It is impossible to write without imagination - an interview with Anna Pashkevich

– It is known that during the creation of the writer there is a certain vision of the characters and the world in which they live. When it coincides with the vision of the illustrator, one can only rejoice. Then one gets the impression that the book forms a single whole. And it's beautiful, - says Anna Pashkevich.

Eva Sverzhevska

Anna Pashkevich, author of almost fifty books for children (including "Yesterday and Tomorrow", "Something and Nothing", "Right and Left", "Three Wishes", "Dream", "About a certain dragon and several more", " Pafnutius, the last dragon”, “Plosyachek”, “Abstracts”, “Detective Bzik”, “Linguistic twists”, “And this is Poland”). She graduated from the Faculty of Management and Marketing at the Wroclaw University of Technology. She is the author of scenarios for teachers within the framework of national educational programs, including: “Aquafresh Academy”, “We have a good meal with the School on Videlka”, “My meat without electricity”, “Play-Doh Academy”, “Act with ImPET”. Constantly collaborates with the magazine for blind and visually impaired children "Promychek". She made her debut in 2011 with the book Beyond the Rainbow. For several years she has been organizing reader meetings in kindergartens and schools in Lower Silesia. She loves travelling, strawberries, abstract painting and hiking, during which she recharges her "writer's batteries". It is there, in silence and away from the bustle of the city, that her strangest literary ideas come to mind. Belongs to the literary group "On Krech".

Interview with Anna Pashkevich

Ewa Swierzewska: You have dozens of children's books to your credit – since when have you been writing and how did it start?

• Anna Pashkevich: It is safe to say that there are almost fifty books. For ten years they have accumulated a little. My letter is actually two directions. The first is books that are especially important to me, i.e. those in which I reveal myself, talk about the values ​​​​and deeds that are important to me. How in "Right and left","Something and Nothing","Yesterday and tomorrow","Three wishes","Dream","Pafnutsim, the last dragon“…The second is books written to order, more informative, like titles from a series”bookworms" If "And this is Poland“. The former allow me to put a small piece of myself on paper. They also teach, but more about abstract thinking, more about emotions, but more about themselves. In their opinion, this should stimulate the imagination of the parent who is reading to the child in order to talk to the child about important things, although not always so obvious. And this is the part of my letter that I like the most.

When did it start? Many years ago, when I was still a little girl, I ran away into the world of imagination. She wrote poetry and stories. Then she grew up and for a while forgot about her writing. The childhood dream of writing books for children encompassed everyday life and life choices. Fortunately, my daughters were born. And how children demanded fairy tales. I started writing them down so I could tell them when they wanted to come back to them. I published my first book myself. The following have already appeared in other publishers. And so it began...

Today I also try my hand at poetry for adults. I am a member of the literary and artistic group "On Krech". Its activities are carried out under the patronage of the Union of Polish Writers.

Did you enjoy reading books as a child?

• As a child, I even devoured books. Now I regret that I often do not have enough time to read. As for my favorite games, I don't think I was much different from my peers in that regard. At least in the beginning. I liked The Lionheart Brothers and Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, as well as Tove Jansson's Moomins and Artur Liskovatsky's Balbarik and the Golden Song. I also loved books about ... dragons, such as "Scenes from the Life of Dragons" by Beata Krupskaya. I have a big weakness for dragons. That is why they are the heroes of some of my stories. I also have a dragon tattoo on my back. When I got a little older, I reached for history books. At the age of eleven, I was already absorbing The Teutonic Knights, the Sienkiewicz trilogy and Pharaoh by Bolesław Prus. And here I was probably a little different from the standards, because I read in high school. But I liked studying history. There was something magical about going back to the old days. It's like you're sitting on the hands of a clock that goes backwards. And I'm with him.

Do you agree with the statement that one who did not read as a child cannot become a writer?

• There is probably some truth in this. Reading enriches vocabulary, entertains, and sometimes provokes reflection. But most of all, it excites the imagination. And you cannot write without imagination. Not only for children.

On the other hand, you can start your reading adventure at any point in your life. However, we must always remember - and this teaches humility - that writing matures, changes, just as we change. It is a way in which you are constantly improving your workshop, looking for new solutions and new ways to communicate what is important to us. You must be open to writing, and then ideas will come to mind. And one day it turns out that you can even write about something and about nothing, as in “Something and Nothing».

I'm curious, where did the idea to write a book with NOTHING as the protagonist come from?

• The whole triptych is a little personal for me, but for children. NOTHING symbolizes lame self-esteem. As a child, I was often struck by the color of my hair. And your sensitivity. Like Anne of Green Gables. This changed only when red and bronze reigned on the heads of the ladies. That is why I know very well what it is like when unkind words are spoken and how strongly they can stick to you. But I have also met people in my life who, by saying the right sentences at the right time, have helped me gain self-confidence. Just like in the book, the boy's mother builds NOTHING, saying that "fortunately, NOTHING is dangerous."

I try to do the same, to say nice things to people. Just like that, because you never know if just one sentence uttered at the moment will turn someone's NOTHING into SOMETHING.

“Right and Left”, “Something and Nothing”, and now also “Yesterday and Tomorrow” are three books created by one author-illustration duo. How do ladies work together? What are the steps in creating a book?

• Working with Kasha is fantastic. I trust her with my text and I am always sure that she will do it well, that she will be able to complete what I am talking about with her illustrations. It is very important for the author that the illustrator feel his writing. Kasia has complete freedom, but is open to suggestions. However, they only concern small details when her ideas are brought to life. I always look forward to the first spreads. It is known that during the creation of the writer there is a certain vision of the characters and the world in which they live. When it coincides with the vision of the illustrator, one can only rejoice. Then one gets the impression that the book forms a single whole. And it's beautiful.

Such books, created by you for the Widnokrąg publishing house together with Kasya Valentinovich, introduce children to the world of abstract thinking, encourage reflection and philosophizing. Why is it important?

• We live in a world that is trying to push people into certain limits, and not give them complete freedom. Just look at what the curriculum looks like. There is little room for creativity in it, but a lot of work, verification and verification. And this teaches that the key must be adjusted, because only then is it good. And this, unfortunately, leaves too little room for individuality, for one's own view of the world. And we are not talking about immediately going to extremes and breaking all the rules. Then it's just a riot. But learn to be yourself and think in your own way, have your own opinion. To be able to express one's opinion, to discuss, to find a compromise when necessary, but also not to yield to anyone always and just adapt. Because a person can be truly happy only when he himself. And he must learn to be himself from an early age.

I am very curious what you are preparing for the youngest readers now.

• The queue is waiting”After the thread to the ball“is a story that tells, among other things, about loneliness. It will be published by the Alegoriya publishing house. This is a story about how sometimes small events can intertwine people's lives like a thread. If all goes according to plan, the book should be out in late May/early June.  

Thanks for the interview!

(: from the author's archive)