Exploring the Genesis, Themes, and Aspirations Behind The Untouchable Series
G.J. Krefft, a Polish author, shares insights into her debut novel, “The Untouchable,” delving into its or- igins, themes, and challenges, alongside aspirations
Born in Poland in 1982, G.J. Krefft has traversed various professional landscapes, from accounting to wholesale, yet her heart beats strongest in the realm of creation—of worlds, characters, and stories that linger long after the final page. Shaped by the crucible of post-communist Poland and fuelled by an introverted nature, Krefft’s journey into the realms of imagination began early, finding expression in prayers, thoughts, and eventually, poems. However, it was at the age of 27 that she penned her maiden novel, igniting a literary path that would lead to the birth of “The Untouchable.”
Debuting in October 2023 with the English rendition of her magnum opus, “The Untouchable,” Krefft introduces readers to the mesmerizing universe of Olympia Blunt and Prince Adlai. In our exclusive interview, we delve into the genesis of this interstellar saga, unraveling the threads of inspiration that weave through its tapestry. Krefft’s narrative prowess shines as she shares the spontaneous genesis of her plot, the organic evolution of her characters, and the boundless allure of crafting within the science fiction genre.
“The Untouchable” pulses with themes of ambition, passion, and deception, driving its narrative forward on the currents of Olympia’s tumultuous journey from Earth to the celestial courts of Adlamerei. Krefft artfully navigates the complexities of Olympia’s relationship with Prince Adlai, deftly balancing desire with duty, aspiration with reality. As readers traverse Olympia’s internal landscape, they are confronted with the stark choices she faces, echoing the author’s own reflections on the weight of difficult decisions.
Yet, beneath the veneer of celestial intrigue lies a deeper undercurrent of liberation and freedom, echoing Krefft’s own experiences within the tumultuous tapestry of Polish history. From the shadows of communism to the echoes of war, her life’s mosaic finds expression in the themes that pulsate through her prose, urging readers to embrace resilience in the face of adversity.
As Krefft’s literary odyssey unfolds on the global stage, she grapples with the challenges and opportunities of bridging linguistic and cultural divides. With “The Untouchable” poised as the opening salvo in a series destined to captivate audiences on both sides of the language barrier, Krefft’s aspirations for the future of her writing career burn brightly. With determination and vision, she charts a course that promises to enrich the literary landscape for years to come.
G.J. Krefft, your debut novel “The Untouchable” introduces readers to the captivating world of Olympia Blunt and Prince Adlai. What inspired you to create this interstellar story, and how did you develop the characters and setting?
One day I woke up from an incredible dream and felt that I just had to write it down, so I rushed to my laptop and did it. Most of the plot was created this way. Character development came just as naturally to me. Each of the characters has a specific role in the novel. And each of them – whether good or bad – is essential to the plot. As for the setting, the choice was obvious. I love science fiction in every form and creating in this genre offers unlimited possibilities. But most of all, it is a lot of fun.
Olympia Blunt’s journey from a tormented Earthling to becoming the personal bodyguard of Prince Adlai is filled with twists and turns. Can you share more about the themes of ambition, passion, and deception that you explore in “The Untouchable,” and how these theme drive the narrative forward?
Opium and Adlai are both extremely ambitious individuals, who strive to reach a certain kind of perfection, and achieve goals unattainable to others. They should never have met, and yet when their paths cross, both their lives turn completely upside down.
Although Olympia and Adlamerei literally come from different worlds, they are equally stubborn and proud, however, when they are faced with the new reality, a hesitant internal battle begins to revaluate what is truly most precious to them. Basically, the more the characters feel for each other, the more they suffer. Passion gets in the way of a sober perception of the situation, too. It clouds their judgment and causes them forgetting their own strict rules they have been following thus far. Deception is another milestone of their love dance. Each of the characters has a hidden agenda, however, they are also fully aware of it. Instead of demanding explanations, they watch each other patiently, in anticipation for the next move. All these motifs have been deliberately woven into the rest of the plot to intensify the readers’ interest throughout.
The protagonist, Olympia, finds herself in a complex relationship with Prince Adlai, torn between her own desires and her role as his Untouchable. What challenges did you face in portraying this dynamic, and what do you hope readers will take away from Olympia’s journey?
GJK: I think the biggest challenge was maintaining balance. It required many compromises: some romantic scenes had to be cut short, whereas in other cases, an extra incident had to be added to speed up the action. What I hope readers will take from Olympia’s journey is that sometimes you have to make very difficult choices, which no one can understand, and it is a huge burden, sometimes unbearable even for the heroine.
The Untouchable touches upon themes of liberation and freedom, as Olympia grapples with the choice of following her own desires or implementing her plan to liberate people. What message or commentary do you aim to convey through Olympia’s internal struggle and decisions?
The main message of the story is: never give up. Even though it’s so bad that darkness has shrouded everything around you, and you can’t even see that tiny light far away—fight as long as you can, as long as you have the strength to. And if there is no way around it and things just have to go down, let it happen on your own terms.
Your writing journey began at an early age, from writing down prayers and thoughts to crafting poems and eventually novels. How has your background and life experiences influenced your writing style and the themes you explore in your work?
I’m an 80’s child, and as you know the Poles overthrew communism in 1989, for which many of them paid the highest price possible. Except for the lack of basic human rights, communism meant also for most of us extreme poverty. The stores were empty, and very often so were also our refrigerators. Total surveillance and fear that someone would report on us to the authorities, were pervasive. Those were the true times of terror. The whole Kashubian area is steeped in historical events. Just a few kilometres from where I live is Piasnica, the massacre site of the Poles, where German soldiers killed in 1939-1940 fourteen thousand victims and buried them in the woods, in mass graves. My grandparents, on the other hand, told me their war stories, how they survived, how they rescued family members from German death camps, and how their lives looked like after the Second World War, but this time under Russian oppression. So, as you can see, everything around me has a huge influence on my creative work. History is of especial importance to me and I like to use it as a source of inspiration, regardless of where I place the plot of the story.
As a Polish author making your debut in the English-speaking literary world, what challenges or opportunities have you encountered in reaching a wider audience with “The Untouchable,” and what are your aspirations for the future of your writing career?
I think I went through the same challenges as all the other aspiring writers do when they want to publish their debut book on the English-speaking market. Basically, it means tons of research, a lot of time spent on preparing materials and naturally a lot of rejections. As for future plans, within the next couple of years I intend to publish at least two more parts of “The Untouchable Series” in both languages. I am also already thinking about other novels, which should keep me busy for at least the next decade.
Follow the Author:
- webpage: https://www.gjkrefft.com/en/books
- Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/stores/G.J.-Krefft/author/B0CL4DY9WL?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
- Barnes&Noble:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-untouchable-gj-krefft/1144216259;jsessionid=BA763986F0768F879F860C7FCC7E4539.prodny_store02-atgap13?ean=9798890084613
- Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/G_J_Krefft_The_Untouchable?id=XdXcEAAAQBAJ&pli=1
- Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-untouchable/id6469299729
- Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/45294916.G_J_Krefft
- Lubimyczytac https://lubimyczytac.pl/autor/256735/g-j-krefft
- Allauthor: https://allauthor.com/author/gjkrefft/
- X: https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FGjKrefft
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/GJ-Krefft/100087791558595/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g.j.krefft/?igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg%3D%3D
- for her burgeoning literary career
