FANTASY, ANCIENT LEGENDS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND A LIFETIME OF STORYTELLING
Willemstad, Curaçao. August 2026.
Having had the pleasure of interviewing you before, Koos, it is wonderful to reconnect at such an exciting stage of your literary journey. Since our last conversation, your readers have seen an impressive stream of new novels and children's adventures appear on the shelves, including Onsterfelijk, Hemels Visioen, TIWAZ, and the latest additions to your beloved Alex en de Wolpertinger series, such as Alex de Grote and Heros de Haas. Your imagination certainly hasn't slowed down, in fact, it seems to have grown even stronger.
JJosephaNews exclusive interview with author Koos Verkaik
Koos Verkaik during the interview
Author Koos Verkaik discusses his work
Koos Verkaik with his books
A moment from the conversation with Koos Verkaik
Koos Verkaik shares his perspective
Books and stories at the center of the interview
A personal moment during the interview
Koos Verkaik reflecting on his writing
Another moment from the JJosephaNews interview
Koos Verkaik during the exclusive interview
JJosephaNews exclusive interview with Koos Verkak
Photograph 1 of 12
1. BUILDING ENTIRE WORLDS
Josefina JOSEPHA: Koos, during our previous interview we spoke about your passion for blending fantasy with historical facts. Looking at your newest novels, readers now encounter ancient gods, immortality, forgotten civilizations, mysterious manuscripts, and even psychological suspense. Do you feel your imagination has evolved over the years, or do you believe these stories have always been waiting for the right moment to be written?
Koos VERKAIK: I learn every day. Reading is important for every writer. I have hundreds of nonfiction books in my workroom about history, mystery, alchemy, you name it. My head is always full of ideas. Love to combine real events from the past with pure fantasy. Most of the time a single thought that comes to my mind is enough to start writing. My books are fantastic journeys for my readers, but also for myself, I go from page to page, never knowing exactly where it will all end.
2. ANCIENT GODS IN A MODERN WORLD
Josefina JOSEPHA: In your recent novel TIWAZ, you explore how an ancient deity reaches into our modern world, almost suggesting that history never truly disappears. What inspired this fascinating concept, and do you believe mythology still has lessons to teach humanity in today's age of technology?
Koos VERKAIK: Ah! Yes, this is so right, Josefina. A perfect example is my novel Nicolaes Nimbus. It is about ancient magic against high tech and AI, and about the Search for Immortality. A group of extremely clever rich German and Dutch scientists hope to live forever. They search for different possibilities to prolong life and spend lots of money to reach their goal. Then they hear about a wizard who was supposed to have lived ages ago, Nicolas Nimbus. If Nicolaes Nimbus is still alive and has found the secret of immortality through magic; the scientists want to find him, to examine him in their labs! But they need master painter Rein Vulpes to set a trap for Nicolaes Nimbus. Then high tech science meets ancient magic…
About Tiwaz (available in English and Dutch): A gripping magical thriller driven by escalating danger, ancient power, and shocking twists.
A Roman legion pushes to conquer new lands. To protect their identity, the local population hides their revered god, Tiwaz, whose influence stretches across centuries. That buried power resurfaces in the present day, confronting speechwriter Marnix Vrijman with a force that refuses to remain forgotten. With psychologist Machteld at his side, Marnix must stop a catastrophe that has already begun. In the remote village of Zoms, home to devoted followers of Tiwaz, the ancient god dominates every thought and action. He commands, provokes, and unleashes violence beyond imagination. As his strength fades, the villagers turn on one another, until the inevitable finally erupts.
We can all learn from the past. History is fascinating, mystery inspires me.
3. THE SEARCH FOR IMMORTALITY
Josefina JOSEPHA: Your novel Onsterfelijk explores one of mankind's oldest dreams, living forever. Throughout history, alchemists, philosophers and now even scientists have searched for immortality. As an author, what interests you more: the possibility of eternal life, or the emotional price that immortality might demand?
Koos VERKAIK: The possibility! Many big tycoons and even politicians search for immortality and they invest huge amounts of money to set scientists to work. The ancient alchemists searched for it. I also wrote about that in other novels. One of the best examples is indeed my book Onsterfelijk (Wolf Tears in English): Wolf Tears is a pulse-pounding journey through time, memory, and music, the gripping saga of Paul Brand, a brilliant musician who uncovers a mind-shattering truth: he has lived countless lives across centuries, each time erasing his own memories to protect a secret too dangerous to know, his own immortality.
