Jana Poncarová is a Czech writer, an author of fiction novels inspired by true events, based on research and interviews with contemporary witnesses. She especially focuses on stories taking place in 20th century. She debuted in 2018 with her novel Podbrdské ženy (The Women of the Brdy Foothills) which depicts the fate of three generations of women living in the foothills of Brdy. The readers’ response to the novel was enthusiastic and the book was reprinted repeatedly. Her novel Eugenie, set in the days of the First Czechoslovak Republic and Second World War won the Readers’ Prize of the Czech Book 2020 literary award. Other novels followed: Alžběta a Nina (Elizabeth and Nina), Cyklistka (The Cyclist), Herečka (The Actress), Nultá hodina (Zero Hour) and Dvojí život (A Double Life).  Jana Poncarová has also authored non-fiction books Děvčata první republiky (Girls of the First Czechoslovak Republic) and Vlastní pokoje (Rooms of One’s Own). She collaborated on both the latter books with a prominent Czech photographer Dita Pepe and both books were awarded in The Most Beautiful Czech Books contest. Jana Poncarová also co-authored Deník Věrky Kohnové (The Diary of Věrka Kohnová) which retells the tale of a Jewish girl during the World War II. Jana Poncarová also initiated the creation of a memory plaque on the house of the Kohn family in Pilsen. She developed the podcast Autoři na cestě (Authors on the Road) and she runs courses of creative writing. She is a member of the Czech Writers Association and the PEN Club. She lives in the municipality of Dobřív. 

Photo: Albatros Media

3 favorite things to do

  • Write (no matter what)
  • Travel (to the northwest of America)
  • Hike (in the forests)

3 favorite cafés to go

  • Café Louvre, Prague, Czech Republic
  • Better Living Through Coffee, Port Townsend, Washington State, USA
  • Little Sister Coffee Maker, Winnipeg, Canada

3 favorite bookshops to visit

  • Imprint Bookstore, Port Townsend, Washington State, USA
  • Knihkupectví Milada Holá, Rokycany, Czech Republic
  • Livraria and Café, Guimarães, Portugal
© Jana Poncarová, 2025.