.S. Ich töte dich. P.S. I kill you. 978-3-426-50857-2 Knaur TB Verlag Thriller Sebastian Fitzek, Val McDermid, Thomas Thiemeyer, Torkil Damhaug, Petra Busch,

Michael Connelly, Markus Heitz, Michael Koryta, Steve Mosby, Judith Merchant, Jens Lapidus, Markus Stromiedel, Jilliane Hoffman.

[27]
2012 Abgeschnitten. Cut off. 978-3-426-51091-9 Sebastian Fitzek, Michael Tsokos [28]
2016 Mord am Hellweg VIII. (Glaube.Liebe.Leichenschau) Murder on Hellweg VIII. 978-3894-25474-2 GRAFIT Verlag Crime Bernhard Aichner, Mechtild Borrmann, Horst Eckert, Jürgen Ehlers, Sebastian Fitzek, Frl. Krise und Frau Freitag, Sascha Gutzeit, Georg Haderer, Kathrin Heinrichs, Carsten Sebastian Henn, Elisabeth Herrmann, Susanne Kliem, Ria Klug, Judith Merchant, Gisa Pauly, Till Raether, Arno Strobel, Su Turhan, Matthias Wittekindt, Rainer Wittkamp, Jörg Steinleitner, Christa Bernuth, Theresa Prammer [29]
2019 Auris. Auris 978-3-426-30718-2 Droemer TB Verlag Thriller Writer: Vincent Kliesch / Idea: Sebastian Fitzek [30]
2020 Auris 2. — "Die Frequenz des Todes" Auris 2. - "The frequency of death" 978-3-426-30760-1 [31]
Identität 1142 Identity 1142 978-3-426-28266-3 Droemer HC Verlag Crime Wulf Dorn, Andreas Gruber, Romy Hausmann, Daniel Holbe, Vincent Kliesch, Charlotte Link, Ursula Poznanski, Frank Schätzing, Michael Tsokos, Sebastian Fitzek, Melanie Bottke, Annika Bühnemann, Livia Fröhlich, Saskia Hehl, Robert Hönatsch, Vanessa Krypczyk, Pia Schmidt, Anne Schmitz, Julian Gabriel Schneider, Mordechai SImons, Gabriele Störzinger, Kathy Tailor, Michael Thode [32]

Non-Fiction

Year Original Title English translation ISBN Editor Writer Ref.
2000 Die unbekannte Nutzungsart The Unknown Type Of Use 978-3830-50096-4 Berliner Wissenschaftsverlag Sebastian Fitzek [33]
2002 Die 10 grössten Radio-Geheimnisse The 10 Biggest Radio-Secrets 978-3831-11219-7 Books On Demand Rüdiger Kreklau, Sebastian Fitzek [34]
2005 Professor Udolphs Buch der Namen: Woher sie kommen – Was sie bedeuten Professor Udolph's Book of Names: Where They Come From - What They Mean 978-3-570-00879-9 C. Bertelsmann Verlag Jürgen Udolph, Sebastian Fitzek [35]
2017 Pupsi & Stinki Pupsi & Stinki 978-3629-14237-5 Pattloch Geschenkbuch Writer: Sebastian Fitzek / Illustrator: Jörn Stollmann [36]
2019 Fische, die auf Bäume klettern. Fish climbing trees 978-3426-79052-6 Droemer HC Verlag Sebastian Fitzek [37]

Audio books

Year Original Title English version Speaker Ref.
2007 Die Therapie Therapy Simon Jäger [38]
Amokspiel. Amok game [38]
Das Kind. The Child [38]
2008 Der Seelenbrecher. The Soul Breaker Simon Jäger, Sebastian Fitzek [38]
2009 Splitter. Splinter Simon Jäger [38]
2010 Der Augensammler. The Eye Collector [38]
2011 Der Augenjäger. The Eye Hunter [38]
2013 Der Nachtwandler. The Nightwalker [38]
Noah. Noah [38]
2014 Passagier 23. Passenger 23 [38]
2015 Das Joshua-Profil. The Joshua-Profile [38]
2016 Das Paket The Package [38]
2017 AchtNacht. EightNight [38]
Flugangst 7a. Seat 7a [38]
2018 Der Insasse. The Inmate [38]
2019 Das Geschenk. The Present [38]
2020 Der Heimweg. Walk Me Home [38]

