How Fautunia came about – Behind the scenes

Hello dear readers! 👋

Today I would like to share something very personal with you: the story behind how Fautunia came to be. This is not just a story about a book—it is a story about dreams, perseverance, and the power of love.

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FIVE YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT – HOW IT ALL BEGAN

It was a Friday evening in 2021. My wife and I were sitting on the sofa watching Harry Potter. And then something happened that would change my life.

We talked about J.K. Rowling—not just about her magical world, but about the incredible dedication behind the stories. We discussed the hurdles she had to overcome to become successful. The rejection, the doubts, the long road to success.

Then my wife asked me a question that would never leave me: “Wouldn't you like to write a book too?”

THE IDEAS THAT ALWAYS WAITED

The truth is, I had always dreamed of writing a book.

Since my youth. But I was paralyzed by too many ideas.

Too many stories were swirling around in my head.

Too many worlds I wanted to create.

Too many characters crying out to be told.

I didn't know which story to start with. So I let it go. I pushed that dream aside.

A STORY FROM THE PAST

But I told my wife something from my elementary school days. In German class, we were given an assignment: we had to write a story based on four pictures. Only one to a maximum of 1.5 pages. Those were the guidelines.

I sat there and started writing. And wrote. And wrote. In the end, I had written 5 pages! 😅

My teacher read the story. And then something unexpected happened: she liked it so much that she read it aloud to the whole class. Even better: the story was published at school!

That was the moment I realized—I can tell stories. But then that dream lay dormant for years.

THE NIGHT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

Back to that Friday evening with Harry Potter. My wife—the best thing in my life—suggested, “Let's do this: Everyone writes a short story, and then we read them to each other.”

No sooner said than done.

She read her story aloud. It was beautiful, emotional, creative. Then it was my turn. I read my story aloud.

I will never forget how she looked at me. With that look that said, “This is it. You have to keep going.”

She said, “That's so good. You have to keep writing.”

I denied it at first. I was skeptical. “Just a little story... Well, maybe not...”

But she didn't let up. “No, really. This is too good. You HAVE to keep going.”

I thought about it for two days. Two days in which this dream came back to life. In which I realized: Maybe it's time. Maybe NOW is the moment.

And then I started writing. Fautunia was born.

A SECRET

Here's a secret I haven't told anyone yet: The story I wrote that Friday evening was the beginning of Fautunia. That was Chapter 2!

That was the morning before Haylie got on the bus. The morning when she was woken up by her alarm clock. The morning that changed everything.

I jumped right into the middle of the story—because I was so excited to explore this world.

THANK YOU

There may be people in our lives who believe in us

before we believe in ourselves. But my wife is that person.

That Friday evening, when she encouraged me to keep writing,

she didn't realize that she was helping me fulfill a dream

that had been in my heart since childhood.

And for that, I will be eternally grateful to her.

This book is yours. It is a gift to you—

for your love, your faith, your unconditional support.

I love you. 💫

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THE INSPIRATION

I have always been fascinated by J.R.R. Tolkien. He spent decades—DECADES—writing his books. The Lord of the Rings. The Hobbit. Worlds that breathe. Cultures that live. Languages that exist.

That's what I wanted too. Not just a heroine who runs through a world and maybe saves it. No—a WORLD. A real world with depth, history, meaning.

Then I discovered Avatar. Pandora. This visual, vibrant, magical world. And I thought: Yes! That's it! That's the kind of world I want to create.

So I started writing. Just like that. Without any grand plan.

THE FIRST 13 CHAPTERS – WITHOUT A PLAN

Here's the secret: I wrote the first 13 chapters without really knowing how this world works. Without knowing how it differs from our world. Without a grand world-building concept.

I just wrote. I trusted my characters. And my characters guided me.

THE CHARACTERS – HAYLIE AND HER WORLD

From the very beginning, there was Haylie. Fifteen years old. Stubborn toward her mother. But shy around other people.

I could immediately relate to her. She was funny. Her youthful rebellion against her mother made me laugh as I wrote. She felt REAL.

And then came the others:

Marie – Haylie's best friend. The person Haylie could confide in about anything.

Bo and Ben – Haylie's hamsters.

Sir Jo-Jo – An old, white tomcat.

Then other characters joined in: Nathan, Joshua, Kenny. And Stacy.

Ah, Stacy. It was clear from the start: Stacy would become Haylie's enemy. But why? You'll have to read it yourself to find out! 😉

THE QUESTION THAT BOTHERED ME

But as I wrote, questions plagued me:

What should Haylie become in Fautunia?

A girl enters a strange world—obviously. She gets help to get home—logical.

But that's not enough. A girl who just wants to go home? That's not enough for a 640-page story.

Haylie had to be more.

Haylie had to have MEANING.

And that's exactly what Haylie really is in Fautunia—you'll discover that when you read the book.

But I can tell you one thing: it wasn't just Tolkien and Avatar that inspired me. It was also the question: who is this girl really?

