Eva John
asked
Nik Krasno:
We are in a similar genre, as my breakout book is horror fiction (CRONE, A Scarlet St. James Novel). Was just wondering, how will your legal and financial experiences in the Ukraine and Russia translate to American Authors? I find the language barrier and political base may preclude you from truly understanding what the system is like here. Am I wrong?
Nik Krasno
To American readers, right? Interesting question, thanks.
For many years I've serviced mostly international corporations doing business in Ukraine and Russia and I live in the West pretty much the same number of years, as spent in former USSR. I do set auxiliary scenes in many exotic locations, mostly where I've been myself, but the main backdrop is Russia and Ukraine, their history, current events, etc. I write primarily basing on what I know.
True, the readership for some cosy mystery taking place in a small town in Oregon may be much wider, but I was truly excited to realize that my assumption that there was a certain, maybe not big, segment of readers, keen to know what and how happens behind the iron curtain, came true. And on a relative scale there are not too many English-speaking authors who know what's going on there. That's some competitive edge. Maybe it's a wrong attitude to judge someone by your own preference, but I hope that there are at least some like-minded readers, for I would usually prefer a book set somewhere I've never been to learn more about the place and people there, than set in my neighborhood.
Language barrier? Yeah, it's a bit of a disadvantage. Nabokov overcame it, but I don't deem myself his league -:) I have a reasonable command of the lingo, but yes I do need to rely heavily on native-speaking editors (and Microsoft auto-correct -:)) for correcting my spelling and for occasional re-writes even. And if the story still has some Russian accent in it, well I hope it can be a distinctive feature.
All in all, I think I'm dealing with a much narrower niche of readers, that won't be spooked by a Slavic - sounding name of an author and a Ukrainian setting, but I'm grateful and gratified by mostly positive responses from the American/British/Australian/World readers who were curious enough to read my books.
For many years I've serviced mostly international corporations doing business in Ukraine and Russia and I live in the West pretty much the same number of years, as spent in former USSR. I do set auxiliary scenes in many exotic locations, mostly where I've been myself, but the main backdrop is Russia and Ukraine, their history, current events, etc. I write primarily basing on what I know.
True, the readership for some cosy mystery taking place in a small town in Oregon may be much wider, but I was truly excited to realize that my assumption that there was a certain, maybe not big, segment of readers, keen to know what and how happens behind the iron curtain, came true. And on a relative scale there are not too many English-speaking authors who know what's going on there. That's some competitive edge. Maybe it's a wrong attitude to judge someone by your own preference, but I hope that there are at least some like-minded readers, for I would usually prefer a book set somewhere I've never been to learn more about the place and people there, than set in my neighborhood.
Language barrier? Yeah, it's a bit of a disadvantage. Nabokov overcame it, but I don't deem myself his league -:) I have a reasonable command of the lingo, but yes I do need to rely heavily on native-speaking editors (and Microsoft auto-correct -:)) for correcting my spelling and for occasional re-writes even. And if the story still has some Russian accent in it, well I hope it can be a distinctive feature.
All in all, I think I'm dealing with a much narrower niche of readers, that won't be spooked by a Slavic - sounding name of an author and a Ukrainian setting, but I'm grateful and gratified by mostly positive responses from the American/British/Australian/World readers who were curious enough to read my books.
More Answered Questions
Geza Tatrallyay
asked
Nik Krasno:
Terrific. I will do the same in a little while. Right now, we are just moving into a new place in San Francisco and I am working toward the release of a children's book and TWISTED FATES, the third book in the trilogy. But hopefully by Xmas. Is that okay? Best to you, Geza
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