Ukrainian writer Uliana Dadak on her debut book: Books were something unattainable; I still can’t believe that my manuscripts will transform into a printed edition

Uliana Dadak is a Ukrainian writer who, despite holding two degrees in ecology and tailoring, stayed true to her childhood dream and embarked on a new path in writing – a passion she has nurtured since youth. Her debut book, Beyond Reality, is set to be published soon. Despite early rejections from publishers, she never stopped writing. Uliana shared with Drive Music Media insights about her fantasy worlds, the writing process, the importance of connecting with readers, and her plans for her next book.

Interviewer: When and how did your writing journey begin? What attracted you to this field?

Uliana: As a teenager, I started writing my first stories. Initially, they were fanfiction based on popular books, but over time, I began experimenting with creating my own worlds. Fantasy was my starting point – I was captivated by the intricate process of building magical systems. I’ll admit, publishing my own book had been a long-held dream, but I only began actively working towards this goal in recent years.

Interviewer: Your first book, Beyond Reality, is about to be released soon. Tell us about it: Who are the characters? What messages did you want to convey through this story?

Uliana: Yes, my debut novel explores the city of Lviv and its magical side. It’s a story about Orest and Dreva, two very different young people united by their shared quest for self-discovery. Both characters carry traumatic pasts that keep them from fully stepping into their futures. The central theme of the book is learning to trust – trusting each other, letting go of suspicion, and moving forward toward a dream of their own choosing.

Interviewer: You’re already working on your next book, Karraik: Rebirth. You recently discussed it at the “Book Country” event. How did it go? What is your new book about?

Uliana: It’s an adventurous fantasy about six teenagers and their efforts to save both themselves and the world. It’s a dynamic story, full of elemental magic and power struggles. At “Book Country”, I shared details about this novel with readers for the first time, unveiling secrets about the mysterious Karraik Academy. It was magical because I now realize this manuscript will soon come to life.

Interviewer: How did you decide on the genre you wanted to pursue? How many drafts or completely different books have remained unpublished?

Uliana: I love reading fantasy, so naturally, I began writing in this genre. I can’t say I searched for my niche – I simply sit down and write, and the result is always a magical story. While I’ve thought about trying other genres, those ideas have never developed into full-fledged works. As for the process of writing a manuscript, each of my works goes through three drafts and three stages of editing. I’m not afraid to delete large sections and rewrite them entirely. It takes a lot of time, but I prefer not to rush my work. Of course, hidden away in the secret folders of my computer are two manuscripts that will never see the light of day. These two works were my first attempts at writing something substantial – my practice runs and experiments with themes. I think every writer has notes or drafts like these.

Interviewer: How difficult is it for a new author to find a publisher? What was your journey to getting your first book published?

Uliana: I spent several years writing to publishers, but competitions were what really helped me break through. I still remember my first rejection letters – they actually motivated me to keep going. Even if things aren’t working out right now, it’s just a phase or training ground, and something good is bound to happen eventually. Despite the uncertainty about whether I would succeed, I never stopped writing stories. Sometimes I wrote more, sometimes less, but my imagined worlds never left me.

Interviewer: How challenging was it to translate the characters you envisioned into the pages of your book? Can you share your process for creating the illustrations for your book?

Uliana: When it comes to descriptions in the book, I must admit it took me a long time to learn how to write them well. Feedback from beta readers was invaluable –they often pointed out where I lacked attention to detail. I hope my descriptions are better now, but we’ll see what readers think. As for the artwork for the book, I was incredibly fortunate with my illustrators. They understood my references and preferences perfectly. The illustrations are entirely the work of the talented artists who brought the text to life in graphic form. My role was mainly to point out any inconsistencies when something didn’t match the canon.

Interviewer: What field were you involved in before starting your writing journey? Why did you decide to change paths?

Uliana: I have a degree in ecology and another in tailoring. Neither my education nor my job was related to books, but I was always writing and reading on the side. In the end, the pull of storytelling was too strong to resist. Books were always something unattainable to me, and even now, I can’t quite believe that my manuscripts are about to transform into printed editions.

Interviewer: What is it like for you to interact with readers during book presentations?

Uliana: It’s exciting. During these conversations, an author learns what readers enjoyed — or didn’t enjoy — about the book. You may have a different perspective on events or characters’ actions than your audience does. I love discovering how the story I wrote is perceived by others. It’s also a chance to share details that didn’t make it into the book.

Interviewer: What is the core message of your literary work?

Uliana: Everything has consequences. I strive to show readers multidimensional characters because real people are also complex. Our choices lead us to different situations in life, and the same applies to my characters. Whether living in a real world or a fictional one, we all make choices and face the outcomes that follow.

Interviewer: What is your mission as a writer?

Uliana:I want people to experience emotions while reading my books. These emotions might be sad or uplifting, but I believe a book should captivate readers on an emotional level.

Pictures were taken by Andriana Korol