“You have to write for children in such a way that adults do not get bored while reading,” said Wanda Chotomska, an eminent writer and author of more than two hundred books, at a meeting held on 11 March at Bolesławiec’s Galeria Format. As she admitted, she works mainly at night, when there is peace and quiet. “Noise is not conducive to any creative work,” she noted.
When she was four, she became fascinated by the work of Jan Brzechwa and Julian Tuwim. The poetry of Adam Mickiewicz was also a great source of inspiration for the Warsaw native. She received her first payment for her writing while still at school. She wrote love letters to her friend’s boyfriend. Her friend had a talent for sewing, but was decidedly less capable with a pen. Thanks to this unusual collaboration, Wanda Chotomska was the best-dressed student in the school.
During the meeting, the writer talked about the book she is currently working on. The work has the provisional title “Masz babo placek” and will be devoted to proverbs. Chotomska also spoke about the subjects she had never addressed in her work. “War is one of the worst things. I did not write about it because people must not be allowed to get used to it,” she stressed.
The artist radiated positive energy. She greeted the many children who came to the meeting with a rhyme in a rap style. She noted that she very much enjoys rhyming because “rhymes are the buttons that poems fasten themselves with”. And when one of the culinary periodicals asked her for a recipe, Chotomska decided to write a rhymed text. This resulted in “zapiekanka-kartoflanka-rapowanka”, which everyone gathered was able to hear in the author’s excellent rendition. In fact, that day the Warsaw native recited many of her works from memory, also revealing considerable acting talent.
Wanda Chotomska also shared many anecdotes. Among other things, she recounted how, once, during an author meeting, a boy came forward and said that he knew one of her texts by heart. He began reciting “Liski”. But it was a version that did not entirely match the original: “Four little red foxes / drank whisky from one bowl.” The young man added that his uncle had taught him the poem. Chotomska remarked that “you have to be careful with uncles”.
The writer also admitted that she preferred spending time with children rather than adults. She added that she hoped the youngest people gathered at Galeria Format would grow up to be kind-hearted individuals.
(GA information)