When Brand is drawn into the orbit of the enigmatic and world-renowned composer Francis Beck, everything changes. Beck holds a terrifying gift, the power to manipulate minds through music, bending reality and emotion with every note. His concerts don’t just move people; they possess them.
But when Beck dies in a mysterious car crash, Brand receives a cryptic envelope that unravels everything he thought he knew. Inside: a photograph of him and Beck, laughing together, in 1932. Decades before Brand was even born.
What begins as a search for answers becomes a dangerous plunge into a forgotten past, a past filled with love, betrayal, and the dark alchemy of eternal youth. At the heart of it all lies a fateful triangle: Brand, Beck, and the volatile Miethe, bound by obsession and a secret forged deep in the German woods, where a reclusive alchemist once offered them more than they ever bargained for.
Wolf Tears is a haunting tale of friendship turned rivalry, desire twisted into madness, and the terrible cost of defying time itself.
4. FANTASY REFLECTING REALITY
Josefina JOSEPHA: One thing I've always admired about your writing is that, beneath every magical adventure, there seems to be a deeper question about human nature. Would you say your fantasy novels are really mirrors of today's society, simply told through extraordinary worlds and unforgettable characters?
Koos VERKAIK: Thank you for asking that, Josefina. You can read my books just for entertainment. But if you are smart enough to read between the lines, you will understand that I have more to tell than just a nice story. The best example for this is Dance of the Jester, which is also available in Hindi!
This is what it is all about: In The Dance of the Jester by Koos Verkaik, the world undergoes a dramatic transformation at the dawn of the twenty-first century. As tycoons ascend to power, ruling as kings in an era of excess and decadence, chaos reigns supreme. Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, Oscar Man emerges; once a prince, now a pariah, reduced to the role of a jester in a society careening towards collapse.
In the midst of this societal upheaval, strange creatures wielding unfathomable power rise to prominence, seeking to impose their will upon humanity. At their mercy, Oscar is compelled to dance to their tune, navigating a treacherous landscape where the fate of the world hangs in the balance.
But Oscar is not without his own resolve and resilience. With everything to lose and the world to gain, he embarks on a journey that will test his mettle, challenge his beliefs, and ultimately lead him to confront the greatest threats humanity has ever faced.
The Dance of the Jester is a gripping tale of courage, redemption, and the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Prepare to be captivated by Koos Verkaik's masterful storytelling as you embark on an unforgettable journey into a world where the line between reality and fantasy blurs, and anything is possible.
When you read the book, you will recognize the present time, where tycoons decide which way we all are forced to go…
5. WRITING FOR TWO VERY DIFFERENT AUDIENCES
Josefina JOSEPHA: You continue to publish thrilling novels for adults while simultaneously expanding your enormously successful Alex en de Wolpertinger children's series with books like Alex de Grote and Heros de Haas. How do you mentally switch between writing for young readers filled with wonder and adults who enjoy darker mysteries and suspense?
Koos VERKAIK: That is so easy for me. I always write two books at the same time, a novel and a children’s book. Of course I have to write in different styles. I don’t have to think about that, it is just a matter of concentrating and setting yourself to work. The Wolpertinger is dear to me. I love to write these stories. Mostly I write the stories with a big smile on my face.
Wolpertingers… little monsters or friends?
Teasers or small helpful creatures? Actually, everyone is a bit afraid of them. Humans and giants run away, the moment they spot a wolpertinger. And still once a boy made friends with a wolpertinger from the mysterious Downhills! This is the story of Alex, a boy from the Alps, who lived in the land of King Clover a long time ago. Yes, Alex and Ludo the wolpertinger… together they go from one adventure to another! Together they travel to the Downhills, to help a magician who is a prisoner of the giant Prince Ruff Rumble…
People never stop talking about this special friendship of a boy with a wolpertinger. . . .
6. A REMARKABLE CREATIVE MOMENTUM
Josefina JOSEPHA: Since we last spoke, you've released an extraordinary number of books across different genres and countries. Many authors spend years producing a single novel, while you seem to create entire worlds one after another. What does a typical writing day look like for Koos Verkaik today, and has your creative routine changed after all these years?
