David Hollenstein is an industry professional from Switzerland. He has twenty-four traditionally published books in German, some of which have been translated into French and English. He is the author of 46 audio dramas, and he has directed many more. He is the head editor at Adonia Publishing, which specializes in Bible stories as picture books, musicals, and audio dramas. David is married and has four children.
Visit David Hollenstein online
Charlie’s Trip—His Incredible Quest for God’s Embrace
After an accident, Charlie finds himself not in a hospital, but in a dark desert. This is not hell, as he first thinks, but the beginning of the world. He never imagined his deepest longings could be met through an encounter with God in the Garden of Eden. After everything is destroyed by the Fall, Charlie embarks on an incredible search for God’s renewed embrace. He travels from one biblical story to the next, uncovering surprising connections in God’s great story. But he is also tested at home. As doctors fight for his daughter’s life, Charlie tries to prove his innocence in the accident and save his marriage. An easy-to-read thriller with refreshing depth.
- ISBN: B0FNWMQ2MT
- Publisher: Emmenhaus Publishing
Interview with David Hollenstein 2026
When did you feel called to become an author?
In my early twenties, I saw people suffering from broken relationships and how they headed towards the next unhealthy one. I wished they knew that faith and God’s guidance could help them make better choices. I felt compelled to write a book. It became a long-seller in Switzerland.
What did you learn while writing this book?
Charlie’s Trip is about the broader context of the Bible. Although I had studied practical theology, I gained a new appreciation for the amazing connections within the Bible by simply applying the principle that the Bible interprets itself. Dealing with parallel passages and quotations from the Old Testament in the New Testament is time-consuming, but discovering the Bible’s ingenious internal coherence was highly rewarding.
What is the toughest part of writing in your genre?
The most difficult aspect is that this book doesn’t have its own genre. Like The Shack or books by Bill Myers, Charlie’s Trip features interactions between people from the present day and God or biblical figures (but when God speaks, I only use scripture). My book combines elements of the Christian thriller, biblical, and speculative fiction genres. The challenge lies in targeting the right audience for this genre mix.
If someone were to look at your Google search history (all for research of course!), what types of things would we find?
He would be surprised to learn that my wife and I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa on our honeymoon. He would probably wonder why we chose an outdoor adventure over turquoise water and white sand. That experience set a special foundation for our marriage. Years later, we wrote a nonfiction book about marriage that compares it to mountain climbing.
If you could have coffee with an author, dead or alive, whose work you admire, who would that be? What would you ask him or her?
John Grisham. Do you have a checklist of what you look for when writing your first, second, and third drafts? Could I take a glance at it?
What’s your go-to drink while writing?
Coffee and water.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Don’t prioritize writing over spending time with your wife and children. Don’t worry if the writing and publishing process isn’t going quickly enough. Everyone knows that providing for a family and pursuing a writing career is time-consuming. Your time will come, when the kids are older.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
Walking in the hills surrounding our village. Up there, I can leave my everyday worries behind in the valley and pray while gazing at the Swiss mountains in the distance.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
Secrecy Order by P.S. Wells and Max Garwood. I looked through the list of fellow faculty members at the Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference and wanted to read some of their books beforehand. I did that at my last conference, too. That’s how I stumbled upon Tim Shoemaker, and I have now published two of his books in German.
What can we look forward to next?
Three books about marriage and love are on the way. They will be especially valuable for premarital counseling, helping couples establish a solid foundation for their marriage from the beginning. One book connects the adventurous diary of our Kilimanjaro expedition with marriage advice.
In my early twenties, I saw people suffering from broken relationships and how they headed towards the next unhealthy one. I wished they knew that faith and God’s guidance could help them make better choices. I felt compelled to write a book. It became a long-seller in Switzerland.
What did you learn while writing this book?
Charlie’s Trip is about the broader context of the Bible. Although I had studied practical theology, I gained a new appreciation for the amazing connections within the Bible by simply applying the principle that the Bible interprets itself. Dealing with parallel passages and quotations from the Old Testament in the New Testament is time-consuming, but discovering the Bible’s ingenious internal coherence was highly rewarding.
What is the toughest part of writing in your genre?
The most difficult aspect is that this book doesn’t have its own genre. Like The Shack or books by Bill Myers, Charlie’s Trip features interactions between people from the present day and God or biblical figures (but when God speaks, I only use scripture). My book combines elements of the Christian thriller, biblical, and speculative fiction genres. The challenge lies in targeting the right audience for this genre mix.
If someone were to look at your Google search history (all for research of course!), what types of things would we find?
He would be surprised to learn that my wife and I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa on our honeymoon. He would probably wonder why we chose an outdoor adventure over turquoise water and white sand. That experience set a special foundation for our marriage. Years later, we wrote a nonfiction book about marriage that compares it to mountain climbing.
If you could have coffee with an author, dead or alive, whose work you admire, who would that be? What would you ask him or her?
John Grisham. Do you have a checklist of what you look for when writing your first, second, and third drafts? Could I take a glance at it?
What’s your go-to drink while writing?
Coffee and water.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Don’t prioritize writing over spending time with your wife and children. Don’t worry if the writing and publishing process isn’t going quickly enough. Everyone knows that providing for a family and pursuing a writing career is time-consuming. Your time will come, when the kids are older.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
Walking in the hills surrounding our village. Up there, I can leave my everyday worries behind in the valley and pray while gazing at the Swiss mountains in the distance.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
Secrecy Order by P.S. Wells and Max Garwood. I looked through the list of fellow faculty members at the Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference and wanted to read some of their books beforehand. I did that at my last conference, too. That’s how I stumbled upon Tim Shoemaker, and I have now published two of his books in German.
What can we look forward to next?
Three books about marriage and love are on the way. They will be especially valuable for premarital counseling, helping couples establish a solid foundation for their marriage from the beginning. One book connects the adventurous diary of our Kilimanjaro expedition with marriage advice.
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