Sebastian Fitzek's new book is about domestic violence. Here he talks about the research and what he is grateful for to his girlfriend.
Sebastian Fitzek (49) also researched domestic violence for his new psychological thriller "Der Heimweg" (Droemer HC). That was "very close to him", explains the successful author in an interview with spot on news. "Unfortunately, it also exists in my area. I have had many conversations about it. It is bad that so many, mostly women, have to experience it. This fact is widespread, runs through all social classes, with a high number of unreported cases Several studies on the subject by the BKA, the Ministry of Family Affairs, which I dealt with. In the summer I became aware of the '#Sicherheim' campaign, which I now support. "
When researching his books, Fitzek always proceeds in the same way: "When the topic is clear, I do a basic research. Then I deal with the characters in my book and the fictional story I want to tell. When I've finished with both I'm, I give it to experts, police officers, psychologists and those affected to get feedback. " For the "companion phone" in his new book, he explains intensively with Conny Voigt, the initiator of the home-away phone. "Here people are accompanied on the phone who are afraid of going home alone in the evening. Fortunately, it has never happened that the phone escort had to call the police. The phone is supposed to provide security, but is not a helpline. Volunteers work here , not trained psychologists. "
"I'm not interested in creating pain"
The home phone served as inspiration for Fitzek: A reader had told him that she volunteered for it, he says. "Since I didn't know that, I looked into it and I think this offer of help is great. Then I thought about what if my character wasn't just afraid of the way home, but of home itself. I have to researched further and found out that domestic violence is unfortunately much more widespread than I thought. "
In "Der Heimweg" the reader is very quickly drawn into the deep abysses with which the characters have to struggle. "My aim is not to create pain or to reach pain limits," says the writer. "I write essentially bloodlessly. I am interested in the victim's perspective, how are those affected and their environment. In addition, my stories are much less brutal than reality. I found out when I was writing a book with forensic doctor Michael Tsokos . " The joint thriller "Cut off" around forensic doctor Paul Herzfeld was also filmed with Moritz Bleibtreu in the lead role.
"Hate comments are not worth looking at"
Fitzek has a firm opinion on criticism: "If someone criticizes me in order to advance me, then I find it great and helpful and like to deal with it. I am happy about it. But when someone simply puts someone else down, often to get my own attention I don't care. Such 'criticism' or even hateful comments are not worth looking at. "
From his private environment, Fitzek's girlfriend is the first to read his books, reveals the bestselling author. "She doesn't influence me, she asks me clever questions and then I often think, why haven't I thought about it or seen it myself. She then says I would look grim at first, but fortunately she doesn't care. Me I am very grateful to her for that. " In August 2019, Fitzek announced the separation from his wife Sandra, with whom he has three children. In December, he revealed to the "Bild" newspaper that he was in a new relationship: "I would not have thought myself that it would hit me so quickly, so badly. But yes, I can't deny it: I fell in love."
Will the changed everyday life of people due to the Corona crisis play a role in future books by Sebastian Fitzek? "Reality always affects me, as a person and as a writer," he replies. "Unfortunately, I already wrote about a pandemic in my book 'Noah', not knowing that something terrible could happen. Now I hope that we can get over this time as well as possible."