Ask Oliver Pötzsch - Tuesday, August 27th! discussion
Featured Author Chat
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Ask Oliver!
I'm so happy to have found this Featured Author Chat. The Hangman Daughter's series has truly captivated my interest.Will there be more books in the future?
Are you planning on doing any book signing tours in Canada, Mr. Potzsch?
I am very much looking forward to getting to know more about your writing and thinking processess as you answer everyone's questions :-)
i know that you are related to the kuisl family you write about in the hangman's daughter series. how did you learn about your unique family history? when doing the research on your family, was there any part that you found difficult to accept? aside from jakob kuisl, are any of the other characters you wrote about real? i loved the hangman's daughter and just finished the dark monk. im excited to continue with the next two books.
I have been a fan since Hangmans Daughter was featured on Amazon. Some of my family (the German half) comes from an area south of Munich and Berlin. I am always interested in learning how they might have lived. My great grandmother was a maid who fellinlove with the hotel owners son, so they came to America in order to get married. I know there was a strick caste system in Germany where they even spoke substancially different languages, high and low German. I am hoping to learn more about how this came about.
Absolutely love these books. I am really happy that you have come on board with Goodreads!!
Your transition from scripts to books is one of the things I admire as it gives your writing a richness in scene and plot development. Are there writers that influenced your style and if so, who?
I love the characters' personalities, in particular, Magdalena's strong will. Did you fashion her characteristics after someone in present day? Your writing creates a very vivid picture of the story for me and I can easily see these transformed into movies, particularly The Beggar King (my personal favorite). Are there any plans to make a movie and what are your thoughts on that option? Hope there will be more books coming! Thanks!
I have so enjoyed the Hangman's Daughter series and I greatly admire your writing style. As a writer myself, I am curious about your writing routine. If you don't mind, can you give us a glimpse of what your writing day looks like? Thank you!
I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the books in the Hangman's Daughter series. The Poisoned Pilgrim is the first book that I ever pre-ordered. Will there be more books in the series?
I have been putting the first 3 books on the "staff recommendations" shelf at the library I work for months and they never stay on the shelf longer than 1 hour. Keep them coming!!
Thank you.
Hello Oliver! I love The Hangman's Daughter and I can't wait to begin reading more of your books!
Have you always wanted to be a writer? What inspired you to become one and what character did you enjoy writing most about from The Hangman's Daughter? :)
~Apollonia
I want to say thank you for a good series. I have not yet read your newest book out but I plan to in the coming weeks. I have to say that I do not like history or historical fiction books. Until your books that is. There is something about them that draws me in. Thank you for expanding my book genres. I hated reading up until about 2 years ago. You have helped me take more "risks" in my reading adventures.
How long of series do you picture "Hangman" series being? Something long lived like Alex Cross or Harry Bosch? Or a shorter series similar to most other three title series?
Hello Oliver,I am currently finishing "The Hangman's Daughter" and loving it. It also a useful resource for the period I am writing about (1683-1717) and the period of the Austrian - Ottoman conflicts. My question is, how does an English speaker contact the right people to get hardcore information and artwork about this period? The museums and tourist bureaus are not good about responding. Danke
Just like everyone else, I love your series, especially the history of medicine bits. The interplay between Fronweiser's "classic" training and Kuisl's "hedge witchery" is fascinating and amusing from the perspective of modern knowledge. Kuisl's knowledge is the product of generations of hangmen. Do you see the series continuing long enough to follow Magdelena's children? (I haven't read Poisoned Pilgrim yet)
I have enjoyed the entire "Hangman's Daughter" series. I just finished "Poisoned Pilgrim" and certainly hope the series will continue. The historical details are fascinating. I also enjoy the personalities and how people could feel the Kuisls are not part of proper society, yet those same people rely on the Kuisls intelligence and bravery. My question is, what is the best approach to researching historical times so an author can describe the living conditions, the attitudes, and way of life with authentic details?
