“Julius Benjamin Jonker (JBJ) is an indie fantasy author whose debut novel, Echoes of the Past, launches April 2nd, 2026.
Split between Rotterdam and Utrecht, JBJ lives a double life. In Utrecht, he’s known less as a writer and more as a student of Politics, Philosophy, Economics, and History—PPE for short (the H is silent). When not lost in fictional realms, he grapples with the complexities of our international world, engaging in political action that promotes global connectivity, cultural understanding, equality, climate awareness, and anti-fascism.
But fiction has always been his true home. From conjuring entire worlds on childhood playgrounds to devouring fantasy stories, JBJ spent years unknowingly training for the career he’d eventually pursue. The dream crystalised during his teenage years when a friend asked a simple question: “Why not try to become a fantasy writer?”
That question sparked The King’s Pride Saga, an epic fantasy series built on the philosophy of writing the books JBJ himself would most want to read. What began as an idea became an ambition that refused to be silenced, even in the face of an impractical career path like this.
Today, writing fantasy consumes much of JBJ’s life, though he pursues the genre through other avenues: reading voraciously, playing D&D, dabbling in theatre, gaming, cosplaying, collecting medieval weaponry, and frequenting RenFaires.
Interact more with JBJ by subscribing to his newsletter or following him on @jbj_writes.”