Janusz Wisniewski is a popular Polish writer. He received recognition in 2001, after the release of his debut novel S@motność w Sieci translated into English as Loneliness on the Net. Currently Wisniewski lives and works in Frankfurt, Germany.
Background
Janusz Leon Wisniewski was born on August 18, 1954 in Torun, the capital of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland. Both of his parents are Poles, his father is a driver and his mother is a store owner. Janusz has an elder brother.
Education
At the age of 14 Janusz entered the Naval College in Kołobrzeg under the Ministry of Maritime Transport and in 5 years received a diploma of a deepwater sailor. He is Master in Physics and Master in Economics. He obtained both of these qualifications in Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. He holds a PhD in Information Technology from Warsaw University of Technology and Habilitation in Chemistry from the Technical University of Łódź.
Janusz Wisniewski wrote his first novel «S@motność w Sieci» in 2001. He said that writing the novel coincided with the time of "depression after succes" - he was going through divorce while receiving his doctorate in chemistry. Most of the characters in the book are real people who the author met in his life. The book about a virtual love that has become a reality instantly gained popularity. The novel did not leave bestseller lists for three years and stood many editions. It is the modern man's view of the modern woman, on the events that are important to the modern person. The book was translated into many languages including English (Loneliness in the Net) and in 2006 it was turned into a film.
In 2002, Wisniewski's first collection of stories Zespoły napięć was published, that was followed by another collection of stories Martyna in 2003.
In 2004, Wisniewski wrote his second novel Los powtórzony. The major theme of the novel is family and its significance in people's lives.
In 2007, Wisniewski published the collection of essays "Czy mężczyźni są światu potrzebni?" The book is written in the publicistic genre; it casts doubt on stereotypes and reveals new things about the strong half of mankind.
In 2008, Arytmia uczuć came out, the book that was written in collaboration with Dorota Wellman, a popular Polish journalist. Answering her provocative questions, he shares his inner thoughts about life, love and literature. The author reveals his own secrets, shares his sorrows, hopes and dreams, talks about the time he spent in New York and what made him move to Frankfurt, about his favorite restaurants, music, entertainment and people who influenced his worldview.
In 2011, Wisniewski published Zbliżenia. In his new book Janusz Wisniewski writes about how men and women dream about love and intimacy. Telling his stories, the writer is convinced that the pursuit of happiness does not depend on the place of residence, social status or skin color.
In 2012, Wisniewski wrote the collection of stories Ukrwienia. Janusz Wisniewski examines love as a living organism, placing it in different life situations, changing the place, time and characters.
In 2013, Wisniewski wrote a deeply personal story about his experiences and feelings - Na fejsie z moim synem. The narrator of the story is the author's mother.
When asked about being a scientist who believes in God, Janusz Wisniewski replied positively. He said "God for me is not the one in the Bible. God for me is a philosophy. I go to church on Mondays, when there are no crowds of parishioners and I can communicate with God in peace."
Views
Janusz Wisniewski believes that love is a consequence of specific chemical reactions occurring in the human organism. He's also known for his views on women: "I think women are the better half of humankind."
On his official website Janusz Wisniewski writes: "Lord, help me be the person my dog thinks I am."
Quotations:
"My wife is science, but I have a love affair with literature."
"When I write, I do not feel lonely. On the contrary, I seek for loneliness. I like to write in the evening or at night, sipping beer and listening to music, thus making myself feel melancholic. All important works in science and literature are created in loneliness after all."
"I'm often advised to quit science and only write books. But I just really like science. I experience strong emotions when, for example, a computer program that I've created, begins to work."
Personality
Apart from his native Polish, he is also fluent in German, English and Russian.