Polina Krymskaya

Biography

I've been writing all my life. Mom says "Dostoevsky" rose in me at the age of five, the moment I wrote a whole sentence instead of my first word. Since then, books and I are inseparable. I experienced my most joyful and difficult moments with them: moving from the far north of Russia to Belarus, entering the university at the Faculty of Psychology, the first day of work, and much more. For a long time, I wrote only for myself, not showing my manuscripts even to the people closest to me. However, at the age of sixteen, I started working on a new book. After finishing it, I realized I craved to share it with someone.

That was the first time I thought about publishing a book; however, I was unlucky. “A Stain on the Red Banner” largely reflects the experience of homosexual people in the post-Soviet countries. As soon as I started looking for a publishing house that would risk distributing my book, the Russian government enacted a law banning the propaganda of same-sex love. Initially, I was desperate, but I resolved to turn the situation in my favor and try my luck outside of my native country. Having completely translated “A Stain on the Red Banner” into English, I began looking for a publisher. This time I was lucky! Now, I am happy to write, share my thoughts and create freely, knowing I am safe and can find like-minded people.

Writing at this point in my life is a hobby. I work two jobs, one as a client communication specialist at an IT company and one as an English teacher for preschool children. I also study at the Faculty of Psychology, because I believe that a good writer is at least partly a psychologist.

Bibliography

A Stain On The Red Banner

Feelings Against the Law