When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Or what first inspired you to write?

I'm the youngest of four, so I needed to talk a lot to get heard at all. I guess that's one of the reasons I’ve been a good storyteller ever since I was a little kid. When I finished first grade, my teacher commented on my report card that I fascinated my classmates with my stories. I’ve also loved reading since I was little, but I was never a good writer. One day, my friend Jana read one of my business plans and told me, "Felix, your stories and your ability to express yourself are amazing, but your writing is horrible! Have you ever thought about shortening your sentences? You know, turning one sentences into two, three, or even four or more?" This straightforward advice, which none of my teachers ever gave me, improved my writing significantly.

Where and when do you best like to write?

In the last two decades, I trained myself strictly so I could work everywhere, no matter the time or surroundings. The same applies to my writing. But if I have a choice, I prefer quiet spots. I love sitting outside while writing, best-case having some sunshine, warm weather, and the ocean close by.

What do you think makes a good story?

I enjoy stories that combine an intoxicating plot with elements that teach me something or make me think. I also love stories that turn complex and demanding topics and knowledge into something I want to learn more about. And if people have something to tell, memoirs can make good stories, too.

What inspired your story?

Three main elements inspired me:

First, my having worked for two decades in the IT and digital marketing industry.

While explaining the latest trends to an elite audience, I thought that parts of IT are knowledge everyone should have—especially in our day, when technology is omnipresent and about to change some of humanity’s fundamentals.

Second, after selling our company, I took a one-year sabbatical to travel the world with my wife and our two children. I visited creative hotspots and benefitted from fascinating conversations with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and other inspiring people. Many of these inspirations found their way into the book.

Third, we returned home in February 2020, just before Covid-19 changed the world. This extraordinary stroke of fate influenced what I had been thinking about and added new ideas to my initial concept for this book.

Is there a message/theme in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes! Don’t ever think you’re not capable of influencing the bigger picture. If everybody felt that way, a few would paint the bigger picture for all of us—a picture that’s not likely to match our expectations. If we each contribute our little piece, the bigger picture of our future will become more significant, more colorful, and more beautiful than we can imagine. Contributing is up to all of us.

With this book, I want to encourage as many people as possible to think—from radically new perspectives—how humanity, technology, the economy, and our society might develop in the future. Even better, I want people to think about how they would like our world to change and how each of us can become an active part in the decision-making process that has already begun.

What was your greatest challenge in writing this book?

I thought my greatest challenge would be writing the book in English instead of my first language, German, but thanks to the support of my wonderful editors Howard and Darby, language turned out to be a minor concern.

The greatest challenge was creating a complex plot with all its layers and linking different storylines and demanding topics across different worlds and times. I'm pretty good at being able to stay focused for a very long time. But writing this book brought me from time to time to my limits. Sometimes my wife or the kids would enter the room and ask me a simple question, or something would distract me for a couple of seconds, and an entire construct in my mind would collapse, forcing me to start all over again. But over time, I got better. And—I'm still married to my wife, and the kids have forgiven me for not giving them the attention they deserved while I was in the zone writing the manuscript.

Your book's main objective is to motivate people to think about future challenges in technology, society, and humanity, and—best-case—to actively participate in decision-making happening right now. How can each of us contribute?

This is an excellent question. Our world is moving faster than ever. Thus, that people can't see the forest for the trees is no surprise. In Catch-42, I try to take people by the hand, step back, and look at the big picture.

If Catch-42 somehow makes readers think, then they can become active participants in decision-making by following three simple steps that I list at the book’s conclusion. The bottom line for readers is: learn more about the book’s topics that catch your interest, talk with others to gain new perspectives and create a grassroots movement, and don’t let others paint the bigger picture for you. Everyone needs to become an active part of the decision-making-process!

In addition, I included examples of fundamental questions that we should all think about from time to time and try to find consensus—even though we may thoroughly disagree on the answers.

What qualifies you to write Catch-42—a book that covers not only a wide range of technologies but also questions fundamentals involving today's way of life, our society, and our core values?

One of the key points I make in Catch-42 is that to understand the full impact of converging technologies, connecting the dots among different disciplines may be more important than ever. To be an expert in every aspect is almost impossible because of the variety of topics. Nevertheless, I tried to gain as much knowledge as possible and melt different worlds into one fascinating story.

In my over two decades working in the IT and marketing industries for some of the world's leading brands, I acquired extensive knowledge in a variety of areas in a short time. The experience trained me to ask the right questions while I gained invaluable insights from clients across a wide range of categories—some tech-heavy, others related to social behaviors, desires, or people's everyday needs. We created solutions for different target audiences across all imaginable social demographics.

In addition, I benefitted from my family background in writing Catch-42. I grew up in an environment where talking politics was valued. My grandmother co-founded a publishing house that publishes the annual book of all politicians who are part of the German government. When I was a teenager, I visited her daily. During lunch, we discussed past and current political developments. These conversations were just one of the influences that shaped my interest in global politics that I’ve had to this day.

These factors may not make me the perfect candidate to have written this futuristic call-to-action book, but I'm confident that at the least Catch-42 will enable readers to look at life fundamentals from different perspectives. I know that I went above and beyond to pack as much passion, knowledge, and creativity in the book as I could.

What's the best writing advice you ever received?

I'm almost ashamed to admit it because it's so basic and the 101 of writing. But sometimes, the easiest things can be the most challenging: "Show, don’t tell."

Connect with Felix:

www.catch-42.com
www.linkedin.com/in/felixholzapfel
www.twitter.com/felix_holzapfel
www.facebook.com/felixholzapfel
www.instagram.com/felixholzapfel23