"Name is destiny": Oral Arukenova discusses the hidden meanings of characters and the art of writing.
— Oral, could you tell us how your literary journey began? What was the first step you took in writing?
— It all started with the Open Literary School in Almaty. I found out about it online and enrolled in a poetry course, where I was encouraged to try my hand at prose as well. That's how I ended up in Pavel Bannikov's group, for which I am very grateful. After a year of study, my poems were published in the magazine "Prostor," and my prose appeared in a collection. This was my first serious achievement, but I still doubted whether I could call myself a writer. Then, when several of my works were published, I realized: yes, I am on the right path.
1
©Dana Krasnova
— Your first book "Rules of the Oil Industry" won the "Debut of the Year" award. How did it end up being published?
— It was a completely surprising situation! I had never sent my manuscripts to publishers myself. My first book was submitted by Yuri Serebryansky — one of my teachers. He handed the manuscript to the "Meloman" publishing house, and a few months later, I received a call: "We are going to publish you!" It was unexpected and joyful because, at that moment, very few Russian-speaking authors were being published in Kazakhstan. I was told that publishing was only possible in Russia, but I firmly decided: "No, I want to publish my books in Kazakhstan." And it worked out!
— It's remarkable that other people played a significant role in your publication story. Have you really never had to submit your work yourself?
— Yes, that's how it turned out! For instance, my second award is also linked to an unexpected turn of events. I was on the jury for a literary competition, and one day I received a call from an organizer: "We have few entries; do you have anything?" It was the day before the last day for submissions, and I had just finished editing a novella. I sent it in — and won!
2
©Dana Krasnova
— How did your latest book "Akpan" come about?
— It has a similar story. My manuscript was sent by Krutova, and shortly after, it ended up at the publishing house. It's amazing how everything comes together. If it weren't for the support of people who believe in me and my texts, this journey would have been entirely different.
— What advice would you give to those who dream of writing but are afraid to take the first step?
— Believe in yourself and do not be afraid to share your texts! Sometimes fate leads you to the right people, but it's essential not to hide your creativity. The key is to write, grow, learn, and be open to opportunities.
— Your book "Akpan" addresses very sharp social issues. How did the idea for this work come about?
— It wasn't planned in advance. Initially, I wanted to write about the history of slavery, as I encountered it myself. One of my relatives ended up in slavery, and I had to go personally to retrieve him. At that time, I was shocked: everyone around knew about it, but no one reacted.
— So this is a real story that you experienced yourself?
— Yes, and it shook me. I could never have imagined that slavery in Kazakhstan is not just a rare occurrence but a reality that is kept silent. But when I started writing, it became clear that this topic is inextricably linked to other issues.
— Which ones specifically?
— For example, debt. Why does a person end up in slavery? Often, it’s due to debts. Loans become a trap that is impossible to escape. It's like a chain reaction: a person takes out a loan, can't pay it back, finds themselves in a difficult situation, and then it gets even worse. That's why the book turned out so bleak, although I didn't set out to describe everything in a depressing way. It's simply life, which cannot be ignored.
3
©Dana Krasnova
— Your books often end with open endings. Why do you choose this approach?
— I want the reader to become my co-author. When the story is completely laid out, it leaves no room for reflection. But if the ending remains open, each reader may have their version of how events unfold. I believe this way, the book lives longer and evokes more emotions.
— You write in both Kazakh and Russian. How do you decide which language to use for a particular story?
— It happens differently. Sometimes I start writing in Kazakh and then translate it into Russian. Other times, it's the opposite. But I wouldn't call it translation in the classical sense.
— Why not?
— Because I am not a translator. When I work with my own text, I cannot remain indifferent to it. The plot might be the same, but the feelings and emphasis differ. Whenever I start to adapt a text into another language, there's a temptation to improve or revise it. It's no longer a translation but rather a new version of the same story. That's why I probably won't translate my books myself. A true translator must preserve the original meaning, but I want to add, change, and enhance. I think this is a common issue for all writers who edit: we always feel that the text can be made even better.
4
©Dana Krasnova
— Your works often contain deep symbolism. Do you consciously use it in your writings?
— Of course, there is symbolism. But perhaps not everyone notices it or talks about it. For instance, in "Akpan," the two main characters go through the month of Akpan. This is not a coincidence. In the nomadic tradition, Akpan is one of the hardest months, a time of drought when livestock dies en masse from hunger and cold. It's a period of trials, survival, and struggle.
— Is this symbolism connected to your personal experience?
— Yes, undoubtedly. My father was born in 1916; he was a nomad in his childhood, and I grew up hearing these stories in Kazakh. For me, this symbolism is alive and clear; it is woven into my perception of the world.
— Your heroes are not just people; they might also represent metaphors? For example, are they like two different paths, two worldviews?
— Exactly. They are different, but I wouldn't say that this is a metaphor for "new" and "old" Kazakhstan. Rather, they are two types of people. One of them craves instant gratification, seeks to obtain something quickly without thinking about the consequences. It seems to me that such people have always existed. But what's interesting is that I believe Oscar (one of the characters) could change. Although this doesn't happen in the book, I believe that a person can always reconsider their life.
— You often change character names in your books. How does this process work?
— Yes, I change names quite often. I used to struggle with this for a long time, searching for unique options. Then I realized that the importance lies not only in the meaning of the name but also in its sound.
— Are you referring to phonetics?
— Yes, phonetics plays a significant role. Now I choose names so that they phonetically differ — to create various rhythms and sounds in the book. This helps the reader better perceive the characters and distinguish them in their minds.
5
©Dana Krasnova
— So, for instance, a name can reflect a character's personality?
— Exactly. I work with associations. I think about which names evoke positive or negative emotions in me, which sound temporary and which seem permanent. In this way, I try to reveal the characters more deeply through their names.
— So this is also part of your journey in developing as a writer?
— Yes. Improving my writing is my main goal. I constantly think about how to make the text more precise, expressive, and profound. Names are one of the tools that help achieve this.
Read also: