My Journey in Worlds and the Search for a Better Future - introduction post

Hi everyone! As a new member, I'm going to tell you a few words about myself. I loved to be called Olivera, as I've been using this nickname for many years. I'm introvert, though I'm perfectly happy to be in the center of attention in the right company. Vegetarian since I met my husband. Nature and book lover forever.

I’ve always been drawn to the power of words and stories, ever since I was young. Growing up in Russia, I found my voice in journalism during high school. At just 14, I was already seeing my articles and poems in local newspapers. Those early years, filled with my supportive grandparents, set me on the path I’ve been following ever since.

In 2001, I enrolled in the Faculty of International Journalism at MGIMO (Moscow), and it felt like the world was opening up to me. A semester at Sciences Po in Paris changed my perspective even more, broadening my worldview and refining my sense of what journalism could accomplish. Over the years, I’ve worked with a range of media outlets like Trud, Kommersant, Gothland, Darker, Coinfox, and Metropolis Nancy in France, exploring different aspects of reporting and even dabbling in screenwriting for children’s series. In 2007, I received the “BlogBuster” award, the first acknowledgment of my literary work.

But my life isn’t just confined to articles or scripts. I’m a long-time fan of heavy music and LARP, and in 2012, I co-founded After Us, a post-apocalyptic LARP club in Moscow. Inspired by the “dark future” worlds of Fallout, Metro 2033, Waterworld, and Mad Max, we built a community that loves exploring dystopian themes through themed parties, LARP games, and photo sessions. Our annual festival, After Town, has become Russia’s answer to the American Wasteland Weekend, a place where fans of the genre can celebrate their shared passion.

As a member of the international Dark Romantic Club, I’ve connected with artists and writers around the world inspired by private literary salons and clubs of XVIII - XIX centuries and finding themselves in a permanent pursuit of beauty.

Journalism, however, has remained my anchor, and in 2016, I joined The +1 Project, a media platform focusing on the environment, social issues, and green technology. It’s here that I found a way to combine my love for storytelling with a commitment to climate change awareness. This work eventually inspired my book series, Geryon's Code, where I weave climate themes into fiction, exploring the impact of environmental shifts in a world not too far from ours.

Today, I live in Tallinn, Estonia, a beautiful place to call home, where I continue to explore my creative passions while raising a family. I have a loving husband and a tiny daughter who brings so much joy (and a bit of chaos) into my life, along with the wonderful challenge of balancing parenthood and creativity. Parental burnout is real, but so is my determination to keep pushing forward, to keep writing, and to keep standing for the things I believe in.