“We added some new letters to the alphabet of life. Catch-42 turns these new letters into a fascinating story about technology, our society, and future.” —Floyd E. Romesberg, Chemist, Synthetic Biologist, TED Speaker
“Creative, inventive, an enjoyable read. Stretched my thinking with an outstanding understanding of emerging technologies and what's possible today, coupled with a futuristic mindset that challenges the reader to explore what's real and what's right.” —Michael Fulton, Academic Director of Digital Executive Education at The Ohio State University
“In Catch-42, Felix Holzapfel spins his deep understanding of today's most important technology trends into a gripping narrative about choice, ethics, and the nature of humanity—and shows us that the future will truly be what we make it.” —Greg Verdino, Futurist, Author of Never Normal
“Like it or not, technology will rapidly change our world. Catch-42 demonstrates why it is so important that all of us get involved in the decision-making process that is nearly upon us.” —M. Sean Coleman, Author of Netwars: The Code
“Catch-42 is not a classic page-turner but a demanding idea-turner. The novel covers many trending topics and important current questions. You might need some time to read it, but it’s worth every second.” —Brett Greene, Founder, New Tech Northwest
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Thinkers 360 recognized Felix Holzapfel as a Top 10 Global Thought Leader in Digital Transformation. During the last two decades, Holzapfel has been privileged to support many global players on their way to the digital age. While he has published several books about technology, trends, and the shift in our media landscape, Catch-42 is his first novel and a book he has wanted to write for a long time. Having sold his digital marketing agency to one of the world’s leading IT services providers, he now has time for this passion project. 
To learn more, visit www.felixholzapfel.com.
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Question and Answer with the Author:
Is there a message/theme in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Yes! Don’t ever think you’re not capable of influencing the bigger picture. If everybody felt that way, a few would paint the bigger picture for all of us—a picture that’s not likely to match our expectations. If we each contribute our little piece, the bigger picture of our future will become more significant, more colorful, and more beautiful than we can imagine. Contributing is up to all of us. With this book, I want to encourage as many people as possible to think—from radically new perspectives—how humanity, technology, the economy, and our society might develop in the future. Even better, I want people to think about how they would like our world to change and how each of us can become an active part in the decision-making process that has already begun.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
Until now, I only wrote professional books about marketing, technology, and our media landscape shift. I underestimated the intensity involved in writing a novel. Mostly, I was fascinated by creating the characters, the plot, the worlds of WeYou, Catch-42, and Teccupy, and how much fun it was to turn my ideas into words. I thought I would pace myself, but I just couldn't let go. I worked on the manuscript 24/7 for months.
What was your greatest challenge in writing this book?
I thought my greatest challenge would be writing the book in English instead of my first language, German, but thanks to the support of my wonderful editors Howard and Darby, language turned out to be a minor concern. The greatest challenge was creating a complex plot with all its layers and linking different storylines and demanding topics across different worlds and times. I'm pretty good at being able to stay focused for a very long time. But writing this book brought me from time to time to my limits. Sometimes my wife or the kids would enter the room and ask me a simple question, or something would distract me for a couple of seconds, and an entire construct in my mind would collapse, forcing me to start all over again. But over time, I got better. And—I'm still married to my wife, and the kids have forgiven me for not giving them the attention they deserved while I was in the zone writing the manuscript.
On a Friday night, what are you most likely to be doing?
My father-in-law is from Peru. We meet most Friday nights at his house with the entire family and follow a strict routine: First, the children have dinner and go to bed. Once they fall asleep—usually at about 9 p.m.—it’s time for a Pisco sour and a four-course feast that lasts until well after midnight. The first two courses can be ceviche, gambas, snails, or something similar. The third course, which is the main course, is carved in stone: meat with some salad. The fourth course is a desert, usually cheese, ice cream, or fruits—sometimes you can even replace the "or" with an "and." Now before you even start protesting—yes, the kids get dinner with several courses as well, but without the Pisco sour and with a more kid-friendly menu.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I'm a very social person, so I spend a lot of time with my family. Whenever a global pandemic does not limit us, I also love meeting my friends, enjoying delicious food in popular restaurants, and traveling. I‘m a workaholic who also plays a lot of sports.
