Ask the Author: Bernard Jan
Answered Questions (16)
Bernard Jan
Thanks for your question, Mark! The more I think of it the harder the answer is. When I fell in love with books, I was young and loved certain kinds of books, which changed over time. But from the first book I've read by Stephen King to this day, I can say he is my number one writer and influencer. Accompanied by Dean Koontz and many, many others. I have adopted some of his writing style (especially in paying attention to detail) in Cruel Summer. But through reading thousands of thousands and watching many movies, I formed my style, which is emotionally charged give-me-a-hankie beautifully written, cinematic stories. Passion and emotions are what ticks best with me and I enjoy reading and writing such books the most. Add a little drama, mystery, and suspense to it, and you have a perfect read!
Bernard Jan
The next morning, I wake up as usual. I am alive and nothing has changed, the same old routine.
Bernard Jan
Maybe it can be a mystery of surviving a few earthquakes in time of pandemics and family issues when I didn’t lose my mind from anxiety and fear for my old and sick parents. This was a real testing time for me with consequences I still feel today.
Bernard Jan
Hi Cassandra, thank you very much for reaching out and showing interest in my YA cross-genre novel Cruel Summer. At this point I am afraid I won't have physical copies available for reviews. This is mostly because of very expensive shipping costs for getting books from Germany to Croatia and then from Croatia to overseas. And Cruel Summer has over 128,000 words, which means it is a bit longer read. But if you have someone who will really really want to have a physical copy and review the book, please shoot me a message in my inbox here and I will see if I can make an exception or two when the book is out. I would love to send as many books as possible to teens because I believe, I am sure, they would love the book, if only I wasn't limited with my budget. Advance reader copies as PDF or mobi are not a problem, or later when the book is published. I hope we will work out something and looking forward to hearing from you. 🙂
Bernard Jan
Thank you for your kind words! It's nice of you to say that. Since I was a kid I had more dreams, but writing stuck with me because it came most naturally and it was the easiest way to express what I felt and cared about. As I grew up, many various authors from different genres influenced me. The books which thrilled me or tore me apart from the inside made the biggest impact on me. Emotional, passionate and nice writing. Then I discovered indie authors and the whole new specter opened before me. Today, my biggest inspiration are all authors who keep writing and sharing their beautiful stories with us, knowing their books might never succeed to the rank of best sellers but despite that persuading their dream, passion and perseverance to share what they love with those/us who appreciate it.
Bernard Jan
Hi Lori! Thank you very much for your interest in January River! This book is not available in English yet although the manuscript is translated but needs editing. I am planning on working on it after I'm done with my second novella Look For Me Under the Rainbow sometimes next year, if everything goes according to plan. I kindly ask you for a little patience, I hope you won't regret it! 😊
Bernard Jan
My most recent book published in Croatian is not also my most recent book I wrote. Nonetheless, I got an idea for this book (Cruel Summer, still not published in English) from my personal experience. For years I've been hanging with skateboarders and rollerbladers in Zagreb and it was rather cool and new experience to me. I wanted to write a story about them, so I "transferred" some moments, characters and events to New York City where Cruel Summer is taking place.
My most recent and only book so far published in English (A World Without Color released as an e-book on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited on July 1, 2017 ) is a true story about the last three days I spent with my cat, so again the very intimate personal experience was idea for my book.
My most recent and only book so far published in English (A World Without Color released as an e-book on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited on July 1, 2017 ) is a true story about the last three days I spent with my cat, so again the very intimate personal experience was idea for my book.
Bernard Jan
That is a bit tricky question because I know for sure where I wouldn't go.
Whilst I wouldn't go to a fictional world where the wars are raging and big battles are fought for salvation of mankind (sorry, I have such news enough in the real world), I would go to a fictional world where I could help an individual. To help correct injustice, to help the protagonist deal with his issues or to save someone (like Michael in my in English unpublished novel Cruel Summer or a harp seal pup Danny in my novella Look For Me Under the Rainbow; just to name those closest to me).
