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As a researcher, my professional life is centered around my research work. But during my leisure time, I enjoy writing fiction for children, a hobby that brings me great satisfaction.
I am writing stories that grow from real places, everyday wonders, and the adventures of being young. My books are written for children – and for those who remember what it’s like to be one – blending humour, imagination, and a sensitivity to the landscapes and environments we grow up in. Beneath the lightness, I like to leave space for deeper layers, where everyday complexities, personal struggles, and shared cultural experiences unfold.
A short creative portfolio in pdf.
Alongside my writing, I also engage with young readers in libraries and schools — not only to discuss my books and the process of writing, but to reflect together on broader questions: What did (young) people record in their diaries 100, 50, or 30 years ago? Why do we feel compelled to write about our own lives? What does it mean to read the personal stories of others? Should we preserve our own diaries and life writings — and why might that matter?
These encounters are where my creative practice and research come together — in conversations that explore how personal narratives shape the way we understand ourselves and the world around us.
Jūrmala Central Library, December 2024
Published works
Published works
Sanita Reinsone (text), Aleksandra Runde (illustrations).
Draugi un Kaimiņi (Friends and Neighbors)
Jānis Roze Publishing House, 2024
"Friends and Neighbors" is a captivating coming-of-age story set in a small Latvian town at the beginning of the 1990s. Best friends, two eleven-year-old girls, enjoy spending their free time in a meadow under the branches of a large willow tree – a place they call The Jungle. It serves not only as a fascinating playground but also as a refuge during unbearable times at home. The city officials plan to build a factory right where The Jungle stands. The Jungle must be saved! The rescue mission unfolds not quite as planned, but during it, the friends not only meet their colorful neighbors but also learn much more about themselves.
Aleksandra Runde's illustrations for "Draugi un kaimiņi" vividly capture the essence of the early 1990s with playful lines and expressive characters. Her limited color palette enhances the nostalgic feel, deepening the reader's engagement with the young protagonists' world.
More on Jānis Roze website
✨ In April 2025, "Friends and Neighbors" was shortlisted for the 2025 Latvian Literature Award in the Children’s Literature category.
Sanita Reinsone (text), Kristīne Jurjāne (illustrations).
Kus mul patarei! Kā Igaunijas leļļi bēga uz Latviju.
(Kus mul patarei! How Estonian dolls fled to Latvia)
Published by Liels un Mazs, 2017
This work was sparked by the conversations I shared with my children during summer sojourns in Northern Vidzeme and trips to Estonia. The book is written as a storyteller's recount of legendary adventures, blending reality and fantasy in a fairy tale manner. The tale unfolds in the magical lands of Estonia and Latvia, where the boundaries between human and toy worlds are blurred. The book playfully subverts the prevalent stereotypes between Latvians and Estonians, weaving in elements of geography, languages, and traditions and introducing the neighbouring country of Estonia as a whimsical "land of toys".
The gorgeous illustrations by Kristīne Jurjāne add an extra layer of excitement and visual delight to the book.
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