Author

Get to know me

"You will take me to a magical place, where the fresh air drifts."

"San'soylûantarē me u sintierôa ketimorē, gûin kor'e'są su sakero rallanē."

Irena Wilk - a fantasy author from Poland whose work draws inspiration from dreams, mystery, history and the hidden realms between worlds. Creator of the "Beyond the last world" series. 💜

Ideas

The vast majority of the books were written during various trips. Ideas from all corners of the world will be featured in "Beyond the last world".

The vast majority of ideas came to me during trips to visit my grandfather. The mountain retreat was conducive to creativity. The fact that these areas were unknown to most tourists encouraged me even more to set the main plot of the novel there. But it wasn’t just trips outside the city that shaped my universe. I write down everyday curiosities and quotes in my notebooks from memory, and I capture breathtaking views, using them to illustrate the text of my book ideas.

Dreams

It all began with a combination of a ten-year-old girl's unsuccessful drawing of a fox and the first dreams she managed to remember.

As a little girl, I often spent time at my grandmother’s house. I’d sneak old calendars out of the 'storage room' and use them for sketching. I really wanted to draw a fox. I couldn’t get it right at all, so I decided to create my own creature from the shape that emerged. That’s how Arantils and . . . the whole book came to be. An interesting fact is that I actually had all my dreams described in the first volume. To remember them all, I started keeping a dream journal - I’ve already collected nearly a thousand of the ones worth remembering.

"They say every story is different. However, if you look closely at them all, you’ll find that each one is structured in a very similar way. Dreams, on the other hand, are a kind of story told with our help, but by someone else. You just have to know how to tell the story properly. Then you don’t have to make anything up - you just have to remind yourself."

Irena Wilk

Language of the universe

Developed alongside the writing of the books. I think every unique and exceptional fantasy world should (at first) be incomprehensible. Luckily, there are dictionaries. 😉

A seemingly non-existent language should come into being in a world that is supposed to be unique and one-of-a-kind. In order to be able to use it relatively easily, I have created a dictionary and symbols that are worth knowing to be able to pronounce words correctly in ancient Kalerato. I also use it to write poems and songs.

Author zone

For more information about the book and the author, please visit the Poligraf Publishing House website.

Creatures of the universe

They were born out of a desire to create something on my own. Their diversity reflects my ideas. You can discover them all in the next volumes of the "Beyond the last world" series.

Arantils and Mortalis, which appear as early as the first volume of the series, are just two of the many species of creatures I’ve managed to come up with. In an effort to maintain the relative autonomy of my universe, I tried not to draw on well-known fantasy tropes. The places where I slipped up will become apparent in the next volumes of the series. 😅

Gemstones

The structure and symbolism of stones - the light and sparkles shining through them are beautiful. Some characters in the book even have their favorite precious stones.

I used to want to study geology. Unfortunately, I’ve never been much of a science person, so perhaps it’s for the best that I’ve stayed connected to stones in a more symbolic way. I also enjoy reading about them, and I even have a small collection. I’ve used some of them to 'build' book palaces.

Jewelry

Wearing handmade jewelry gives you a feeling of comfort. There are enough precious stones and crystals to make a set for each of the thirteen colors of the sorcerer's rainbow.

I discovered jewelry making relatively recently, but I immediately fell in love with this creative pursuit. I think I have sets of most of the stones that can be used. Only sometimes I like glass beads so much that I want to have them in my collection as well.

Mountain hiking

Distant views reveal the perspective of the world I'm creating, while secluded and forgotten places along the trail spark wonderful new story ideas in my imagination.

Whenever there is an opportunity to go to the mountains, I am immediately up for it, even though my favorite peaks are not particularly high. My love for the mountains is so strong that the areas I describe in my book also found their way into both of my theses.

Music

Rock and metal sometimes take a back seat to other music genres, but in my heart they’ll always be number one. I just really love a good guitar solo.

When I was little, I’d switch between watching Barbie movies and metal music videos. Over time, I learned to play the guitar (though I’m no virtuoso). I also have a large collection of CDs, which, displayed on my shelves, let visitors know which bands I like. I’ve got a few concert T-shirts, too.

Drawing

Crayons and pencils are what I use most often, but I also work on canvas, walls, or even build models. It’s my way of actively resting from writing.

It all started with a sketch of a fox. I had been drawing long before I even thought about writing a book. Over time, writing became just as important to me as drawing, and eventually it took over completely. Maybe once I finish working on the "Beyond the last world" series, I’ll start drawing more often again.

Cats

It’s kind of description of me, but in a cuter version. The decor in my room (figurines, pillows, and plush toys) also reflects that. And, of course, my cat.

I like a lot of animals, but cats definitely take the top spot. Probably because they’re so easy to come by - it would be much harder to get a dragonfly, a weasel, or a whale. When it comes to home decor, though, you can find decorative items in every corner of the animal kingdom. Still, cats win out.

Light

Light evokes a variety of emotions and different times. It depends on its shade and whether it is natural or artificial. The time of day also plays a role.

I have the impression that everything is more beautiful in the light. Ugly places become charming, while seemingly beautiful ones, but deprived of the sky's radiance, seem soulless. There is also the question of time - am I the only one who, depending on the shade of light and the type of clouds, sees different ages of the world in the sky?

Sky

Stratus clouds are the sky’s greatest enemy. When they appear, it’s hard to see the blue. They block out the light that looks beautiful on cumulus clouds.

Well, speaking of the sky, it's worth mentioning that the princess enjoys even the smallest patch of blue. 🥰 Everyone knows that the clouds behind the mountain ranges look like a slightly higher extension of them. But what if they rise even higher, until at some point they no longer resemble mountains?

Planets and stars

Twinkling across the night sky, they evoke memories of the Old World. However, we won’t learn about it until the end of the entire series.

Everything that isn’t in the book (or at least not yet) is written in the sky. If one wishes to seek the truth, it can only be found where other planes of the world float in space. Between them, various stars, planets, and nebulae dazzle with their colors, and often with a cosmic light that shimmers in every direction of the sky.