Kotryna Zylė (b. 1986) is a professional graphic designer writing books that reveal the mysteries of Lithuanian mythology to young people. In her works, mythical creatures are presented in an unusual, unexpected way, through contemporary expressions. The artist has an outstanding talent for “populating” mythology in the contemporary children’s world, bringing it closer to everyday life. She made her debut as a children’s author in 2014 with her book Milžinas mažylis (The Little Giant), in which she connected an impressive world of Lithuanian mythology with legendary Lithuanian places. A couple of years later, she made her debut in young adult fiction with her mystery novel Sukeistas (Swapped). Lithuanian mythology is a well-established theme in her work, and an inexhaustible source of inspiration for new stories. She is therefore often referred to as “the spokesperson for mythical creatures”. The designer and writer herself admits that painting is for her a job, while writing is an easy activity which she takes on whenever she has free time. 

Sukeistas (Swapped). Vilnius: Aukso žuvys, 2019, – 232 pp.  

When the sixteen-year-old Gabė meets Gedas at art school, both start experiencing strange, inexplicable things. As the two grow closer, the incidents grow eerier, and on top of that, Vilnius is suddenly paralysed by incredible cold and snow. It turns out that reality is much richer than the teenagers had imagined – mythical creatures live just beside them and there’s an alternative world. Furthermore, it turns out that Gedas is not an ordinary human child but a changeling, who needs to choose which side he wants to stay on. The book focuses not only on adventures and first love, but also on teenagers’ relationships with their families and creativity. In 2019, it was selected as the children’s and young adult Book of the Year and received an award for aesthetic visual expression in the children’s books section of the Book Art Competition. 

Selected translation

Latvian: Samainītais. Translated by Dace Meiere. Riga: Janis Roze Publishers, 2019