From some unknown reason I am also attracted to vampire stories (maybe because some authors romanticize them too much), alien stories where aliens are not our enemies but friends (which is my perception of the worlds outside our galaxy), stories which give me the opportunity to explore and try something new. But no wizardry, fighting dragons, mass destruction.
I would opt to travel to a fictional book world where I could do a positive impact on an individual and his world on a smaller scale, make small waves which may turn into something bigger with time, even at the cost of my own life if necessary. Looks I cannot go against myself even in the fictional world, haha! 😄
Whilst I wouldn't go to a fictional world where the wars are raging and big battles are fought for salvation of mankind (sorry, I have such news enough in the real world), I would go to a fictional world where I could help an individual. To help correct injustice, to help the protagonist deal with his issues or to save someone (like Michael in my in English unpublished novel Cruel Summer or a harp seal pup Danny in my novella Look For Me Under the Rainbow; just to name those closest to me).
From some unknown reason I am also attracted to vampire stories (maybe because some authors romanticize them too much), alien stories where aliens are not our enemies but friends (which is my perception of the worlds outside our galaxy), stories which give me the opportunity to explore and try something new. But no wizardry, fighting dragons, mass destruction.
I would opt to travel to a fictional book world where I could do a positive impact on an individual and his world on a smaller scale, make small waves which may turn into something bigger with time, even at the cost of my own life if necessary. Looks I cannot go against myself even in the fictional world, haha! 😄
Bernard Jan
Things that touch and move me deeply is what I write about. Whether it is something I personally experience or something else I find worthy sharing with others. I hardly write just for the sake of writing. I need to experience it with my body, mind and emotions. Then I am ready to speak about it. I am not a typical commercial writer, I guess.
Bernard Jan
Keep the fire burning. Even and especially when you come to many obstacles. Just keep on going, for you have caring people along the way who will help you reach your goals.
Bernard Jan
Sure, Nina, it's done! Thanks for the message.
Bernard Jan
I am currently working on self-publishing of my first indie novella "A World Without Color" and I am atm formatting it. Everyone interested in reading the first few pages can do that on my website www.bernardjan.com. ;)
Bernard Jan
The best thing about being a writer is to be whoever you want to be wherever you want to be at any moment you want to be. It is even better if you get to put it down on paper one day and share your gift with others who crave for such kind of experience!
Bernard Jan
I get into a counter-attack! I block it, hehehe! And I keep fantasizing about the places and situations I will never be in but which might one day turn into a fictional world I'd share with others.
Bernard Jan
I have "Holy Cow" sitting on my table for months already, shame on me!! (Putting my hands over my eyes.) I know about "Hell or Highwater"! I listened to the album on Amazon, was really surprise by his musical talent. I really can't wait to get to his book to see what kind of writer he is. As an actor he bought me with The X-Files, one of my favorite all-time TV shows. I see you will have more exciting summer than me; I will be dealing mostly with my novella! And occasional few pages I get to read while riding on a tram on my way to work and back, or before bed, or when I get sick and tired of everything but reading books. ;)
Bernard Jan
To be honest, most of the summer I will market my first book "A World Without Color" I am publishing as an indie author, and I really look forward to seeing it coming out soon! :-)
As for the reading books, at the moment I have 112 books on my reading list so I would be happy to read any of them. I won't be choosy. I have lots of indie authors on my to-read list but also a few best-selling authors like Stephen King, Anne Rice or Khaled Hosseini, even David Duchovny! Some of those books are waiting for me to read them for over the year now and the new ones keep coming, coming, coming.... So I really won't be picky, I will grab any book from that list and with desire of a starved reader sink my eyes into it!
As for the reading books, at the moment I have 112 books on my reading list so I would be happy to read any of them. I won't be choosy. I have lots of indie authors on my to-read list but also a few best-selling authors like Stephen King, Anne Rice or Khaled Hosseini, even David Duchovny! Some of those books are waiting for me to read them for over the year now and the new ones keep coming, coming, coming.... So I really won't be picky, I will grab any book from that list and with desire of a starved reader sink my eyes into it!
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