Film versions

Film

Year Title Director Cast Ref.
2012 The Child [de] Zsolt Bács [de] Eric Roberts, Christian Traeumer, Sunny Mabrey, Ben Becker, Peter Greene, Reiner Schöne, Clemens Schick, Dieter Hallervorden [39]
2018 Das Joshua-Profil Jochen Alexander Freydank Torben Liebrecht, Lina Hüesker, Franziska Weisz, Armin Rohde, Inez Bjørg David, Max Hopp, Katy Karrenbauer, David Nathan [40]
Cut Off Christian Alvart Moritz Bleibtreu, Jasna Fritzi Bauer, Lars Eidinger, Fahri Yardım, Barbara Prakopenka [41]
Amok [de] Oliver Schmitz Franziska Weisz, Kai Schumann [de], Eko Fresh, Manuel Mairhofer, Lena Reinhold, Nicki von Tempelhoff [de], Johann von Bülow, Christian Tramitz [42]
Passagier 23 —Verschwunden auf hoher See Alexander Dierbach Lucas Gregorowicz, Oliver Mommsen, Picco von Groote, Kim Riedle, Annalee Ranft, Liane Forestieri, Judy Winter [43]

Theater shows

Year Original Title Director Cast Ref.
2019 Der Seelenbrecher. Benjamin Breutel Moritz Stursberg, Moritz Heiermann, Jens Kalkhorst, Miriam Kalkreuth, Stephanie Spichala, Denny Pflanz, Doris Hartmann, Niklas Selz [44]
2016 Die Therapie. Wolfgang Rumpf Thomas Linke, Esther Esche, Silvio Hildebrandt, Martha Tham, Paulina Stöhr [45]
Passagier 23. Thomas Wingrich Silvio Hildebrandt, Katrin Martin, Vera Müller, Charlotte Neef, Katharina Zapatka, Helene Jany, Marlene Müller, Pauline Stöhr, Martha Tham, Josephine Nahrstedt, Greta Ipfelkofer, Alexandra Maria Johannknecht, Susanne Meyer, Carmen Zehentmeier, Matti Wien, André Zimmermann, Alejandro Ramon Alonso, Jean Maesér, Maria Jany, Gundula Piepenbring, Kristin Schulze, Jeanniene Gaspar, Nicole Bunge, Peter Dulke, Shero Khalil [46]
2019 Das Paket. Marc Gruppe Unknown [47]

Board and card games

Year Name Publisher Creator Ref.
2017 Safehouse moses Verlag Marco Teubner [48]
2018 Black Stories - Sebastian Fitzek Edition Bernhard Skopnik [49]
2019 Safehouse - Das Würfelspiel Marco Teubner [50]
2019 Killercruise [51]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2007 Friedrich-Glauser-Awards Best Crime-Debut Die Therapie Nominated [52]
2010 LovelyBooks Awards Tension (Crime & Thriller) Der Augensammler. Won [53]
2011 Der Augenjäger. Won [53]
2012 Abgeschnitten. Won [53]
2014 Crime & Thriller Passagier 23. Won [53]
2015 Das Joshua-Profil. Won [53]
2016 European Crime Fiction Star Award Best Crime Fiction Writer HImself Won [54]
LovelyBooks Awards Crime & Thriller Das Paket. Won [53]
Best Audio Book Won [53]
Best Book Cover Won [53]
2017 European Crime Fiction Star Award Best Crime Fiction Writer Himself Won [55]
LovelyBooks Awards Crime & Thriller Flugangst 7a. Won [53]
Best Audio Book Won [53]
2018 Crime & Thriller Der Insasse. Won [53]
2019 Das Geschenk. Won [53]

