Today we talk about Hanna and the Final Truth, a book by Markus Michael published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Markus Michael to get to know him better, what was the moment that brought him to the writing of his book of Hanna and the Final Truth, as well as what the crucial themes of his book are.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- What was the moment that brought you to the writing of your book?
I invented the Little Green Monster years ago for the children in my family as a playful counterpoint to established monotheistic religions, which, to my mind, derive their authority more from numbers than from inherent superiority. I wanted to question why their precepts should be taken as self-evidently better than any others—mine, for instance. By inventing and sharing our own ‘religion’, my aim was to encourage the children to think for themselves rather than accept a creed uncritically. In that sense, it even seems to have worked. Over time, the Little Green Monster has become part of our lives in a light-hearted way. In real life, I take on the role of its Prophet—a role I’ve playfully assigned to my mother in the story—underscoring that the whole exercise is as much about imagination and questioning authority as it is about belief itself.
- What would you like to hear from your readers?
I wrote the story for teenagers and adults; despite its form—somewhat reminiscent of Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince—it is not a children’s book. Rather, it is intended for anyone interested in life’s big questions. I approach these themes in a deliberately light, accessible manner, allowing the tone to contrast with the seriousness of the issues themselves.
- What are the crucial themes of your book?
The story could also be described as ‘theology light’. It touches on the history of religions, from spirit-inhabited nature and the rise of pantheons to the emergence of the three monotheistic faiths. The Little Green Monster is a primeval spirit that has lived through all of this—a remnant of a long-lost world. As such, it is uncertain of its own significance, and through its conversations with my teenage mother it gradually comes to terms with its fate. In the end—spoiler alert—it achieves a form of redemption. The tone is deliberately irreverent, gently poking fun at established religions. While the story acknowledges some of the questions these traditions grapple with, the Little Green Monster and my mother arrive at very different conclusions and propose alternative ways of thinking about meaning and belief.
- Are there some books you are particularly attached to and that you would like to recommend to all readers?
It’s too early to say—the book is only just emerging into the world. Its twin sister, the German translation, will follow shortly, as with my previously published books.
- Are you working on a new writing project you can tell us about?
Europe Books will also publish my autobiography, In Passing, in early 2026. This memoir intertwines my personal history with broader cultural and historical reflection. Rather than unfolding chronologically, it takes the form of a constellation of short chapters, snapshots, and thematic fragments, mirroring the nature of memory itself: selective, vivid, sometimes abrupt, yet always resonant. The resulting mosaic reveals the richness and complexity of a life still very much ‘a work in progress’. Combining memory, history, travel, and introspection, the book moves between lightness and gravity, historical context and personal anecdote. Its diverse settings and cultural perspectives offer a global lens on the cultural, political, and social dynamics that shape our world. Through a succession of meaningful moments, it traces a journey across cultures and countries.
Europe Books thanks the author Markus Michael once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book Hanna and the Final Truth. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my dear reader, may this story for teenagers and adults brighten your reading and help you find answers to life’s big questions.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your Editor!