Ukrainian writer Dana Bezkray: I felt that I could change the situation with low-quality children's books abroad when I was reading local books to my daughter

Dana Bezkray is a Ukrainian who became a children's book writer when she felt a deficit of high-quality educational children's products abroad. Inspired by her own daughter, she began telling stories about her life in a fairy-tale format, addressing the exhaustion she felt during migration and her desire not to cause pain to her child because of it. This resulted in her book titled "Mom's Battery Ran Out." Danа also shared about her life in China, writing her first children's book, presenting her book during the war, and her collection "Garden of the Soul."

Interviewer: When and how did you realize that you wanted to write children's books? What inspired you?

Dana: I am a mother, and even before the war, I felt a certain lack of quality Ukrainian-language content for children. After the full-scale war started, like millions of mothers, I had to leave. And abroad, this issue became acute for me – 99% of children's books lack any meaningful content or even encourage a child to be a thoughtless consumer. When I read with my daughter, I first reconstructed the fairy tales to give them some meaning, and then began to create my own stories and characters based on the pictures in the books. It was at this moment that I felt I could change the situation with low-quality books for the better.

Interviewer: "Mom's Battery Ran Out" – quite an interesting title. Tell me about this book: how did the idea come about, what was the process of working on the book like, and how long did it take you to write it?

Dana: The idea came quite simply – against the backdrop of overwhelming fatigue that I could no longer manage. Instead of sinking into it, I chose to take action. My first step was to explain to my daughter that I was tired, that I also wanted to rest and sleep. As we all know, the best way to explain something to a child is through a fairy tale, a story, because children tend to identify with the role of the main character. The process of working on the book took about six months, the journey seemed quite smooth, as I met professionals who guided me safely along the way.

Interviewer: How many publishers did you send your book to and what was the moment like when you received positive feedback from them? Tell me what you felt at that moment.

Dana: I chose the self-publishing path, but I accidentally came across Probooks. They offer unique services, helping authors publish their books and fully managing all aspects of production and creation. They understand the intricacies of book creation, illustration, layout, and most importantly, printing. This is very valuable because as an author, you can entrust the implementation to professionals and direct your energy towards creating new tales.

Interviewer: What was the presentation of your book like at the Makariv Library? How did you prepare for this important event, what was the process of preparing for the book presentation like, and what was the reaction of the people?

Dana: As a schoolgirl, I spent a lot of time in the library, and I couldn't even dream that the adult Dana would see her book on those same shelves, with librarian Daria Petrovna stamping the library's mark on my book. It was an incomparable feeling! It was an interesting experience because presenting a book during wartime is a challenging task. And, of course, everything was not as I imagined it would be as a beginner writer. I envisioned the audience in elegant attire, interesting questions from the audience, chandeliers, and all that romance. However, as a children's author, you're accompanied by children's laughter, games, and "Mom, let's go play outside!" And that's wonderful!

Our event turned out to be very short, heartfelt, and fun. We invited a psychologist, discussed the theme of mom's fatigue, and a few kids signed up for the library right during the presentation, which is certainly heartwarming.

Interviewer: Why China specifically? How did you end up there and what's it like building your career in a foreign country? What challenges did you face along the way? What pros and cons can you already distinguish in your field?

Dana: I ended up in China completely by chance. My husband is a foreigner, and he was offered a job here. After an attack by neighbors, we had to find a safe place for our child, so we simply went to father of my child. But I plan to return immediately after the victory. Being a writer and staying abroad is difficult because writers are the ones who should respond to changes and events in society. I often feel disconnected from the context and blame myself for choosing safety over standing shoulder to shoulder with my people. However, I chose the path to build my business right at home; all my books are printed in Ukraine, as well as puzzles, stickers, and even T-shirts for moms, all made at home. This is crucial for me.

Interviewer: How and who created the illustrations for your book? How did you create the characters and understand how they should look?

Dana: The incredible illustrator Tetyana Harg, a Ukrainian illustrator, created the illustrations. We receive wonderful feedback on the illustrations; everyone who opens the book is amazed. Our family served as the basis for creating the characters, as did the story itself.

Interviewer: Tell me about your pen name Dana Bezkray.

Dana: My name is Bogdana, but friends call me Dana. With the surname, the story gets more interesting: I wanted to choose something that would identify me as Ukrainian but wouldn't limit me to just children's literature, something that had no bounds. "Bezkray" (Endless) seemed perfect.

Interviewer: You also have a daughter, and she was a significant reason for writing a children's book. Did she like the book, and what are her thoughts on your story?

Dana: Yes, my daughter was indeed the primary reason for my venture into children's literature. She adores the book because the main character, Sunny, is entirely based on her. All our rituals, habits, and even our dog, Toffee – who responds only to "come here!" in Ukrainian when she's misbehaved – are described in it.

Interviewer: "Garden of the Female Soul". You are a co-author of this collection. Tell us about your collaboration: how did you become a co-author and what is this book about?

Dana: Thank you for your interest in this collection of fairy tales for women. "Garden of the Female Soul" is titled so not without reason; it truly encompasses stories written from the heart. The collection follows a common theme of a magical garden, where each tale's heroine finds herself. There, wise flowers grow, serving as mentors, and meeting this garden and its flower changes the heroine's life profoundly. My tale had the fortune of drawing the traveler flower, a protector of travelers, and it seems like a serendipitous twist, as the protagonist of my story needed to gather strength and embark on a new path long-awaited by its wanderer.

Interviewer: What projects are you currently working on? What books can young readers expect soon?

Dana: When I first contemplated writing children's books, my main motivation was to contribute to creating a better world for future generations. That's how I perceive my stories – as seeds that, hopefully, will sprout and bloom into a healthy, responsible society in the future. Currently, I'm working on my second fairy tale for children. Its working title is "Grandpa's Garden." It tells the story of the same girl, Sunny, who discovers a magical secret in her grandfather's garden. This tale will inspire reflection on the fact that melting glaciers, burning forests – these aren't just news stories; they're realities that affect each of us. Nature isn't something that surrounds us; nature is us. And environmental changes affect us as integral parts of the system.

Photos were provided by Dana Bezkray

Illustrator of book "Mom's Battery Ran Out" – Tetyana Harg