The mountain spirit is calling again: The fourth volume of the "Slyrus" series has been published

The stories in Bernhard Hoffmann's fantasy novels move between dream and reality. Now the Haushamer has published the fourth volume of his "Slyrus" series.

Hausham - Eight years ago, a friend Bernhard Hoffmann drew attention to a formation of rocks and trees in the Hagnberg wall near the Spitzing saddle, which is reminiscent of the silhouette of a head. For the retired pharmacist in Hausham, this “mountain spirit from Schliersee” became the initial spark to become an author: it was the birth of his “Slyrus” novels. In the fantasy series, his main character Severin Hofer embarks on the journey between dream visions and reality. Volume four of the series has just appeared with “Neue Wege”.

It is a special book about his alter ego Hofer, which Hoffmann describes as "cozy Bavarian contemporaries in their prime". This time Hofer is brought to the Brandenberger Alps by his friend, the senator for senate Bertelnuss, because uncanny, inexplicable phenomena take place in the Inn Valley.

It started when his wife Elisabeth died in 2017, says Hoffmann, who was concerned with keeping things from being forgotten. First, he thought of a biography. But in the writing the story came into being, which fits into the series of "Slyrus" books, each of which has a reference to what happened before, but is nevertheless easy to read on its own.

The 73-year-old wrote "New Ways" for almost two years. Longer than any other book before. He got up at night when the building blocks of history joined together in a dream. He followed the narrative strands that opened up when writing. It is important to Hoffmann to show how one can only master life crises with joy, laughter and humor and how important it is to be "anchored in the heart space". In no way did he want to be missionary. "Prior knowledge is not required", the author reassures and sets the rough framework: there is always a task, a challenge that Hofer tackles with the help of the mountain spirit as his mentor. It has to do with the upheavals of time and with your own experiences, which usually flow 1: 1 into the book. That Hoffmann packs this in fantasy is due to his enthusiasm for fairy tales and myths and can sometimes take on very specific forms. Not only when it comes to the places where Hoffmann's stories play.

Also read: Is there a dinosaur next to the mountain spirit from Schliersee?

Much is located in the district. For example the home of the elves near the Archduke Johann Klause. And this time the pilgrimage chapel at Nuchtenbrunn am Taubenberg and the Fliegerstüberl in Warngau, where Hoffmann is a regular and takes up one aspect that is important in all of his books: food.

As a fan of the Scottish crime writer Martin Walker, he was always thrilled that he raves about food in his books. The Haushamer also integrates favorite dishes with the corresponding cooking instructions into each of his “Slyrus” volumes. Even if he sometimes has to construct the cover for it a little, there is no book without recipes for him. This time there are eleven. Among other things, for beloved desserts from childhood, which were prepared by the cook in his Rottach parents' house. Juanita Donner's contribution to the Miaschburger award last year for the "Wirkstatt Different growth" can be found in the book as well as "four exclusive recipes by celebrity chef Giuseppe Messina, who lives in my house," says Hoffmann.

Will the "Slyrus" series continue? Now is the time to catch your breath. And the phase in which the author passionately conquered the new territory of social media in order to open up new channels for his “Slyrus”. "I'm not going to get bored that quickly," says Hoffmann, but he has a little idea where Severin Hofer could still go. There is a sapphire and a possible route to Antwerp, Hoffmann muses. He always has a memo for ideas on the computer anyway. And as soon as he felt compelled to express his opinion on something, he could get started at any time. After all, he also "definitely enjoyed this book".

The book

"Slyrus - New Paths" by Bernhard Hoffmann is available as a hardcover edition for 10.80 euros from bookstores in the district or directly from the author at www.synergicum.de. There is also an e-book version.