INTERVIEW WITH MARIA PRIZNYAKOVA

OCA Magazine: Tell us, please, about yourself and your creative activity / work.

Maria Priznyakova: I am a local press journalist and photographer by profession. I have been involved in literary work for over 15 years. I have been writing poetry since my youth, and prose – short stories and novels – for about four years.

OCA: How did you choose your path and who is your role model in the creative space or life?
MP: I chose my path as a writer – and to some extent a journalist is also a writer – because I love to write: to create texts, to convey through them my vision of events, human perception, my emotions and feelings, to create a new reality or to portray an existing one.
My main inspiration is Joanne Rowling, who gave the world and me Harry Potter, the series of books and the story I grew up with. Joanne is an example to me of a great creator of a magical world and a woman who stands up for what she thinks. I love her with a reader’s love, support her wholeheartedly as a woman and admire her talent as a writer. It would be great to meet her in person one day and thank her for Harry.

OCA: What is your main achievement in 2023-2024?
MP: Perhaps, my greatest achievement in this period is the fact that last year and this year I was selected among more than fifty participants of the VIII and IX International Youth Festival-Contest of Poetry and Poetic Translations named after L.Y. Severa “Shores of Friendship” and received special diplomas named after V.A. Dineki in the nomination “Poetry”. This is a great honour.

OCA: What is the main feature that makes you and your art/work unique?
MP: Recently a writer I know said to me after reading my work: ‘Your prose has a special energy. There is a vitality to it, but it is not forced. And it’s as if you’re playing a guessing game with the reader – reminiscent of Japanese paintings where the edges are underdrawn’. I think I’d agree with him.

OCA: Tell us, please, about the events or projects of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London) and projects that you have already taken part in and how does ECG influence your creativity and success in your work?
MP: In 2022 I took part in the Voices of Friends competition and won 1st place in the Photography category. I used the grant to publish my short story ‘To Live’ in the collection ‘Thread-6’, my poem ‘Three Words’ and photographs ‘Snail’ and ‘Signs’ in the anthology Voices of Friends. Poetry & Art-2023, and also placed the photograph ‘Moment’ in the first edition of the art catalogue The Great Steppe Treasury. As a contributor to the art catalogue I was nominated for the Barbara Nawrocka Medal. Barbara Nawrocka Medal for my contribution to the development of the Eurasian society.

OCA: What is your motivation and the main aim of your creativity?
MP: My goal is to become an author of books read by millions of children and adults around the world.

OCA: What would you wish for the members of the Guild and other creative people, just starting their career?
MP: Create! Dream! Live! Give yourself and your desires free rein and listen to your heart.