Natalka Burian
Natalka Burian is the cofounder of the Freya Project, a nonprofit reading series that supports community-based activism and the work of women and nonbinary writers. She is the author of Welcome to the Slipstream, a young adult book, and the cocktail cookbook A Woman’s Drink, and is the co-owner of two bars, Elsa and Ramona.
Twitter: @NatalkaBurian
Instagram: @ndburian
TikTok: @NatalkaBurian
Is your go to comfort food sweet or savory? Is it something you make yourself? Does food inspire your writing?
Since my day job is in the hospitality industry, loving food and drink is a big component of my job description. Eating and drinking definitely sneak into my work as a writer, too. But, as far as I’m concerned, ice cream is one of humankind’s greatest achievements. I love all kinds, from the fanciest, artisanal gelato to the freezer burned ice cream bar in the very back of the deli freezer case. If you live in Brooklyn it’s very likely you’ll catch me chasing a Mr. Softee truck for blocks for that cup of soft serve!
Have you ever experienced Imposter Syndrome?
I think most people experience Imposter Syndrome, and I am no exception. I believe it comes with any new challenge met or accomplishment unlocked—you’re just trying to recalibrate who you are as a professional in the world. I think it’s a natural part of the growth process, unfortunately.
Not all books are for all readers… when you start a book and you just don’t like it, how long do you read until you bail?
It is very, very rare for me not to finish a book. I read very widely in all kinds of genres and I’ve become accustomed to the fact that not every book will be my cup of tea. In fact, not liking a book makes me more curious about it. I often read on to see what, specifically, I don’t like (or what’s bothering me) and usually I’ll learn something new about myself as a reader and a writer.
Is there another profession you would like to try?
There are so many! I love space and always wanted to be an astrophysicist. There’s something about the magnitude of space and time that makes our comparatively small lives on this planet feel a little easier. I also like thinking about how little we understand about space—it’s exciting to imagine how much we have yet to discover.
Do you collect anything? If so, what, why, and for how long?
When I was a kid, I collected rocks. I liked thinking about how old they were and about all the creatures that crossed their surfaces over the millennia. Rocks really are a burgeoning storyteller’s dream; there is so much possibility in every layer of sediment.
