Before she published the novel, she worked in a marriage agency. “I explained not to limit myself”

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Katarzyna Grochola is an exceptionally Polish writer and journalist. Despite trying to always be smiling and enjoy every day. Some time ago, Katarzyna Grochola heard that she had cancer of the right lung. The writer had to undergo a double operation. Fortunately, the worst is behind her and the test results are very good. In difficult times, the writer can also count on the support of relatives. Few people, however, know what the beginnings of her professional career looked like and what she did before she became one of the leaders of Polish literature.

As a little girl, she dreamed of writing books. In her first attempt, she failed her high school diploma

Growing up as the daughter of a Polish language teacher and a lawyer, she moved with her parents many times. Even though money was scarce for things like a TV or a new pair of jeans, there was never a shortage of books in the house. Even as a little girl, she dreamed of writing. Thanks to becoming a laureate of the Polish Philology Olympiad, she got into her dream high school. Although she did very well in Polish in high school, she had a B in math. When the time for final exams came, it turned out that Grochola failed physics and chemistry on the first attempt. Even though she was in humanities class, she wanted to get into medicine. She made another attempt in September and then She started working as a hospital orderly at the Wolski Hospital. After some time, she decided to quit. So she left for Wrocław with the plan to start studying Polish, but in the end she did not even start studying. In one of the interviews, as she quotes, years later she confessed:

I don’t have any complexes about it. I decided to get married. Besides, Jack London didn’t have a degree, I console myself.

In 1978, the author of the novel went to Libya for 3 years. She took a job there as a secretary and typist. When she returned to Poland, she started working as a proofreader at the National Publishing Agency. Then she left for London. There she worked in physical labor. When she returned to her home country, she became the director of a customs warehouse and a training specialist at the Foundation for the Development of Local Democracy.

Katarzyna Grochola about her professional beginnings. She didn’t always make a living from writing

Grochola as best-selling books, she achieved real professional success only in her forties. During the conversation, she opened up about her first job, which used to be her main source of income. As it turns out, before Grochola took up literature, also as confectioner’s assistant, cleaned toilets, and for several years was a consultant in a marriage agency. During the conversation, the writer mentioned the way she advised other people on matters of the heart.

I explained not to be limited by things like height, appearance, education. If we look at a man without veils and want to know who he is, what he likes, and not what he has, then we have a better chance to meet, even as friends.

For a unique event in her life, which gave her the strength to write books that reached hundreds of thousands of readers, she won, but a dramatic fight against cancer. The writer heard a devastating diagnosis shortly after parting with her husband. Now, with his literature, he tries to give hope to people in crisis.