I think I was born with a pen in my hands. I grew up in west Ukraine, which was then part of the Soviet Union, and I lived on a farm in a small village nestled in the beautiful Carpathian Mountains until I was sixteen. Growing up without TV or toys, I learned to read by the age of four, but I had no children’s books to read.

My parents were peasants, preoccupied with one thought—how to feed their children. Buying books was not on their list of things to do. Left without books, I read my father’s newspapers and wrote on cartons, cardboard boxes, stable walls, old magazines, or just in my head, until one day I discovered a tiny village library. Then books became a huge part of my life.

The village library had a few worn-out children’s books, most of them without illustrations. To satisfy my hunger for reading, I reread these books many times. Soon there were no children’s books in the library that I had not read. Annoying the librarian, I asked for thick books meant for serious readers. She did not mind, and I started reading everything I could carry home. Memorizing words, phrases, and pages, I felt as if I were living in a different world, one that was free, brighter, and kinder.

At six, I wrote my first poem. I loved how words made me feel. Beautifully swirling in my head, looking for freedom, they created amazing pictures, providing comfort and escape.

Writing, I learned to block out the harsh reality of the life I was born into. My fantasies took me to the heights, where no one could reach me, and to places which belonged only to me. My imagination made me forget about the unfair world around me, the toys I never had, and food I did not know existed.

In high school, I showed my writing to my father, hoping he would support my dream of becoming a journalist. He looked at my notebooks and said, “Forget about writing. You cannot feed yourself with books. Go where the food is.” It was harsh but fair advice. As a farmer’s daughter, I had a slim chance of following my dream and becoming a writer. The Soviet Union was very corrupt, run by one party. Without connections and money, there was no way I could enter a prestigious college and find decent work.

I entered Lviv Business College and tried to make it on my own in the big city. After I finished college, I worked in the food industry, but I never lost my passion for reading and writing. I wrote many poems and short stories in both Ukrainian and Russian, hoping that one day I could publish them. Sadly, that day never arrived.

I do not write just to write. I do not write to create a few thousand words each day. I write when I feel, when emotions slowly transform themselves into words and then quickly overload my mind, forming sentences and paragraphs, until I let them out. I write when I am in a happy, sad, angry, or melancholy mood, or just have something to say or share with the reader.

When I write, I never think what genre my story will fit. A good story always finds its place and reader. I often mix realistic fiction with modern fantasies. I think these two styles describe my books best. I twist true events with unrealistic characters, which teach children to conquer problems, build self-esteem, and overcome challenges in their lives. They also show young readers the beauty and power of nature and help them learn about the true meaning of friendship and family. It also helps them better connect to the surrounding world and care for our younger friends, the animals. I do not think that mixing two genres confuses young readers. Children easily connect to imaginary characters and often see themselves or their behavior from a different perspective.

Writing for children is like playing a game: you win or you lose. There is no middle ground. I must surround myself with their imagination. I must go to their level and see the story from their viewpoint. Children have a most unpredictable imagination and hunger for knowledge. If I do not get their attention from the first paragraph, then I have lost them. I must also see the story from the viewpoint of their parents. It is hard to be a grown-up and a child at the same time, and that is why writing for children is not an easy task. What I like most about writing for children is reliving the special moments, when I feel as if I am a child again. When my story makes me laugh or cry, then I know I got it right. In my opinion, children’s books must teach both child and parent.

I am presently working on releasing my three new books “Kitten in the Window,” “Forgotten Christmas Tree,” and “The Day Before Thanksgiving.”

These books are beautifully illustrated by Saima Malik, size 8.5×11, around 30+ pages each, fun to read and good for children to learn something useful. Should be published in 2023.

Also, I am polishing my new novel “The Chinese Princess,” correcting my new children’s book, “Lost Baby Tooth,” and collecting some ideas for the “Carlo the Mouse” series. 2023 will be a very busy year for me.

I love to write children’s stories, but I also love to write in different styles like my newly published book “The Cat That Wanders by Itself.”

It is a beautifully illustrated, black-and-white style, size 6×9, about 325 pages. It is a heartwarming story told from the perspective of an unusual calico kitten named Nyda that went on a dangerous journey, practically using all her nine lives, if the old saying is true, but always managing to return safely to the people she loved. This book is for a little older independent reader, age 10 and up.

Also, I hope to finish my new novel “The Chinese Princess,” publish three new books from “Kitten’s Stories” series (“Kitten in the Window,” “The Day Before Thanksgiving,” and “Forgotten Christmas Tree”), and illustrate a new book titled “Lost Baby Tooth.”