References

  1. ^ "Reviews: Fitzek, Sebastian - 'Therapy' (translated by Sally-Ann Spencer)". Euro Crime. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Buchtipp: "Das Geschenk": Sebastian Fitzek – Der Rockstar unter den Romanautoren". www.handelsblatt.com (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  3. ^ "Schreiben als Therapie". DIE WELT. 2006-08-26. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  4. ^ WELT (2019-08-05). "Sebastian Fitzek trennt sich von seiner Ehefrau". DIE WELT. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  5. ^ "Die Therapie". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  6. ^ "Amokspiel". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  7. ^ "Das Kind". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  8. ^ "Der Seelenbrecher". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  9. ^ "Splitter". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  10. ^ "Der Augensammler". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  11. ^ "Nicht einschlafen von Sebastian Fitzek bei LovelyBooks (Sonstiges)". LovelyBooks (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  12. ^ "Der Augenjäger". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  13. ^ "Der Nachtwandler". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  14. ^ "Noah". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  15. ^ "Passagier 23". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  16. ^ "Die Blutschule". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  17. ^ "Das Joshua-Profil". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  18. ^ "Das Paket". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  19. ^ "AchtNacht". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  20. ^ "Flugangst 7a". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  21. ^ "Der Insasse". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  22. ^ "Das Geschenk". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  23. ^ "Der Heimweg". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  24. ^ "Tierische Helden". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  25. ^ "Tödliche Gaben". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  26. ^ "Weißer Schnee, rotes Blut". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  27. ^ "P.S. Ich töte dich". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  28. ^ "Abgeschnitten". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  29. ^ "Mord am Hellweg VII". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  30. ^ "Auris". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  31. ^ "Auris 2". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  32. ^ "Identität 1142". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  33. ^ "Die unbekannte Nutzungsart von Sebastian Fitzek bei LovelyBooks (Sachbuch)". LovelyBooks (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  34. ^ Kreklau, R.; Fitzek, S. Die 10 grössten Radio Geheimnisse.
  35. ^ Udolph, Jürgen; Fitzek, Sebastian. Professor Udolphs Buch der Namen: Woher sie kommen - Was sie bedeuten.
  36. ^ "Pupsi & Stinki". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  37. ^ "Fische, die auf Bäume klettern". Sebastian Fitzek (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Audible.com | Unlock a listen for every moment.
  39. ^ "Das Kind". Sebastian Fitzek. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  40. ^ "Das Joshua Profil". Sebastian Fitzek. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  41. ^ "Abgeschnitten". Sebastian Fitzek. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  42. ^ "Amokspiel". Sebastian Fitzek. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  43. ^ "Passagier 23". Sebastian Fitzek. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  44. ^ "TalTonTHEATER - Komödie ° Klassiker ° Revue ° Late Night ° Musical ... - Der Seelenbrecher". www.taltontheater.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  45. ^ "Die Therapie – Berliner Kriminal Theater" (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  46. ^ "Passagier 23 – Berliner Kriminal Theater" (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  47. ^ "Das Paket / Fitzek, Sebastian / Gruppe, Marc - VVB". www.vvb.de. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  48. ^ "Safehouse". Sebastian Fitzek. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  49. ^ "Black Stories - Sebastian Fitzek Edition". Sebastian Fitzek. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  50. ^ "Safehouse - Das Würfelspiel". Sebastian Fitzek. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  51. ^ "Killercruise". Sebastian Fitzek. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  52. ^ "Sebastian Fitzek - SYNDIKAT e.V." www.das-syndikat.com. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Vorfreude auf den Leserpreis 2020". LovelyBooks. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  54. ^ "Europäischer Preis für Kriminalliteratur!!!". Sebastian Fitzek. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  55. ^ "Sebastian Fitzek erhält europäischen Krimi-Preis". HAZ – Hannoversche Allgemeine (in German). Retrieved 2020-10-08.