Milante Gothem: The cleansing of the market from hostile literature has given Ukrainian aspiring writers countless opportunities

Milante Gothem is a Ukrainian writer and one of the authors of the mystical fantasy anthology 100 Shades of Darkness. She believes that, as cruel as it may sound, russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to the awakening of Ukrainian literature by cleansing the literary market of hostile works. Beyond her writing career, she also moderates a book club in her hometown and considers herself a highly versatile person. Milante shared with Drive Music Media the story of her writing journey, her contribution to 100 Shades of Darkness, and her plans to compile an anthology about mystical creatures in Ukraine.

Interviewer: How and when did your writing career begin? What were your first steps in this field?

Milante: I started writing back in school because I wanted to read something alternative – stories with different plots for my favorite cartoons or ones where the characters felt more like me in these fantasy worlds. At 14, I actively wrote poetry about war, probably influenced by my conversations with my grandmother, who had survived World War II. My creative journey has been thorny and uneven, like a rollercoaster. At first, I struggled to see myself as a writer due to grammar issues. But by the time I was 18 and choosing a profession, I already knew what I wanted to be. I started writing actively – creating quests for literary games, developing my own magical worlds – while still working on fan fiction, which I saw as great writing practice. During university, I had two scientific publications in computer science and received support from my professors, even though I studied accounting and auditing. 2024 became a breakthrough year! I accomplished more than in all my previous years combined: I endured brutal literary competitions, got invited to be part of a Ukrainian national record, and had my work published in a horror anthology.

Interviewer: Tell us about the collection "100 Shades of Darkness". Which of your works is included in it? Who are the main characters?

Milante: I see "100 Shades of Darkness" as a monumental creation brought to life by 50 authors from different parts of Ukraine, as well as Ukrainians living abroad. The editors were Zoryan Kostiuk and Valeria Sokolovska. A special mention goes to the designer, one of the anthology’s authors – Visnyk Temryavy. This horror anthology is striking in its diversity. The stories range from supernatural horror and thrillers to tragic domestic dramas driven by fateful mistakes. Some stories touch on war, while others use satire to mock certain aspects of society. Readers won’t just encounter classic zombies and vampires – they’ll also meet disturbingly realistic antagonists, like a russian literature teacher obsessed with her subject or elderly people zealously guarding their dark secrets. My short story, Graveyard Freaks, takes readers to the 18th century, where struggling medical students, desperate for passing grades, are tasked by their professor with stealing a corpse from a cemetery to prove their commitment to their studies.

Interviewer: Tell us about the process of creating characters. Are any of them based on real people? What do you focus on the most when developing your story’s protagonists?

Milante: My inspiration for Graveyard Freaks came from the historical YouTube channel Kokhanets Klio, which covered professions of the past. One such profession was that of "resurrectionists" – people who stole freshly buried corpses to sell them to medical schools or individual doctors. To make the story even more unsettling, I gave the antagonist a personal motivation: collecting embalmed specimens in the name of science for future generations.

The characters aren’t based on specific real people, but the historical events and facts behind them are authentic. I spent time researching to ensure accuracy. When writing, I focus on the psychology of my characters and authenticity. Stories should do more than entertain or evoke emotions – they should highlight significant issues. Medicine has gone through many unsettling phases in its development, so why not write about it?

Interviewer: Tell us about your pen name, Milante Gotham. What symbolism is hidden in these two words?

Milante: Milante means "black flower". It was the name of one of my characters, a girl who failed to meet her parents' expectations – a story many can relate to. This symbolism is personal to me. Gotham has three meanings: it’s a variation of my last name Hontar, which I took from my husband; it represents gothic aesthetics, which I deeply admire; it references Gotham City from DC Comics, home to one of my favorite characters, Harley Quinn.

Additionally, "MG" are the initials of my real name, Mariya Hontar. I stumbled upon this name by chance while choosing a role-playing pseudonym. I don’t publish under my real name because it’s too common – I’d get lost among other authors.

Interviewer: Why did you choose mystical fantasy as your genre? What attracts you to it?

Milante: I enjoy all fantasy genres, but I’m particularly drawn to dark fantasy, urban fantasy, and the supernatural. Fantasy as a whole allows us to reflect harsh realities in a softened, fairy-tale-like way while still conveying deep social and philosophical themes. It also provides an escape – a chance to become someone impossible in real life. The world doesn’t have to be comfortable; it can resemble ours but allow characters to influence the fate of nations and entire civilizations. Fantasy has no limits. The genre offers endless subgenres and hybrid forms, allowing for new meanings and interpretations.

Interviewer: How difficult is it to continue your career during russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine? What inspires you to keep writing?

Milante: Ironically, the full-scale invasion has opened many creative opportunities, harsh as that may sound. The literary market has finally been cleansed of foreign influences, creating new possibilities for Ukrainian authors, especially newcomers. Although some stereotypes persist, the landscape has changed significantly. The war has affected more than just literature – it has shaped our subconscious. Every profession today is adapting to harsh realities. We are witnessing history unfold, and it is our duty to document it for future generations. But it is painful to think – why must we endure this? What did we do to deserve such suffering from our deranged neighbors? Just existing? I draw inspiration from history, legends, culture, people, and all forms of art – music, painting, books, articles, architecture, and personal or shared experiences. I also have cinematic dreams that can easily be adapted into stories.

Interviewer: Tell us about the process of finding a publisher. What advice would you give to those who are just starting their writing journey?

Milante: I’m still searching for a publisher myself. But one thing I can say: never submit a raw manuscript – especially if it’s your first-ever work. It’s better to practice, upload training stories to literary platforms, get feedback, and refine your writing style. Only then should you study publishing requirements and decide whether to submit your work or go the self-publishing route. Personally, I prefer self-publishing for now.

Interviewer: What projects are you currently working on?

Milante: I multitask a lot – sometimes too much, which makes finishing projects difficult. Besides writing, I beta-read for other authors, helping them identify plot holes and issues in their stories, which also helps me learn from their mistakes. I was also invited to moderate a book club in my town. If it works out, it’ll be great!

Creatively, I’m compiling an anthology about mystical creatures in Ukraine. The title is still in progress, but the entries were selected through a Bloody Stories contest I organized on the Arkush literary platform. My own contribution is a short story about a Romanian vampire, Moroi, who hides in Podillia, feeding on human sins. I’m also part of Labyrinths of Memory, a novel written by 20 authors reflecting on Ukrainian identity and the past after the war.

Additionally, my short story "Redemption" has been translated into English for a Guinness World Record project, When Time Runs Out.

Interviewer: What is your mission as a writer? Why did you choose this particular one?

Milante: Initially, writing was therapy for me. But war changed my perspective. Now, I want my stories to inspire, make people laugh, cry, and reflect on Ukrainian culture and mythology.

I hope that one day, Ukrainian authors will be read as actively as foreign ones. Maybe we’ll even become the classics of our era. I also want to prove that self-publishing can be just as high-quality as traditional publishing.

Interviewer: What word best represents your writing journey? Why does it resonate with you?

Milante: I jokingly call myself the "ambassador of self-publishing".

Why? Because I admire underground authors, their passion, and their relentless self-promotion. For now, this identity perfectly fits my journey.