Koos VERKAIK: Just finished The Healer (in Dutch: De Genezer). Up to another novel. I get up at half past six in the morning. Start working at 8. The routine has never changed. But I am lucky that I have publishers who I can rely on. In The Netherlands the publisher of Fantascifi published more than 25 books in a short period. You find the paperbacks and eBooks here:
Bruna.
And all the audio books:
Luisterrijk.
My publisher in the USA is Outer Banks Publishing Group, North Carolina. You can find all paperbacks, eBooks and audio books here:
Amazon.
Outer Banks will soon publish more of my titles, also a huge, thick novel: Divine Battleground. I really look forward to that.
7. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE FUTURE
Josefina JOSEPHA: In our previous interview you shared your fascination with Artificial Intelligence long before it became part of everyday conversation. Today AI is influencing publishing, education and even creative writing itself. Has the reality of AI surprised you, and do you see it as a helpful companion for authors, or as the beginning of an entirely new challenge for literature?
Koos VERKAIK: No, it didn’t surprise me at all. As a boy at the age of 18, my first novel was published. It was about a race between Earth and other worlds in the galaxy. To build the most effective spaceship, one asked astronauts to donate their brains. One man agreed and his brain was used to make a spaceship perfect. It was a combination of a human brain and technology. The astronaut felt happy, because he could think up every possible adventure. In the meantime his brain worked together with the computers in the spacecraft.
Later, reporters wondered if I had written another space opera of a book that was far ahead of the time. I never responded to that, just smiled…
8. INTERNATIONAL READERS
Josefina JOSEPHA: Your books are now reaching readers in multiple countries and languages, something every author dreams about. When you discover that someone on the other side of the world is enjoying your stories, does it change the way you think about storytelling, or do you still write first and foremost for yourself?
Koos VERKAIK: Good question, Josefina. There are different ways. Mostly I write just for myself, typing everything that comes up in my mind. But once, still a very young man, I worked as a copywriter for a big advertising agency in Rotterdam. There I learnt to write short and to the point, with text that was especially meant for a certain group of potential customers. I can fathom characters, from big heroes to the meanest crooks. I am proud that so many people all over the world read my books. But it didn’t change my way of writing. I just sit down at my desk and start working, without ever having a writer’s block. There is always chaos in my head and I only calm down after I typed the last sentence. And then it starts all over again.
9. LOOKING BACK, AND LOOKING AHEAD
Josefina JOSEPHA: You began writing as a child, became one of Europe's youngest comic writers, and have now built a catalogue of more than seventy books spanning fantasy, science fiction, thrillers and children's literature. When you reflect on that remarkable journey, is there one lesson about creativity that you wish every aspiring writer could understand?
Koos VERKAIK: Creativity is a wonderful thing. I also make music, play different instruments:
watch the video.
Creativity is also magical. When my first book got printed, the printer invited me to watch it. Unforgettable! I am still very, very excited when a new book is sent to me by my publishers in The Netherlands, the USA or India. Yes, it has been a great journey and I am still on my way. But there is no lesson about creativity. If you feel the need to create something, then stop thinking and start working.
10. AN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW
Josefina JOSEPHA: Finally, Koos, your readers around the world are always eager to know what comes next. Without revealing too many secrets, can you give the JJosephaNews Community an exclusive glimpse into the stories currently taking shape on your writing desk? Are there new worlds, new heroes, or perhaps entirely new genres, you are preparing to surprise us with?
Koos VERKAIK: I can tell you the title of the book I am working on right now: Verbannen Alien, in English: Banished Alien. Already 60.000 words done. Thinking planets combine their power and make it possible for certain people to travel through the universe and reach other worlds. It is about the mystery of consciousness, about the wonder of life itself. A journey through different worlds and different civilizations, about faith and love. I will finish this one soon and then start writing another novel.
Thanks to my readers all over the world who enjoy my books. They make me proud and give me the right feeling to keep on working!
Thank you once again, Koos, for sharing your remarkable literary journey with us. It is always a privilege to step into the imagination of an author whose stories continue to inspire readers across generations and around the world. We look forward to discovering where your imagination will take us next.
EDITOR'S NOTE: JJosephaNews presents this interview as an original conversation with author Koos Verkaik.
CLICK FOR AUTHOR AND INTERVIEW INFORMATION:
Fact Check:
We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you should read or see something that doesn't look right,
Contact Us
!
©2026 JJosephaNews. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment