BCC Shines A Light On: Anna Nazarova-Evans (Nika)
BCC Shines a Light On:
Anna Nazarova-Evans (Nika)
Name of the piece published by BCC:
When/where was it originally published:
Reflex Fiction (16th April 17)
Tell us more about your piece! What is the background of the piece? What led you to write it? What’s your process?
For me years 2015 to 2017 were all about releasing toxicity and learning about healthy attachment in all areas of life, but it’s still hard, if not impossible, to know what sparked off that specific scenario in my mind. I find that creative process is kind of like pouring oil onto the surface of the water – no one really knows what shape it would make, and it keeps changing and spreading, so you just have to take a snapshot of it at a time that ‘feels’ right, which is what I did with this piece.
How did you feel when it was first published and how have your thoughts or feelings on the piece changed from then to now?
It was a relief to have it published! We, writers, pour all our vulnerabilities into the act of writing, and the rejections from literary mags sometimes feel like love letters returned unopened. There was a breath of university days in the piece for me, not being able to get away from reminders of something or someone I then wanted, just out of reach. I feel compassion for her now – that teenage version of me, she was constantly being pulled in different directions by the intense craving to find a home in someone else.
Is there a specific message you would like readers to take away from reading this piece?
To me this piece is about trusting your intuition instead of overriding it, it’s about listening to that quiet voice within whenever you can… But it’s also about having respect for yourself even when you don’t manage to stay on the straight and narrow, it’s about self-forgiveness, self-care and self- discovery. It’s also about acceptance, and raising above other people’s appreciation of us, or lack of thereof.
What else would you like to tell readers about your writing? (Doesn’t have to refer only to your BCC piece)
I am fascinated by all relationships, and how it’s not always easy to separate our core selves from the interactions we have with the people around us. I see different aspects of this in my work as a hypnotherapist – the value people put in relationships often seems to be paramount to everything else in their life.
If your readers have a unique take on relationships – romantic or otherwise – I would love to hear from them: nika@epiphanytherapy.co.uk.
Where can readers find more of your work? (Website/social media, etc)
They can read my blog Happily Ever Before on www.EpiphanyTherapy.co.uk. It’s about empowering people to feel whole, complete and happy irrespective of their relationship status. I’ll also be compiling a list of my creative writing publications on the website in due course. In the meanwhile, people can find some of them on Google.
Happy reading!
