Today we’d like to introduce you to George Berger
Hi George, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
.My story and what led me to my now writer life began in the rubble and carnage that was Germany in the last years of WW II.
My heroic mother, Katharina Berger, was the biggest stage and screen actress in Germany before and during WW II. From journals written when she could steal a moment’s time, she wrote a memoir of my first year, also the last year of that war. Her memoir, translated and edited by me, last year became my fourth published book, altogether a work of love and gratitude.
Kirkus Reviews, the gold standard of book reviews, says of it: “This work is a rare feat, a seamless amalgam of an unflinching literary realism with an unsentimental affirmation of life.
“A beautiful war account—both unsettling and inspiring.” Kirkus Reviews 2021.
Of course my first language is German, my second “Australian”, and English my third. When I was six, my mom divorced my father and fled the rubble of post-war Germany for Australia. There she hoped to wait out the three years until her immigration quota number to the US could move to the top. Some of her theatre and movie colleagues had made it to a better life in the US. In Australia she found the required sponsor, and we landed in the US in 1954 with our luggage and a solitary “twenty-five cent piece.” She did not then know the word for quarter.
The generosity of the American people blessed me with full scholarships to the No. 1 prep school in the country, to college, and later to law school. I worked every chance I got, from the Postal Service. to lowest crew member on a cargo ship, to engineer, then lawyer and now full-time writer.
My first two novels are set in BC times. One tells the story of Hannibal and his elephant army from the point of view of Hannibal’s lead elephant driver. The other historical focuses on a Celtiberian she-warrior who dares to challenge the invading Romans in Iberia. In those days, Celtiberian women sometimes did fight alongside their men. These first two novels received a variety of honors and awards, including two best-in-category awards from the San Diego Book Awards Association. Unfortunately, the SDBAA is no longer running, but it was the most prestigious book award group in California. In my time, J. K. Rowling, Susan Vreeland, and other author luminaries submitted their works to the SDBAA
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My third novel, a courtroom thriller, takes a deep look at the greatest true crime of the last century. My mom’s book is my fourth, and I’m working on a fifth, as well as helping other writers including big best sellers, and writing reviews for the Historical Novel Society’s national publication. Two of my books have made multiple Amazon best seller lists. The main San Diego public library and other groups have honored my work. Later this year, I will be an author presenter at the big HNS conference in Las Vegas.
Best of all, along the way I met and married my life partner. She is an English teacher and my go-to grammar advisor. We are parents of two grown sons and grandparents of two more boys.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Navigating the writing/publishing process is a constant and constantly changing process. Without a big name to begin with (as in Clinton or Obama), getting a book to readers takes talent, patience, and a bit of luck.
The magic of computers allows anyone to become a writer. Google, AI, and other search engines allow anyone to easily research, all of which is good. But the downside is that every year millions of new books come out. The challenge for any writer is how to get readers to pick that one book from the tidal waves of books coming at any reader. Traditionally published books with big publishers behind them often do not sell more than 2000 copies. Self-published books average sales of only 75. Other writers have said they started their writing journey well-adjusted and happy and have emerged at the other end miserable and neurotic.
What have I learned? First, write a great story, one that compels readers to want to read more. Second, rely on readers. No marketing tops great reader word of mouth. If your reader is Oprah or a NYT book reviewer, even better. Third, be patient. Many authors did not find readers until years, even decades, after their work was finished. These include F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Grisham, J. K. Rowling.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Links to my four published books are easily found under my author name: G. J. Berger. See also my website linked below.
My first two novels take readers deep into the time of Hannibal and his elephant army, then into Hispania and Rome’s oppression of its people. My third novel is a legal thriller based on my own courtroom adventures and true events that are even in the news today. My fourth book is not really mine. I’ve been fortunate to find a publisher for my heroic mom’s memoir, translated and edited with my help.
Now I’m focused on my fifth book (and won’t give any spoilers here) and helping other writers with their works. Some of my mentees have become very big best-sellers. I also read and review novels for the Historical Novel Society.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The essential quality for any writer is to write each sentence, paragraph, and page so that the reader feels compelled to read more and soon. With the many distractions and entertainment options of the modern world, boring writing and content will be turned off instantly.
In writer jargon, “voice” is very important. Voice is shorthand for how engagingly an author writes. Plots, scenes, characters are each important, but if they are not presented in a way that’s fun or dramatic or interesting to read, the writing will not get read or talked about by readers. Many serious writers and editors have commented that my writer voice works very well.
Intense curiosity and the richness of life help the writing process. Solid writers want to know more and more details about virtually everything and everyone. Some of the unusual details about people and places become intensely interesting morsels in the author’s work. It’s been said that young people have not lived enough to be able to write well. I’ve been blessed with a healthy curiosity and a multi-faceted life that have provided lots of material for my writing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gjberger.com/
