The Full Story

Maryam Valis is my pseudonym, though most people call me Mary, derived from my second given name.

I was born in an Eastern European country during the time of communism.

After completing my studies, I emigrated to a Western European country, where I have lived ever since.​

Writing was never a natural option for me.

During my formative years, I was strongly advised to pursue a career path that guaranteed stability.

My father often said, “If two people live on Earth, one has to be a doctor.” Those were challenging times, where survival dictated every decision. While that era may have ended, its repercussions linger.

People raised and educated under communism often struggle with deeply ingrained habits of dependence and supervision, making it challenging to live boldly and independently.

This psychological conditioning, instilled so effectively, is something I’ve personally experienced and plan to explore further in a book inspired by these realities.

​Breaking free from this mindset—letting go of fear, caution, and the perpetual sense of being monitored—is akin to rebellion.

The feeling that your every action is under scrutiny follows you constantly, shaping your decisions and your life’s trajectory.​

The first person who encouraged me to write was a professor during my second year of university.

I didn’t know the subject matter for the exam particularly well, but I presented what I did know so compellingly that she awarded me the highest marks.

Ironically, it was a chemistry exam—far removed from creative writing—but that moment stayed with me.​

Today, writing remains a hobby for me while I continue to practice my profession, the one my father emphasized would always be needed, even if only two people were left on Earth.

My books, however, are neither thrillers nor soft romances. Instead, they aim to address universal challenges and emotions—those inevitable struggles everyone faces at some point.