"Zhakosha," Lacan, and other delights of life. A creative evening with Sasha Levin will take place in Almaty.
Sasha Levin is a journalist, editor, and writer. His stories have been published in both Kazakh and Russian literary magazines. He served as the development director for Informburo.kz and is currently engaged in business journalism, communications, and advertising. He claims to have written his first novel at the age of 8.
“Since then, I haven't stopped and, it seems, I've come to something that may not be perfect but is important for myself,” Sasha shares. “'Zhakocha' is a novel about mistakes, traumas, and the search for one's place among people. It also touches on drugs, monsters, and feminism, although feminists disagree with me on this. It took me a year to work on the book, and I consider it my first serious novel.”
The Almaty Creative Space helps creative individuals find their audience, connect with like-minded people, and learn to pursue their craft within the framework of developing the creative industry.
“'Zhakocha' is an interesting, bold, and undoubtedly ambiguous novel,” said Maria Sultanova, editor-in-chief of Zerde Publishing. “But it is the readers and the sales figures that speak for the author. The novel was released in September, and as of November, 250 copies had been sold, which is 25% of the print run—an excellent indicator for us.”
Zerde Publishing has been present in the Kazakh market for just a few years but has already released at least five books by both new and established Kazakh authors. In addition to fiction, the publishing house focuses on globally popular literature, including biographies of famous individuals, success stories, and educational literature.
“There are books you enter to seek thrilling experiences. You expect the story to intrigue, scare, and keep you on edge. But in the end, you realize you've gained much more. Behind the entertaining form lie complex themes, profound thoughts, and unexpected conclusions. Alexander Levin's novel 'Zhakocha' is just such a book. A horror story that makes you understand that the real monsters are among us. Or perhaps they are us,” said Ilya Odegov, writer and creator of the literary school 'Litpraktikum.'
Where to go: December 23, Monday, 19:00, Markova 44
The novel 'Zhakocha' can only be purchased in Almaty and only in print. At the meeting with the author, you can not only buy the book but also receive other interesting "goodies" completely free of charge.
“I would be glad to see, talk, and maybe even hug. Plus, there will be some truly mentally stimulating treats at the event. Among those who purchase the book, we will raffle off a six-month subscription to the 'Zerde' electronic library, which includes over 300 e-books and audiobooks, bestsellers, new releases, video courses, and summaries. Meanwhile, Ilya Odegov and I will soon launch a contest, the winner of which will get a unique opportunity to study at the next segment of the 'Litpraktikum' school. In general, we will share interesting insights that can help aspiring writers find their path.”
