Christer Jansson is a retired scientist turned fiction author. He has extensive experience writing successful grant proposals, scientific journal articles, and books. In writing Genes of the Past—his debut novel—Christer drew on his background in leading genomics and molecular sciences research as Chief Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and the Pacific Northwest National Lab. With his second book, The Prairie Dogs and the Alien, Christer continues his foray into speculative fiction, adding a touch of fantasy. When he’s not writing, Christer spends much time in the kitchen, cooking or baking. He favors vegetarian dishes and sourdough bread and enjoys trying new recipes and dining out. He also likes playing chess, hiking, and spending time
with children and grandchildren. He lives with his wife, a dog, and a cat in Berthoud, Colorado, on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Christer holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Lund University in Sweden. His research background and expertise lie in plant biochemistry. He served as the Director of Plant Sciences at the Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory (EMSL) at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where he worked from 2014 until his retirement in 2021. He moved to PNNL from Berkeley, California, in 2014, where he was a Senior Staff Scientist and Deputy Program Lead in Bioenergy at the Earth Sciences Division (ESD) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). Before that, he was Head of the Department of Plant Biology & Forest Genetics at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden,
I’m a retired scientist turned science fiction author. My first novel, Genes of the Past, is a science-fiction novel that blends real biochemistry and genetics with a speculative mystery about humanity’s forgotten evolutionary past. The book was published by Starry-Eyed Press in 2023. When I received the copyright back, I republished (self-published) the book to reach a broader market. The book is available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other outlets. You can also find it at the Berthoud Library. I’m now working on my next sci-fi novel, The Prairie Dogs and the Alien, which is a character-driven science fiction novel with satirical and environmental themes
I was selected as one of eight Finalists for the Author of the Year 2025 at the International Impact Book Awards in the category of Fiction – Science Fiction.
Genes of the Past was selected as one of six winners, out of 50 contestants, for the February 2025 International Impact Book Award in the science fiction / speculative fiction category.
Genes of the Past was featured as the Book of the Day on January 11th, 2025, by the OnlineBookClub, where it received a 5/5 rating.
Genes of the Past was featured in USANews, CBS, and several other online outlets.
Genes of the Past, was selected for a Second-Place Award in the Sci-Fi genre at the 2024 BookFest competition. Additionally, it was selected for a Third-Place Award in the sub-genre Sci-Fi – humorous.
I had a presentation and a book signing of Genes of the Past at the Berthoud Literary Festival on September 20 – 22.
I’m an avid reader and constantly on the lookout for new fiction with a mystery, sci-fi, and/or humorous angle. Books I’ve read and enjoyed recently include The Oligarch’s Daughter by Joseph Finder, Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin, and Funny Story by Emily Henry. Right now, I’m enjoying the eighth installment of the Cormoran Strike series, The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith (a.k.a. J. K. Rowling).
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