Yaryna Vovk: My true Ukrainian detective novel Don't Cry, My Beauty is less about the investigation and more about deep psychology

Yaryna Vovk is a talented Ukrainian detective writer who published her first book "Don't Cry, My Beauty" in November 2023. Her novel was printed by one of the largest Ukrainian publishers, "Family Leisure Club." The writer had dreamed of publishing a book since her teenage years, and the genre found her naturally – children always have many questions and a strong love for mysteries, and Yaryna loved the works of outstanding detective writers from an early age. Now, the writer has already finished working on the prequel to her novel and plans to release a trilogy of her detective series in the future. Yaryna shared with us about her childhood dreams and first novellas, the presentation of her book "Don't Cry, My Beauty," and her love for neuroscience.

Interviewer: How did the idea of creating a book in the detective genre come about? What was the writing process for "Don't Cry, My Beauty" like? What is the book about, and who are its main characters?

Yaryna: To start with, I am an avid fan of the detective genre. My bookshelf is filled with dozens of detective novels, ranging from Wilkie Collins, who is considered one of the founders of the genre, to my beloved contemporary authors like Nesbø, Thilliez, and Marisha Pessl. But to be honest, I never wanted to write a detective novel myself. I began by writing psychological novellas, but they haven't been published yet. And then, suddenly, a phenomenal idea for a resolution came to me. An idea that I haven't encountered in any detective novel, and I have read a lot of them. That's when the idea started to take shape in my mind: first as a skeleton, and later it grew tendons and muscles. The writing process was gradual and not very systematic, but within six months, I managed to write a complete novel.

The main characters of the book are Mykhailyna Khyzhnyak, a criminal psychologist, and her partner and close friend Myroslav Zorya, who works as the head of the department investigating crimes against life and health. The plot centers around the murder of a young, beautiful teacher named Nina, who was found dead in the bathroom of her own apartment. Both I and my readers note that this book is not so much about the investigation as it is about deep psychology. It's also about the idea that we all come from our childhood, and the basic neural connections that form at the beginning of our life journey become the foundation of our personality and the basis for our adult life. I have been studying this topic for many years, and the book became a natural extension of my own searches and worldview.

Interviewer: Every journey has its beginning. What was your start in writing, and why did you choose this path?

Yaryna: It's quite simple. Our inclinations show from an early age, so I started writing stories in a school notebook when I was about twelve years old. Then for quite a long time, I was “finding” myself, as it is fashionable to say now. And then, closer to twenty-seven, I realized that I never lost myself. I always knew who I was. I always knew my purpose. I just needed to get to know myself rather than seek answers through others.

Interviewer: How long did you wait for responses from publishers? Which one accepted your book, and what was the process of preparing the book for publication like?

Yaryna: I sent the manuscript to 30+ publishers. I waited for responses for more than three months. It was long, tedious, and anxiety-inducing. I hate waiting. At a certain point, I even started considering self-publishing. But then I received positive responses from two publishers: first from the Kyiv-based publisher “Dakor,” and then from the publishing giant “Family Leisure Club.” I chose the latter as “FLC” offered better conditions and a larger print run.

Interviewer: What was the most challenging part of writing the detective novel, and what came easily? Where did you draw inspiration for new stories?

Yaryna: The most challenging part was skillfully bringing all the plot lines together. It was also difficult to accurately and realistically detail the technical aspects of the investigation – like different types of forensic examinations. I was helped in this by a close acquaintance who worked as an investigator in the department for investigating crimes against life and health for ten years. The easiest part for me has always been describing the inner world of the characters, their feelings, reflections, and experiences. This is my favorite and most cherished aspect. Some say this makes the novel feel dragged out. Others, on the contrary, claim that this was the best part – the ability to get under the characters' skin and understand every thought, every action, every word. 

Interviewer: Presentation of the book you've been waiting so long for. What was that day like? What stands out the most, and how did your presentation begin?

Yaryna: It was one of the best days of my life. I held the first presentation at the regional library in Uzhhorod, where many Ukrainian authors like Lyubka, Zhadan, Sofia Andrukhovych, and Maksym Kidruk had their presentations. Many friends and acquaintances came to support me, which was incredibly pleasant. On that same day, just two hours before the presentation, I received the first sales report for the month, showing that over 1300 copies had been sold in 30 days. At that moment, I knew I was on the right path. No, it doesn't mean everything will always be easy and smooth, but I am convinced this is my path. And I finally dared to step onto it. A few days after the presentation, I organized a trip to London for myself. It had been a long-time dream of mine. In short, everything is going as it should, and it was a vividly lived experience.

