The Offices Unlimited team is not only highly professional, but some of its members are also talented and creative. When receptionist Katarína Brányiková isn’t taking care of the tenants of Na Příkopě’s flexible offices, she likes to play around with words. The budding writer currently has her second book saved in her computer.
Her debut novel, Vysoká (“University” in English), was published by Pointa, a publishing house that supports new authors entering the literary scene. This collection of satirical stories wryly takes on the academic environment and is inspired by her own experience as a student at Prague’s Charles University. “It’s basically a secret student diary,” says Katka, adding that, although humor does seep into the stories, the main reason she wrote them was her need to cope with the death of her grandfather.
For the young Hispanic Studies graduate, however, working on the book was more than just an exercise in self-help. She recently finished another short story collection which will be called Narcis a Pivoňka (“Narcissus and Peony” in English). In it, Katarína offers a tragicomic view on the complicated romantic relationships of her peers. “Right now I’m waiting for my editor’s assessment,” she says, hopeful that her second book will be published by an established publisher. What motivates her to write? “I want the reader to have fun reading my stories. I want it to be a positive experience. If I’ve achieved this, that’s all I can ask for.”
