Sometimes validation arrives when you least expect it. Last week brought the final results of the Gala Literary Competition 2025, and while I didn’t take the top prize, Eastern Empire made it to the finals — a result that still leaves me genuinely moved.
The notification email sat in my inbox between promotional messages and work correspondence, its significance almost lost in the digital noise. But there it was — confirmation that my work had resonated with judges thousands of miles away, crossing linguistic and cultural boundaries.
What strikes me most isn’t just the recognition itself, but what it represents. I specifically had Eastern Empire translated into Russian for this competition, bridging the gap between my English-language writing and the Russian literary tradition that shaped me. For someone who writes between cultures, seeing that translation find its place among the finalists feels like a particularly meaningful validation.
The competition brought together diverse voices all writing in Russian — poets, novelists, and storytellers whose perspectives span different experiences and backgrounds. There’s something humbling about being part of that constellation, even as a single point of light.
The timing feels especially poignant. As I continue working on The Influencer’s Canvas and navigate the complex terrain of contemporary publishing, moments like these remind me why I started writing in the first place. Not for awards or recognition, but for that electric moment when words connect across the void between writer and reader.
While I didn’t win, making it to the finals already feels like victory enough. Sometimes the real prize is simply knowing your voice has been heard—in whatever language it chooses to speak.
Posted from London, where April rain sounds different when you’re reflecting on meaningful achievements.
— Writer Julia Zolotova
