As of: February 22, 2024, 3:20 p.m
By: Sven Trautwein
Comments
Press
Split
Jason Dark's John Sinclair booklet novels have been around for fifty years.
New horror stories keep appearing.
Where does the author get the ideas?
“The Night of the Witcher,” the first horror story by John Sinclair creator Helmut Rellergerd, was published on July 13, 1973.
And he doesn't run out of ideas.
More than 2,300 novels have been published for fifty years.
According to Bastei Lübbe Verlag, the total circulation is around 250 million.
The 78-year-old author is better known by his pseudonym Jason Dark.
Typical titles are “The Killer Dwarf”, “The Zombie Train” or “The Alpine Devil”.
For fifty years, the horror stories of the John Sinclair series have been written on a mechanical typewriter.
The author still has many ideas in mind.
© Thomas Banneyer/dpa
Helmut Rellergerd aka Jason Dark: “The horror happens in the head”
The grandfather of three lives with his wife in a single-family home in Refrath, a district of Bergisch Gladbach near Cologne.
Bergisch Gladbach is already known for its tranquility, but Refrath is considered virtually uneventful.
When you ask him where he gets all his ideas from in this unspectacular environment, he points to his head and answers: “It’s all in his head.
I can't do anything else.
I don’t even drive a car.” When and how the stories come to him is a bit reminiscent of Stephen King.
The ideas simply come spontaneously, the author reveals to
dpa.
It can happen that he suddenly says to his wife: “Imagine if I wake up in the morning and you are a skeleton.” His wife usually doesn't react very enthusiastically to this.
She doesn't read his novels either.
Even as a child he liked to make up stories.
Later he wanted to take up a career “where I would stay clean.”
Inspiration for John Sinclair novels from the church newspaper
He draws some of his inspiration from non-fiction books and documentaries that he finds on “3Sat” and “Arte”.
He also subscribes to the church newspaper of the Archdiocese of Cologne, which Rellergerd reads regularly.
In it he sometimes finds stories or topics that he can develop further.
On his desk are several clipped articles with headings like “All Souls Day and Purgatory” and “Guardian Angels Don’t Need Wings.”
Facts about Jason Dark
Known for: Crime and horror novels
Popular book series: “John Sinclair”
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Writing style: Exciting, atmospheric, with supernatural elements
Sources of inspiration: horror literature, mythology, folklore and the church newspaper
Publications: Numerous books and short stories
Awards: Recognition for his popular book series “John Sinclair”
Readership: Enthusiastic readers of horror and crime literature worldwide
Influence: Has had a significant impact on the German horror novel genre
According to his own statements, around 60 percent of his readership is female, which surprises him.
The author told dpa that he makes sure that the stories are not too bloody, unlike perhaps the thriller “The Follower” by Chris Meyer.
He has also never been to London, where the “Sinclair” stories were set.
This is somewhat reminiscent of Karl May, who is known for his book beginnings.
My news
Ferdinand von Schirach's new publication “She says.
He says.” will be published at the end of February
German Children's Book Prize 2023: The ten most beautiful children's books to read
Ten crime novels from Denmark that will keep you reading with excitement
Jussi Adler-Olsen: An overview of the thrillers from Special Department Q with Carl Mørck
Book tips: Ten classics that you should definitely read once
“Blood Moon” by Jo Nesbø: his best crime novel with Harry Holelesen
Do you know these book beginnings?
Our quiz
Four Sinclair adventures are published each month.
However, a few co-authors have now stepped in and taken over parts of his work.
The stories are still typed on a mechanical typewriter.
Helmut Rellergerd says he can't handle a computer.
He's a little afraid of death, but he still enjoys life enough.
There is also plenty of space in the basement for more John Sinclair magazines.
This article was created using machine assistance and was carefully checked by editor Sven Trautwein before publication.