My books are not simple; they are intended to make the young reader stop and think about the message that the story is delivering. I am a strong believer in good-quality illustrations, calming, but fun; nothing drastic or overpowering. They are colorful and represent the story before a child starts reading it. They are also creative and perfect for a child’s growing mind. Parents can easily discuss or explain them to a child who cannot read yet. All these new stories are awaiting their turn to be published. English is a second language for me, and it takes me much longer to correct my writings before I submit them to the editor.

Sadly, I have no time for hobbies. My life reminds me of a runaway train, which I am trying to catch and somehow slow down. If the day had 48 hours, then I would collect cats. I love cats. They remind me a little bit of myself. Nobody can own them unless they let you.

I like gardening and flowers, beaches and walks, traveling and art, reading and books. There are so many places I have never been, and I want to visit and learn their history.

Also, I am a grandmother. I am blessed with four beautiful grandchildren. I finally have time to sit and play with them. Moving from place to place, country to country, job to job, I missed many beautiful moments when my own children were young. I wish I could reverse time and have these moments with my girls. We can have all the wealth in the world, but we cannot buy back the lost moments. The older I get, the more I value time with my family and friends.

I do not choose the story; the story chooses me. Mostly, I write for children ages 4 to 10, but I have books for a little older readers, like “The Little Girl Praying on the Hill, “Taste of Bread,” and “The Cat That Wanders by Itself.”

 Stories are everywhere. I write what I know, not what sells. This may sound like a bad business decision, but this is the only time I do not treat writing like a business.

When a story is told, it is not forgotten. I strongly believe that the best stories live inside each of us. Look around and write! Let your stories see the world! Use your imagination and make your story uniquely yours. Write what you know, write what you feel, write what you love, write because you want to.

When you are ready to publish your book, do your homework and make sure your book is professionally edited. Create a professional-looking book, one which will not get lost among the millions of poorly published books. Make your book one that you would want to buy for yourself or for your child. If you are a children’s writer, forget your age and envision your book as children would. Get involved in each illustration. Nobody knows and feels your book better than you do.

Writing is an easy task; publishing and marketing is a business. These days, an author must also be a smart businessperson. To be a self-publishing author, you will have to learn every aspect of publishing. Lastly, when you publish your book, you will wish that the day had 48 hours, because there will be no time left for writing. Writers today must be very business-oriented and be devoted to social media to promote their books. So do not quit your day job yet. Wait until you become famous.

I long for people to see the internal beauty through the eyes of a child. Usually I turn for help to nature when I write. It never refuses to give me the inspiration for the characters I am looking for in my stories. I am fascinated by the wonders of nature, especially with the wind, trees, palms, and all kinds of animals. They are wonderful characters for children. With the help of these characters, children will learn about how things change and behave in nature, and sometimes how they misbehave.

I’ve traveled a lot, but have never visited China. I would like to learn more about this country’s culture and life. It would help me to better understand my main character from my new book “The Chinese Princess.” I am afraid that my title will mislead some of my readers, because my book is not about the life of royalty or any historical event. It is a story about people who immigrated from different countries at different times. It is interesting to observe how they are mixing with different cultures and how they accept each other. How the older generation understands the younger generation and how they act when outsiders join their traditional families. This book is fiction, but is based on my experiences as a foreigner.

Go back to where we were before COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. I would like people to be kinder and see goodness in small gestures, be more tolerant and respectful to each other, respect different opinions, and just get some sanity in life.

I am Ukrainian, born in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine broke my heart, but not my spirit. I believe in our victory and my nation that showed the world that freedom is priceless and worth fighting for. War in the 21st century is not acceptable anywhere and should be stopped immediately.

I am not sure… I have been running businesses all my life. But I think I could make a good nurse or doctor. When I was young, I wanted to be a detective. I am observant and love analyzing things around me. My husband does not like watching movies with me because I often predict the ending. I admire tough professions that make people think, act, and take risks.

I am a restless soul. I need to know as many things as my poor brain can handle. My mom said I was a very determined child, always hungry for knowledge. I do not think I ever settled for anything in my life. I like challenges.

I am a good cook, organizer, and decorator. I love order, beauty, and harmony. Throughout the years, I’ve tried many things. In some I succeeded, in some I didn’t. But I learned a very good lesson: every one of my failures was a blessing in some way. I am who I am now because I failed many times, and every time I fell on my face, I learned how to fight. I did not necessarily like it, but each of my failures made me get up and look for a new way out. It forced me to move forward and pushed me closer to my destination. I cried, I complained, and I hated it. I doubted my strength, my dignity, and my ability. I thought I would never forget my devastations. But God always works in mysterious ways; as soon as one door closes, a second door opens. Now, looking back at my failures, they look more like successes, a good graduate school. As my grandpa would say, if you want to get somewhere, you must move; if you want to cross the river, you must wet your shoes. Simple and true.