Interviewer: Yaryna Vovk is your pseudonym. Why did you choose it?

Yaryna: I always knew I would write under a pseudonym because I don't want many people to know my real name and surname. About a year ago, while reading Valerian Pidmohylny's "The City," I came across a brilliant quote that perfectly reflects my view. He said, "It's too much responsibility to sign with your real name. It's like a commitment to live and think as we write." I totally agree with him. As for the pseudonym's meaning, it's quite simple. Yaryna is the Old Slavic version of my real name, and Vovk is an ancient Ukrainian surname that directly points to my nationality and origin. And maybe I want to be in the company of my namesakes – Thomas Wolfe and Virginia Woolf – just a little. Just kidding. I have no totemic affinity for wolves, but it has long been believed that the surname Vovk protects its bearer and grants them mystical strength. So I choose to believe in that.

Interviewer: What is your favorite part of your detective novel "Don't Cry, My Beauty"? Answer both as the author and as a reader. Are these parts different?

Yaryna: My favorite part is the episode where the main character, Mykhailyna, meets with a representative of the city's criminal clan in a nightclub to find out if the top echelons are involved in Nina's murder. I don't know why I like this scene so much, but it's the one I reread the most. As a reader, I think the favorite part would be the resolution because most people are genuinely shocked by it. In my novel, the ending is almost impossible to predict. The girl who wrote the annotation for my book even made a TikTok video where she reads the last pages and widens her eyes in surprise. These are entirely different parts of the novel, so it's hard to compare them. The thing is, I wrote this novel, and the resolution is not a surprise to me.

Interviewer: When preparing for the publication of your novel, did you expect it to bring you such success? What is it like to feel that the work of a significant part of your life has resonated with so many literature enthusiasts?

Yaryna: Honestly, I had no expectations. I believe that building excessive expectations is not a very successful strategy. You just have to keep moving forward. Just do your job and do it as well as possible. Many great novels – like Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” or James Joyce’s “Ulysses” – were not recognized immediately but are now considered epochal works. Of course, I don't compare myself to these artists. I just want to say that I do everything I can, and then I let go of my novel, and its fate no longer depends entirely on me. I am happy that my novel "Don't Cry, My Beauty," my style, and my thoughts have found their fans. But even if that weren’t the case, nothing would change. I will continue to write and create worlds, regardless of anything or anyone.

Interviewer: Tell us about your interest in neuroscience. Why did it captivate you, and what interests you about it?

Yaryna: I have been interested in the brain since my teenage years. Recently, I found my old notes where I wrote down the names of different brain areas and their functions. This wasn’t for school; I was studying law, so it was purely for personal interest and expanding my general knowledge. This interest was revitalized about a year ago before my novel was published. I happened to see a video by a psychologist claiming that overeating and excessive reading harm the brain equally. This is, of course, unscientific nonsense. I then detailed this topic in my stories and explained to my readers the different neurobiological natures of consuming excessive food and excessive reading. Spoiler: you can read as much as you want ;) especially for anxious people, because English scientists from the University of Sussex have proven that stress decreases by more than 60% after just the first seven minutes of reading. In short, from that moment, I reintroduced regular consumption of neuroscience content into my life, such as books and interviews with neuroscientists. To promote my debut novel, I created a popular science lecture “The Brain and Psychopathy.” Recently, the “Vivat” publishing house invited me to give a lecture in Vinnytsia, and I developed a new lecture “Neuroplasticity, or How Our Brain Changes Throughout Life” based on fresh knowledge. I incorporate many elements of neuroscience knowledge into my novels. So now I am both a writer and a science popularizer. I feel very organic in this role.

Interviewer: The book is published. What’s next? The goal you set in your teenage years has been achieved. Can we expect a second book, and what will it be about?

Yaryna: Yes, the second book is already written. It will be a prequel to my debut novel "Don't Cry, My Beauty." I plan to complete the trilogy by publishing the second book and finishing the third and final part. Then, I plan to publish a collection of psychological novellas and step away from the detective genre for a bit. After that, we’ll see. I think ideas will find me, and all I have to do is bring them to life. Don’t be afraid of anything. Don’t listen to anyone. Just keep going

Pictures were taken by Alina Krotkova, Krotkov Denis