I have finished The Hangman's Daughter" and am anxiously awaiting delivery of the rest of the series. Jakob Kuisl’s “holy of holies” is a “small study filled to the ceiling with dusty files and old books about what an executioner is and does”. What would your holy of holies contain?
Mr. Pötzsch,I absolutely love this series of books! As a historian with a minor field in Early Modern Europe I love the history you bring into the work while still keeping the human story in perspective. One of my favorite books about the period is Steven Ozment's The Bürgermeister's Daughter. Magdalena is such an anomaly as a woman in the period, as was Anna Buschler in Ozment's work. Had there been such a thing at the time, I'm certain Magdalena would have been a feminist. I am just curious if you've ever read this work or if there are historical works you've used to help shape your characters and plots?
I am enjoying your series, Mr. Potszch! I have a comment and a question. First, my comment: your English translator is terrific. Your books don't read like translations: congratulations to him! Now for the question: To what extent are the characters and stories based on your ancestors? Do you know what the main characters were like? Did any of these events actually happen to them? I look forward to hearing more from your cast of characters. Thank you for bringing/returning them and this time and place to life.
Mr. Potzsch, love the book series and look forward to everyone one that is released in English! My family was stationed in Augsburg and we really appreciate your account of the city! I wondered if you plan to keep the Hangman's Daughter Series in the area or plan to venture out to different countries in the future!Thanks again for your great books!
Mr. Potzsch,I have really enjoyed The Hangman's Daughter series. I have read somewhere that there are only going to be 5 books in the series. Is this true? If so, do you have any ideas for future books? I'd love to see more set in medieval Germany.
Mr. Potzsch, My questions have already been asked above, but I also wanted to say that I enjoy reading your books. I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and I particularly like that the series is based on your family! Thank you.
I've been loving the series so much, Mr. Potzsch, that I've recommended them to my family, and my parents have eagerly devoured them in turn. We've been wondering about the possibility of an adaptation, either film series or something along the lines of a basic cable miniseries. I personally think that a miniseries would work best, providing enough time and space to develop the Kuisls. Where do your thoughts lie on the matter?
Mr. Pötzsch,If you could meet any of your own characters, who would it be and why? What would you plan to do for the day?
Escaping into your books comes as easy as breathing. Thank you for being an amazing writer and answering our questions!
I read your first book last year when I was in Spain for vacation. It was a fortunate happenstance for me to be in Spain, since your book was very prominent in the bookstore.
I live in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean and I would have definitely not known about you!!
Mr. Pötzsch,First off, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.
I've read the first three books of the "Hangman's Daughter" series and just purchased "The Poisoned Pilgrim". Two of the things I found so fascinating about the first three books were your knowledge of herbs and medicine as well as your knowledge of torture techniques and injuries. What kind of research or experiences have you had with either of those topics and which resources for you were the most helpful?
Mr. Potzsch,Thank you for writing such an engaging series! Also thank you for your time! I just recently managed to devour all but the most recent book (I plan on fixing that ASAP, scout's honor).
Maybe this has already been addressed in the most recent book, but I find myself wondering how Simon and the Hangman and his daughter met at first. I have a feeling it wasn't exactly the easiest of beginnings. Will we ever get to see this? Will a bribe help? I can pay in ramen. Nobody has to know where it came from.
Hello Oliver. Thank you so much for agreeing to this discussion.
I *love* your books. Mostly, I love Simon Fronwieser - who is rapidly becoming one of my favourite characters of all time. Is he based on any historical character, or is he all your own? Any hints of what we can expect from Simon in coming books? I can't help hoping for more clothing disasters. Poor Simon's wardrobe accidents make me laugh so hard, I've almost injured myself.
Thank you SO much for writing such fabulous books - and inventing adorable Simon.
Hello,I read your first book with my book club in Ramstein, Germany. We all loved the book and recognized several places from our travels. Some of us have continued reading the series. We think it would be fun to organize a tour of the significant places in the books. Are most of the places still available today or are there some you created for the books? Are you aware of any tour anyone has already put together?
