An Interview with Vanda Atrakocsi

Vanda is a twenty-five-year-old author from Hungary with a background in computer science. Her debut novel, Dark Things, is a dystopian sci‑fi story set in 2049 and serves as the first part of a larger series. She has already begun working on the sequel. When she’s not working or writing, she enjoys listening to music, playing games, and spending time with her husband.

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Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Ah, the title … Honestly, it was almost the hardest part of the whole writing process. I was already about fifty-five to sixty percent through the draft, yet I still couldn’t come up with the right one. I had so many “cool-sounding” options, but none of them truly fit. Since the book contains quantum mechanics and coffee-soaked scenes, at one point I even considered calling it “Double Espresso”—but my husband absolutely hated it, and he was right. It would’ve been a terrible idea.

So, I kept struggling, searching for something that captured the exact vibe … until my favorite cinematic rock band, Starset, released their song “Dark Things.” It had the very same mood, the same energy, and even the same pulse as my book, so then it was immediately decided. And a fun little fact is that this approach actually helps me find the right titles for the sequels, because I can keep the structure and simply replace “Dark” with whatever word fits the next story best.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

That moment was absolutely surreal! When Ronaldo, the designer, sent me the first draft of the cover, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had only told him what the book was about and mentioned a few colors I imagined, and somehow, without exaggeration, he created the perfect cover.

The first time I held it in my hands, I was so overwhelmed I could barely breathe. I think it took a few hours for my brain to catch up, and then I just burst into tears from pure happiness.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

This is something I could talk about endlessly. My dad is the one who made me want to write, even though he’ll never know that anymore. Our relationship was complicated, layered in ways that are hard to explain, but the moment I learned I could never hug him again, something inside me broke open and I started writing just to put all those overwhelming thoughts and emotions somewhere they could stay safe and alive, and I would say that’s really the moment when the world of Dark Things began.

But it wasn’t only him. The many-worlds interpretation in quantum mechanics has always been a theory I genuinely believe in (since I first heard about it in detail), and I wanted people who aren’t from STEM to feel how strange and beautiful it is. And then there was that date with my husband, when we watched immersive Van Gogh projections in my country while a narrator told his life story. That whole experience stuck with me, because that melancholy sense of loneliness and being unappreciated simply because you lived before your world felt so familiar, so I knew I had to capture that same feeling in my book.

And of course, all the Nolan movies influenced me, too. The way he plays with time, perspective, and structure — and maybe that’s why I ended up writing the story in multiple points of view without even realizing I was doing it.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I’ve mostly worked in corporate, since my background is in computer science, and right now I’m working as a quantitative developer. I really do love technology, but I still hope that one day I can become a full-time writer, because then all the day-dreaming I do could finally have a real purpose.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

Every part of the process carried something meaningful for me, and each step felt rewarding in its own way. Knowing that an experienced team genuinely loved my book was already a huge feeling on its own, and I really enjoyed getting feedback about the story, the characters, the world, and all the twists—it made everything feel more real! Seeing the first draft of the book cover was another important moment, because it made the whole project feel tangible. But honestly, the entire journey was meaningful because I learned so much about the publishing world, and now I feel much more aware and intentional about the features of the book.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

All the Starset songs. But to narrow it down a little, I picked these from them: “Dark Things,” “Annihilation,” “Shattered Dreams,” “Ad Astra,” and “Dystopia.”

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

It’s just that so many things in life depend on perspective, and in a lot of situations, people really can choose how they want to see something, what light they want to put it under, and how they want to understand it. And even if they feel lonely, they should know that it’s something everyone goes through at some point, and it’s not something to erase or fix but something to recognize and understand.

The perfect reader is someone who loves sci‑fi and isn’t afraid to step into an oppressive, cruel world; someone who enjoys stories that push them a little. It’s also a great fit for people who are drawn to STEM. Ohh and let me also mention that the book and the series is definitely recommended for adults.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I’m working on the sequel to Dark Things, and I’m also finalizing my own card game called MathTrix, which is connected to the first book. I’m not even sure if that counts as a creative project, but I’m also preparing myself to host reading nights for anyone who’s interested, because I really want to meet more people and connect with readers in a more personal way.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

Atmosphere Press is everything an author could hope for. Everyone there is a true professional with deep experience. From the very first minute they were kind, patient, and incredibly helpful. Since I was completely new to the publishing world, I had no idea how much work comes after a “finished” manuscript, but they guided me through every step. I always got straightforward answers, useful resources, and thoughtful feedback in every round.

One of my sweetest memories is from Megan, the editor of the book. She talked about my story with so much energy and excitement, and I loved how much she cared about it. She taught me so many things, like where the beats should go, how to break the story into acts, and all the structural details that were new to me. I could talk about everyone in detail, but then this would turn into a fifty-page essay. Kyle, Alex, Chris, Ronaldo, Tal, and Claire were always available, even when I had a question on a weekend. They were proactive, supportive, and open with me from the very beginning.

I went from feeling completely lost in the publishing process to feeling supported and well-informed, thanks to the whole team. They helped me achieve my dream, and I will always be grateful for that. And what I also love is that being an Atmo author is so much more—we have opportunities to join reading nights or knowledge-sharing sessions and connect with other authors. I love the sense of belonging, and I’m already looking forward to working with Atmosphere on the sequels. And what would I tell other writers who want to publish? I’d tell them that publishing is a very effort-heavy and challenging process, but with a great team beside you, it truly becomes a great experience.

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