Maryna Sokolyan was born on December 18, 1979, in Poltava, Ukraine. She spent her final year of high school in the United States (Missouri) as part of an international exchange program. In 1996, she enrolled at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, where she earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in sociology. During her studies, Maryna focused on topics such as utopia, globalization, political myths, and the impact of information technology on public opinion.
Maryna began working at the age of 17, exploring various roles, including promoter, journalist, political analyst, editor-in-chief, and PR manager. Her first publications appeared in newspapers, magazines, and online platforms. In 2003, her debut book, a collection of short stories titled Tsurpalky (Splinters), was published after she won the Smoloskyp literary contest.
She later developed an interest in screenwriting, attending a workshop organized by the Suspense Film Studio. Maryna worked as an editor on several television series and wrote scripts for two feature films. She is also passionate about contemporary theater. In 2011–2012, she participated in a playwriting seminar, a project by London’s Royal Court Theatre, held in Lviv and Tbilisi. Her play Kumari was presented as a staged reading at the Molodyi Theater during the “Week of Contemporary Ukrainian Plays 2011.”
Maryna Sokolyan’s literary work spans various genres, including science fiction, philosophical fiction, and realistic fiction. Her book Herem received special recognition from the European Science Fiction Society (ESFS) at EuroCon 2008, as well as an award from the International Assembly of Science Fiction Portal. Her latest novel, The Harpy’s Heart, won the Coronation of the Word competition as the best socio-psychological work.
Currently, Maryna is the author of nine books, with her works translated into English, Polish, and Czech.