And the answer to this question?

It changes EVERYTHING.

P.S. Fun fact: The name of the old cat, “Sir Jo-Jo,” and the character Kenny were my wife's ideas! She always has the best ideas. While I was writing, she sat next to me and said, “Wait, what about this name?” or “This character could be like this!”

Much of what Fautunia is today is also a piece of her creativity. That's why this book is truly our book. 💫

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THE CHARACTERS

When I talk about my characters, I always have to laugh. Each of them has a reason for existing. Each one was created with intention.

HAYLIE – THE REBEL

Haylie was the first. From the very beginning, I knew exactly what she was like, how she spoke, how she thought. Her youthful style of speech—that was essential!

“Are you crazy, what's wrong with you?” instead of “What's the problem?”

“That's awesome!” instead of “That's great!”

This style later led to wonderfully comical scenes between her and Dakar—the poor guy doesn't understand a word! 😄

But here's the interesting thing: Haylie gradually abandons her way of speaking. Because no one in Fautunia speaks like her. No one is like a human being from Earth. And slowly she realizes: she has to adapt. She has to grow up.

STACY – THE ANTAGONIST

I needed someone who was arrogant. Condescending. Mean—or at least appeared to be. Haylie's enemy from the start.

So Stacy was born. And yes, she's a total bitch. But why? You'll find out more in Volume 1 and later in Volumes 2 and 3...

JOSHUA – THE YOUNG GENIUS

At just 13 years old, Joshua is the youngest in the group. And one of the smartest.

But be careful—read carefully! He is only mentioned briefly at the beginning. Very briefly. Then he disappears from the scenes. It is not until chapter 18 that he becomes really important.

Why so late? Quite simply: every good team needs a super-smart mind. But the timing had to be right.

KENNY – THE LOVING FOOL

Kenny is also only mentioned briefly at the beginning and then disappears from the story.

But—and this is a big “but”—Kenny is coming back! You'll see him return in volume 2.

Every good team needs someone who isn't quite so bright, but has a heart of gold. Someone who lovingly helps when it really matters.

This is Kenny.

NATHAN – THE STRONG ANCHOR

Haylie already thinks he's great in chapters 2 and 3. And yes—he really is great. But why? You'll have to find out for yourself! 😉

Then Nathan also disappears from the scenes. But—spoiler alert—he returns in the last four chapters of the book.

Why Nathan? Because every group needs an anchor. Someone who is strong. Someone you can rely on. For Haylie. But also for the whole group.

DAKAR – THE FATHERLY HAMSTER

And then there's Dakar. Oh, Dakar!

Dakar is a humanoid hamster. Two meters tall. Strong, wise, loving.

But why a hamster, of all things?

THE SCIENCE BEHIND DAKAR

That's where it gets interesting. I based my research on the Dzungarian dwarf hamster—a special species.

Normal hamsters? They're stressed and dangerous... well, let's just say they have a problem with cannibalism. Not ideal for a loving character. 😅

But Dzungarian dwarf hamsters? They display something special: extraordinary paternal behavior!

The males assist with the birth.

They clean the young.

They keep them warm while the mother searches for food.

They are—in the biological sense—great fathers.

DAKAR AND HAYLIE

And these are precisely the qualities that Dakar needed.

For Haylie, Dakar isn't just a cute hamster that's two meters tall. He's a father.

(And yes—this is a spoiler—Haylie's real father left her when she was very young. But that's another story...)

Dakar became the father figure in Haylie's life. The person who believes in her unconditionally. The person who protects her.

And for Dakar? Haylie became like a daughter. A second chance after a terrible past. (I won't reveal any more! 😉)

MUCH MORE

Those are just the main characters. Fautunia is full of characters—A LOT OF THEM! Each with their own story. Each with their own reason.

I'll tell you that another time.

But you should understand one thing: my characters are not random. They are not just names on a page.

They are people. With depth. With substance. With love.

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Palarra

THE WORLD OF PALARRA

Oh my God, where do I start?

When I started writing, I had Fautunia. But I didn't know WHAT Fautunia was. Thirteen chapters—and no idea about the rules, nature, or laws of this world.

And then—and now you'll see how crazy I am—I really started building.

THE VIOLET SKY

One evening, I saw a purple sky at sunset. Beautiful. Magical. Unreal.

And I thought: Why not?

Why not have a permanent purple sky in Fautunia?

Yes, in real life it would damage our eyes.

Yes, animals would have problems.

But this is NOT the real world. This is Fautunia. And here? Here it's perfect.

So: Purple sky – check! ✓

THREE CONTINENTS – THREE VOLUMES

Then came the big question: Is Fautunia a world or does it have continents?

Continents, I thought. Continents, of course.

But how many?

This question robbed me of my sleep. Sleepless nights. Countless thoughts.

And then I had an idea: three.

Why three? Quite simply—three volumes, three continents. Do you recognize the journey?