Thank you and I'm looking forward to this discussion and your responses!
Tami
I have thoroughly enjoyed The Hangman's Daughter Tales! Jakob Kuisl has become one of my favorite characters in literature. Mr. Potzsch, when you set out to write a tale, do you scaffold the core of the story and map out where you want it to go? Or do you discover the story as you write it? Also, what is your writing routine? And finally, if you could tell your younger self one thing about writing, what would it be?
Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.
Respectfully, Carmen
I loved all of the books and I am anxiously awaiting the new book.My question is - Is there any chance of a "Hangman's Daughter" movie? I couldn't help but think, while reading all of the books, that these novels would make fantastic movies.
Thank you!
The daughter took a backseat in much of The Poisoned Pilgrim. Will she be figured more in the coming books (I hope!) and will we discover more about folk medicine and practices? The oppressive nature of the church and people's superstitions are a given if you've read the previous books, so more of the knowledge and habits of the common people would be wonderful.
I have really enjoyed the first two books in The Hangman's Daughter series. Your main characters are complex enough to be very interesting, yet normal enough to be able to identify people I know like them. Your translator has performed a great job. I have read some reviews which criticized the use of contemporary phrases. I responded with the idea of not knowing whether it was you or the translator, but most people would not understand idioms of the time period (as is not getting what Shakespeare says). What is your rationale for the very modern idioms?Also I have loved the historical and medical information. Now I have read several articles on the Thirty Years War and the area in Europe to answer questions such as "Why did the Swedes attack?" I have also been fascinated with your family background as I am very much into genealogy.
Another series a bit like this one is The Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin (Diana Norman, who passed away recently). I don't have the dates of publication at hand, but did either of you influence the other?
I am looking forward to reading the next two books.
I love your books! Next book I will start to read is the fourth in the series. However I was wondering how about writing a book about that is more like a biography about your "Kuisl" family? That would be very intressting to read. By the way I am swede, and I would love to read your view of when the "we" attacked the villages and all such information. Thanks, and I really hope you give us many more books!
I am about half through The Poisoned Pilgrim, enjoying it. I liked the previous books very much. The authors connections to the character adds a closeness to the action.
Love the books and I was wondering how long do you spend researching the historical references for the books? You also do a wonderful job describing the area, almost makes me feel like i have been there. I also was surprised to see the Holzapfel name in the first book since that is my grandmother's maiden name. Thanks for continuing to write some such entertaining books.
Absolutely love the Hangman's Daughter series and your writing style. Both of my parents are from Germany; my father from the Southern part and my mom from the Rhine(Central)River area. I spent many summers over in Germany when I was a teenager and love those little towns and villages, cobblestone streets, inns - your books just take me back there :) Thank you! Please keep writing! Looking forward to reading much more of your work.
*SPOILER ALERT* If you haven't read/finished Poisoned Pilgrim, DO NOT READ MY QUESTION BELOW!!!After bringing in so much of her history in The Beggar King (providing such a wonderful psychological/emotional element- I was so worried Magdalena wasn't going to be Jakob's daughter!), why did you kill off Jakob's wife? It has left the characters in an interesting place, though, with the new baby coming and the twins beginning to come into their own "heroic" place- ready to assume their "powers" so to speak.
Hi Mr. Potzsch and thanks for your time. The only book is the Hangman's series that I've read is The Beggar King, but I look forward to reading Poisoned Pilgrim.
I know there have been a few questions about the book series being made into movies. If it were, who would like to see play Magdalena?
I just want to thank you for your time and tell you how much I've enjoyed this series. Any questions I had have already been asked - keep writing, please!!!
Read all your Hangman series in a very short time need more to read, thank you for such interesting and informative novels.
Anne wrote: "Read all your Hangman series in a very short time need more to read, thank you for such interesting and informative novels."Me, too. I paced myself in the last book trying to stretch it out as long as I could. It was mid-July and I had six weeks of summer break left. What was I to do? His next book- not Hangman's daughter- isn't due out until mid September.
