VANKAY TALES

What is the central theme of the stories in Vankay Tales? What kind of world do they create for readers?

The common thread is authenticity and freedom—written sincerely and without constraint. Writers hold infinite magic. My aim was to tell emotionally honest stories that remind us of our humanity. Readers have told me I've succeeded—and that brings me great joy.

I hope they wander through each story's corridors with an open, unbiased perspective.

How do the themes in your book connect with contemporary society?

Vankay Tales reflects our daily lives with fast-paced yet meaningful stories, ideal for today's attention economy. They explore prejudice, uncertainty, self-discovery, regret, playfulness, ego, indifference, longing, loneliness, transformation, and boundlessness—mirroring societal dynamics through personal tales.

Through minimal yet powerful storytelling, I aim to evoke deep emotional resonance in readers, merging individual experiences with broader social realities.

Vankay Tales is a poignant and imaginative short story collection that delves into the complex intersections of identity, culture, memory, and belonging. Written with literary elegance and emotional depth, the stories traverse the boundaries of time and place—from inner city corners to distant lands—offering readers a glimpse into the human experience through richly drawn characters and unexpected moments. Drawing on his Turkish roots and global experiences, Mathew M. Yazar crafts a narrative universe where the ordinary becomes profound, and every tale leaves an echo.

Mathew M. Yazar completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in English Business Administration at YeditepeUniversity, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, and in Tourism Design and Management at Istanbul Technical University, Institute of Social Sciences.

He then went to Chicago, USA, for an internship and began to live there. While in Chicago, Yazar pioneered the founding of both TYSA (Therapy Life and Art Workshop) and "Academic America" (Overseas Education Consultancy).

Yazar then played an active role in establishing TYSA in Turkey and organizing its events. TYSA is a large platform of artists and educators that offers individual and group workshop sessions and provides professional collaboration and support when needed.

Yazar continues to educate in TYSA's "English Speaking Club."

After completing his TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification, he taught English part-time in various educational institutions.

Yazar, who completed his Creative Drama Leadership education at the IDSA (Istanbul Drama and Arts Academy), also worked as a part-time assistant in the same program for a period of time. He aims to improve the education he provides under the project "I understand it, but I can't speak it" by combining creative drama and English language education.

Mathew M. Yazar has attended Mario Levi's long-term writing workshops on numerous occasions.

He is among the founders of Yeditepe University's "Dance Club," as well as of the "Didim Society for Protecting Animals."

Yazar, a member of the International Press Club of Chicago, lives with his wife and two sons in Istanbul, Bodrum, and Chicago throughout the year.
•Born in Istanbul in 1996.
•Graduated from TED Ankara College Foundation Private High School and later from the Faculty of Architecture at Bahçesehir University.
•Has been translating from Turkish to English for about 5 years, with particular experience in science fiction and fantasy genres.
•Places great importance on conducting thorough research to accurately reflect the terminology of the original work in her translations.
•Has native-level proficiency in English, with strong command of literary language, idioms, and both formal and informal expressions.