The first continent, Palarra, is for Volume 1. The other two? They're a secret... 🤐

PALARRA – BUILT LIKE EUROPE

The first continent: Palarra.

The size? Large. Very large. Think of Germany, France, Poland, Czechia, Austria, and Switzerland—all together. That's Palarra.  

Temperate zone. Rich in nature. Perfect.

Dekkaruru

Zamala

THE WILD ANIMALS

But then came the difficult question:

What animals live in Palarra?

I didn't want normal wild animals. So, over the course of this year, I invented hundreds of creatures.

The Dekkarurus—half bear, half wolf. Majestic and wild.

The Pularras – wonderful colorful deer with long necks. You see them once and you will never forget them.

The Zamala – giant badger-like creatures. Strong and wise.

The Suramasa – butterflies as big as sheepdogs. Beautiful. Magical.

And the Schakara—humanoid lizards, as big as children. Important to the story. Very important to Haylie. (But I won't reveal any more! 😉)

But wait—those are just the WILD animals!

There are hundreds more. Some small, some large. Some harmless, some dangerous. Each with its own name. Each with its own purpose. Each with its own life in this world.

FARM ANIMALS

Then came the farm animals.

Khulus. Schwig. Schapala. Hahlamus.   

Wait a minute—do you recognize anything in these names?

Look closely. The names are FAMILIAR, but... different. Yes! Exactly!

They are based on our Earth animals! But they are NOT our animals. They are Fautunian animals—unique, different, alien.

THE HUNDREDS OF PLANTS

Then I invented plants.

Each with its own name. Each with its own purpose. Some edible. Some poisonous. Some healing. Some with magical powers. Some sacred in Fautunian culture. Trees that breathe. Flowers that store magic. Roots that tell stories. Everything organic. Everything with a reason.

THE TECHNOLOGY – MUCH, MUCH FURTHER

The Fautunians are not only much more advanced than us humans.

They are MUCH, MUCH MORE advanced!

Not just morally. Not just ecologically. But TECHNOLOGICALLY!

They have technology that we humans can only dream of. They have energy systems that we do not understand. They have progress without destruction.

They use their technology to PROTECT their world, not to destroy it.

They are centuries ahead of us in terms of development.

And that makes the story even more complicated for Haylie. She comes from our world. And ends up in one that is SUPERIOR to hers.

THE NINE REGIONS

And then came the next layer: Palarra needs regions!

This resulted in nine different regions. Each with its own character. Each with its own secret. Each important for Haylie's journey.

(Details will follow in another post!)

THE ANCIENT PROPHECY

But what is going on in Fautunia?

Why does Haylie need “companions”?

There is an ancient prophecy in Fautunia.

A story that has been told for centuries.

It says: Someone will come. Someone will save Fautunia.

Not just from the evil government. No—from something much worse.

Something ancient. Something dark. And this person—they're going to need help. The so-called “companions.”

And that's where Nathan, Stacy, Kenny, and Joshua come in.

BUT HAYLIE ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH

Haylie has arrived in this world. A 15-year-old Earth girl.

And suddenly she is part of this ancient story.

But she is NOT alone.

She fulfills the prophecy—TOGETHER with the others. Nathan, Stacy, Kenny, Joshua.  

The companions.

They are not simply their “helpers.” They are part of something much bigger.

Together, they are what the world needs.

A WHOLE YEAR JUST FOR PALARRA

And do you know how long it took me to develop PALARRA?

A WHOLE YEAR!

Not just a few days of brainstorming. Not just a few weeks of planning.

A WHOLE YEAR.

For a year, I sat there and pondered: “How does this world work?” “What animals would live here?” “What plants would grow?” “How would the Fautunians live here?” “What is their culture like?” “What are their rules?”

One year – to ensure that FAUTUNIA breathes. That this WORLD LIVES.

And that's just ONE of three continents!

BUT WAIT—THAT'S NOT ALL

WHAT is Haylie really?

WHAT does the prophecy really say?

WHY her of all people?

WHY does she need THESE companions?

That? You'll have to find out for yourself.

And no—I'm not telling!

BUT WAIT—THERE'S MORE!

That was only the first half of the story.

Next Saturday you will learn:

📖 THE CHALLENGES

What was really difficult?

Did I want to give up?

📖 THE PUBLICATION PROCESS

How did Fautunia come into being?

Why Epubli?

📖 WHAT'S NEXT? 

The future of Fautunia!

Volume 2, Volume 3, and more...

Stay tuned! 🐾

THANK YOU

Dear reader – THANK YOU.

Thank you for visiting this blog.

Thank you for reading this story.

Thank you for becoming part of Fautunia.

AND NOW – YOUR QUESTIONS!

What would you like to know?

- About my writing process?

- About Fautunia?

- About the characters?

- About Palarra?

- About my dreams for this series?

Write me a comment! I'll be happy to answer ALL your questions! 💬

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