Bernhard Hofer

WHO IS WHO?

Bernhard Hofer (Geschichtenerzähler)
Email: HoferBernhard@gmx.ch

PUBLISHING ACTIVITY

THE AUTHOR I write stories that wander between light and shadow—where beauty imperceptibly tips into the uncanny. As an author, I am fascinated by the play of atmosphere, quiet goosebump moments, and characters who conceal more than they reveal. My texts are aimed at young readers who love the mysterious: not loud or gory, but subtle, poetic, and lingering deep under the skin. With my work, I seek to open worlds in which beauty and dread do not exclude one another, but instead intensify each other. Each story is an invitation to take a few steps further into the darkness—accompanied by the reassuring feeling that somewhere, a light is still burning. The thirty stories were written primarily during the pandemic years of 2020, 2022, and 2023 as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Writing during this time was the perfect way to break free from the imposed isolation. When real travel became impossible, only the journey inward remained—and time and again it was surprising where that journey led. The world of myths, fairy tales, and fables has fascinated me since childhood, which is why the stories are written in the style of a fairy tale. They draw on universal life wisdoms and rules, as well as on personal experiences I have gathered throughout my life, or on places where I have spent time—whether on holiday or for work. Ultimately, however, they are simply meant to be good entertainment: for a rainy afternoon, a long journey, an evening when a thunderstorm rolls across the land, or simply to dive into another world and escape reality for a brief moment. And if, here and there, something of substance lingers on, then the book has already fulfilled its purpose. I now hope that the stories of this trilogy will carry you away into the Otherworld, fascinate and inspire you, and draw you into their spell. After all, who can resist the magic of an exciting story that sends a gentle shiver down the spine? The Trilogy – Volume I The thirty stories are published as a trilogy (Volumes I–III), suitable for children aged six to twelve—whether as a read-aloud book, a bedtime story, or for independent reading. All stories have passed the quality and “Spookily Beautiful” review process conducted by the author’s own children. ???? The stories were not generated with the help of AI. This trilogy is the author’s debut work and is self-published. The stories across the three books are interconnected. It may therefore happen that protagonists refer to events that take place in other stories or other volumes of the trilogy. For example, Wodan in “The Petrified Heart” refers to the behavior of Harald Bluetooth in “Ari and the Seven Keys,” and so on. Have fun reading it!

TOPICS

Fairy Tales Fantasy Humour