Natascha Jurácsik

What was your favorite book as a child?

Next to obvious contenders such as the Harry Potter series my favourite books were the three parts of the “Ink-Trilogy” by Cornelia Funke. Next to an immensely beautiful world-building, relatable characters and an exciting storyline the idea of literally disappearing into a book fascinated me as a child and I’m still very fond of Funke’s work.

Do you remember the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

Thanks to the Hungarian educational system, in which children learn poems and folksongs as early as kindergarten, and my German grandmother being well-versed in German poetry, I was exposed to this artform very early on and grew to love it even before I could read it myself. It only made sense to start writing my own poems after having finally learned to read and write by the age of 7 and I haven’t stopped since. There was no conscious decision to start writing creatively, it simply made sense to a young me. I later learned that my Hungarian grandfather, whom I’ve never met due to his early death, was a writer as well; I’m not sure if an affinity to artistry can be passed on genetically, but the thought strikes me as amusing and even comforting.

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

This is a bit of a tricky question, seeing as I don’t exactly consider myself a “thrill seeker,” but I have been very lucky and privileged to do quite a bit of travelling. Going to South Africa and having the opportunity to explore the Kruger National Park must be very high on my “adventure list.” Driving around the Western half of Canada in a camper and getting to see bears, whales, orcas and some of the most breath-taking nature scenes has been an incredible experience as well!

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

I don’t usually “plan” to sit down and write a poem, so setting up a specific playlist to get in the mood isn’t exactly my M.O. I prefer the form of “free writing” or “intuitional writing” and simply jot down my ideas or even full pieces either on my phone or on any writable surface I can find. I do however listen to music anytime else; while reading, studying, doing chores, cooking, driving, etc. etc. Even while falling asleep at night I have an audiobook running. This is probably because I tend to struggle with errant thoughts, spiralling downwards into a rabbit hole of being “lost in my own head,” so listening to music tends to help me focus by drowning out unwanted distractions.