Black Forest Press

Black Forest Press: a return to epic roots

Black Forest Press was born from a clear vision: to give classic fantasy and science fiction a strong independent stage.

In an era of blurred genres, we stand for sharp edges. We love heavy books with detailed maps, ships at the edge of known space and morally grey characters in unforgiving worlds. We deliberately keep our focus away from romantasy and spice. The epic story, the development of the world and the ruthless fight for survival come first.

As an independent publisher, we work closely with our authors. We want to be a creative home where authors feel welcome, supported and in capable hands. When we choose to work together, we take responsibility for the full path to publication.

Professional editing, clean typesetting and cover design that captures the spirit of the story are fully handled by us. Curated books and high-quality design are our promise to everyone who loves real adventures as much as we do.

The people behind it

The team behind our stories

Black Forest Press

Patrick Lutz

Co-founder, Marketing and Author Relations

Born in 1991, Patrick helped shape Black Forest Press from its first idea. Marketing is his craft, but his heart is with the people behind the books.

Patrick is a devoted family man, and that same reliable, caring manner defines his work with authors. He supports them with genuine commitment and sees it as his most important task to create an environment in which they can grow.

Whether it is the right strategy for publication or simply an open ear during a stressful writing phase, Patrick makes sure every author at Black Forest Press feels at home and well supported.

Patrick also contributes his expertise to the management of Black Forest Press. He plays a key role in building and maintaining strategic business relationships and develops valuable networks for the publishing house. With a forward-looking perspective, he guides operational processes and ensures that Black Forest Press is professionally positioned at every level and able to grow continuously.

Black Forest Press

Benc Orpak

Co-founder, Creative Direction, Cover Design and Typesetting

Benc Orpak is co-founder of Black Forest Press and the visual heart of the publishing house. As creative lead, he is responsible for the full visual execution of our books, from precise, reader-friendly typesetting to striking cover designs that breathe the spirit of classic fantasy.

He looks back on 20 years of professional experience in the entertainment industry and has contributed to renowned projects such as the cult role-playing game Fallout 2 and the epic TV series Game of Thrones. During that time, he refined his craft as a graphic artist and computer animator at the highest level.

He brings this concentrated visual expertise into the design of our books and also passes it on as a lecturer for game art and computer animation at several universities.

As an author and illustrator, he has also fulfilled a long-held dream: he is the creator of the world of Lorec, which he brings to life in breathtaking detail for a broad audience.

Black Forest Press

Christian „Pitt“ Bock

Audio Director

Christian “Pitt” Bock, born in Landau in 1964, combines professional training in singing and voice work with decades of experience behind the microphone. In the late 1980s, he performed across Germany as lead singer of the band Talkative and appeared on radio and television.

He later moved his creative work into the studio, providing voice and vocals for numerous music and audio productions. As narrator of “Children Listen to Classical Music,” he interpreted works by Smetana and Prokofiev, accompanied by the Pilsen Symphony Orchestra.

Today, he produces audiobooks, personalised bedtime stories, meditations and voice-over productions in his own studio in Aidlingen. As Audio Director at Black Forest Press, he brings this experience to our stories and gives them a distinctive acoustic identity.