NURLAN TOXANOV: EVERY WRITER IS UNIQUE, SHAPED
BY THEIR OWN INNER WORLD

OCA Magazine: Please tell us the most important things about yourself and your creative work. What is your creative and life credo and motivation for your creativity?

Nurlan Toxanov: I mainly write detective stories, sometimes with a mystical touch. For me, the detective is just a form through which I explore ideas and reflect on the problems of society. Each book mirrors the period in which it was written, capturing the spirit of the time. I strive to write truthfully and keep the narrative dynamic to hold the reader’s attention. My stories are always based on real-life experiences and collective characters, and sometimes an intriguing story or life event becomes the spark for a new book.

OCA: How did you choose your path and who is your role model in the creative field or in life?

NT: Since childhood I loved to write – poems, prose, observations – and this passion has carried into adulthood. True creativity comes when inspiration arrives, sometimes unexpectedly, but always powerfully. A writer can never be the final judge of their own work: only the reader is. Yet, when you write with genuine joy, that energy is felt. Among literary figures, I greatly admire James Joyce, who revolutionized literature. His Ulysses became a source of inspiration for my novel Domestic Paradise, showing me how bold experimentation can transform art.

OCA: What is your main achievement(s) or positive impact on the world in 2024–2025?

NT: In 2024, my detective novel “Amanta Sari, or the War of the Red and White Rose” reached the final of the Mecenat.kz literary contest. In 2025, I entered the longlist of the Qalamdas Prize in the “Literary Criticism” category. This year I also completed the mystical detective novel The American Woman from the Karabuye Clan, where the plot unfolds between America and Kazakhstan. Its heroine, an American with Kazakh roots, inherits the mysterious powers of her ancient clan, symbolizing the meeting of cultures and traditions through the prism of mystery.

OCA: What is the main feature that makes you and your art/work unique?

NT: Detective fiction is still relatively rare in Kazakhstan, which gives my work a special resonance. My stories present our lives, our people, and the events that shape them, within a genre that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. I try to avoid clichés and banality, aiming to stay original and engaging. My personal experiences and emotions flow naturally into my books, creating authenticity and depth. Every writer is unique, shaped by their own inner world. What matters most is the ability to convey this inner truth in a way that touches the reader.

OCA: Please tell us about the events or projects of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London) and projects you have already participated in and how does ECG influence your creativity and success in your work?

NT: I have taken part in many projects of the Eurasian Creative Guild, which has greatly enriched both me and my writing. In 2023, I won the Guild’s competition in the “Short Prose” category and received a grant to publish my book, for which I am sincerely grateful. Meeting fellow writers always brings inspiration and valuable insights. Creative exchange sharpens one’s own vision and sparks new ideas. The Guild gathers talented and passionate people, and through this community, I find constant motivation to develop and expand my creative horizons.

OCA: How do you think the creative professions have changed and how has the role of art in the development of the world changed in the face of modern realities?

NT: Today creative professions are strongly influenced by new technologies, especially artificial intelligence. It can already act as designer, translator, or even writer. While it has not yet reached the heights of Shakespeare, this is only the beginning. Perhaps in the future, works created by human intelligence will become as rare and precious as natural products compared to artificial ones. This reality challenges us to rethink the value of art: the human voice, with its emotions and unique individuality, will always remain the most authentic and irreplaceable source of creativity.

OCA: What would you wish for the members of the Guild and other creative people who are just starting their careers?

NT: To the members of the Guild and to all creative people at the start of their journey, I wish inspiration and courage. May your ideas take shape and your dreams come alive. Creativity demands patience, discipline, and resilience – qualities without which no book can be born. Let us cultivate them in ourselves. If not us, then who will write our stories? Along with inspiration, I wish everyone strong health, happiness, and good fortune. Luck, too, plays a significant role in a writer’s life, opening doors at the right time.