Oh, another question for Mr. Poetzsch (no oomlouts so oe is the closest approximation?)-How do you like the translation of your work? Is it capturing the original text in all of its subtitles and nuance? Is he staying pretty true to the original work or are there places where he needs to come up with the closest English approximation (especially with regard to idioms and the like)? I am finding moments where I am wondering about translation- where I notice a voice change-
Just wondering about the process and choice of translators. Thanks!
-Starr
I love The Hangman's Daughter's series and read all of them in chronological order recently. The books have such a cinematic feel--not surprisingly from your background. Any possibility of a film or TV series a la PBS's Mystery? Thanks.
I have also read all the books in the series and have a question/observation for you. I enjoyed them all immensely as historical fiction and feel they have an underlying theme- Capital Punishment and State Sanctioned Torture. The series resonated with me because i feel, and wonder whether you would acknowledge that your writing of the humanity of your character of KUISL has made me wonder what YOU personally feel about execution and torture by the state ( these are hot issues in the US ) ??? There are real issues of complicity and fate and retribution that you have explored that make the series morally very engaging. Kuisl is an amazing character in that he follows a family tradition as an executioner/torturer while being a loving father, husband and healer. Congratulations on your very creative and entertaining fiction that is also thought provoking!
I love the writing style. I was so anxious for the second book, I put my rusty German to use and ordered it internationally. Having seen both versions, I am amazed at the great job your translator has done. I'm back to reading the English versions, but I would like to re-read them all in the original form, if only to keep up with my written German. I think you have converted me to historical fiction. My previous forays have ended in disgust (too much romance) or disappointment (unbelievable and campy). I look forward to where and when you will take us next.My question:
How do you come up with your titles? They seem a little off (i.e. hangman's daughter more about the hangman, beggar king a character, but not the focus, etc)
Mod
Will there be more books in the future?
Are you planning on doing any book s..."
Of course the story about the hangman’s familiy Kuisl will continue. At the moment I’m writing a sequel, which takes place in Bamberg and in which Jakob, Magdalena and Simon have to deal with a supposed (?) werewolf. But right now I’ll take a short Kuisl-time-out. In my latest novel “The Ludwig Conspiracy” that will be published in the US next month my readers will find out more about famous Bavarian king Ludwig II. – and more about his quite mysterious death. And the next novel to be published will be about a very well known German castle (the Trifels), which contained a legendary treasure at the time of king Barbarossa. This is a quite thrilling story. Enjoy!
Mod
Will there be more books in the future?
Are you planning on doing any book s..."
I have never been to Canada, but it’s one of my big desires to go there! So please contact my publisher immediately – maybe he will then decide to send me to Canada. Tell him it’s urgent. Promised?
Mod
I know since my childhood that I descend from a hangman’s family. This was never a problem for me, but it was one for my grandmother. When she was a little girl this topic was an absolute no-go. Nobody dared to speak about it - never! It was nearly ten years ago that I met my meanwhile deceased cousin who was a passionate genealogist. He teached me a lot about my family. The other part I got to know through talks and investigations in little towns and villages in my homeland. Many characters in my novels have a real background and often I use names from old chronicles.
Mod
Ha, my father-in-law descends from the famous Astor-family! Maybe yours and his ancestors did know eachother? Isn’t it a calming feeling that more or less all people on earth are somehow related to eachother? To know about this fact could make our earth a much more peaceful place …
Mod
I always try not to be influenced by other authors, because if you do so, it might happen that you (even if you’re not conscious about it) copy their way of writing. What I do have are of course the “heroes” of my past: Terry Pratchett, J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephen King, Fritz Leiber (does anybody know him?) and Ken Follet.
Mod
If you would know my wife and my daughter, you would know that they are my role models for Magdalena …
The filmoption is indeed sold. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that there will be a movie somewhen.
In the meantime if you have a question for Oliver or just want to introduce yourself feel free to do so in this thread.