Presented By Ann Dineen
I’m delighted to introduce our writer of the month, Dagmara Drozdowska, who achieved second place in the Pen to Print Book Challenge competition in 2019, with her debut novel The City Of Runes: an adventure mystery woven through with Norse mythology.
Dagmara is a resident of the Borough via Poland, where she obtained her Master’s Degree in History, while studying Runology during her time as an exchange student in Norway.
After studying the subject in depth, researching literature and watching movies, the idea of writing her own book began to form. Dagmara would make notes and research ideas; adding the knowledge she had already acquired.
While on a visit to Barking Library, she picked up a Pen to Print Book Challenge leaflet. This spurred her on to take the plunge and enter. Still nervous about entering, though, Dagmara left it until the last hour before the deadline to send in her first chapter and synopsis, and we’re so glad she did! She was excited to be accepted as one of the finalists, which involved being mentored and supported during her writing journey.
Her mentor, Jacqueline Gabbitas, encouraged, advised and steered her throughout. There was much to learn: from first draft, researching and fact-checking, to developing storyline and characters. This knowledge gave her the tools to write and, in turn, helped to build her confidence as a new writer.
One of the aspects she enjoyed most was researching: visiting Oslo and spending time in her favourite Museums; always keen to explore the subjects of Runes and Vikings.
All Dagmara’s hard work paid off in the end, as we have seen.
She says:
“Participating in a competition and writing a debut novel in my second language was so challenging, I never focused on earning any place; just wanting to finish it for myself. I still find it a challenge! The kind words from the judges, my friends and family, were the biggest award for me.”
Watch Pen to Print’s Dan Cross make the second-place announcement at the 2019 Book Challenger Awards Evening: