Petra Štarková
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Petra Štarková | |
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| Nationality | Czech |
| Alma mater | Palacký University in Olomouc |
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Mgr. Petra Štarková is a Czech psychologist, publicist, and writer, known for her expert and popular science articles, essays, and short stories—primarily in the field of speculative fiction—as well as books for both children and adults.
After earning a degree in psychology from Palacký University in Olomouc, she began working with people with disabilities. She later worked for a children's and youth crisis hotline, online psychological counseling services, and EU-funded projects. Around the time she was on parental leave, she began supplementing her income through her long-time passion—writing. She currently runs a private psychological practice in Brno, where, in addition to regular psychological work, she also provides forensic assessments for private individuals, the criminal police, courts, and other institutions.
In autumn 2015, her first book, Pirát jménem Šampaňský (A Pirate Named Champagne), was published by Triton. Inspired by her son—who was the same age as the book’s preschool-aged protagonist at the time of writing—the book marked the beginning of her literary career.
In 2016, Portál published her second book, Jak to chodí v lidské hlavě (How the Human Mind Works), a psychology encyclopedia intended for younger readers. Štarková worked on the book for nearly ten years, and it later became part of school reading materials. In 2020, Portál published her second encyclopedia, Jak se dostat z maléru (How to Get Out of Trouble), introducing children to law, legislation, the social system, and the functioning of the state. The book was tested by children and parents through the author's Facebook page during its development.
In 2017, a collaborative book series titled Má to háček (There’s a Catch) was launched in a co-production between Pasparta and Albatros Media, with Štarková working alongside Iva Březinová and, later, Lenka Rožnovská. The series is notable for featuring child protagonists who face various challenges or disabilities and has received multiple literary awards. Štarková's books within this series include:
- Lukáš a profesor Neptun (2017, autism)
- Můj brácha Tornádo (2018, ADHD)
- Pravidla skutečných ninjů (2019, behavioral issues)
- Největší nemehlo pod sluncem (2022, dyspraxia and clumsiness)
A book on high sensitivity, Jak to slyší delfíni (How Dolphins Hear), is planned for 2026. The series received the Golden Ribbon Award (Zlatá stuha) in 2021, along with several other literary honors. The books are gradually being released in audio format by Čtimi, narrated by Vojta Hamerský.
Since 2021, Štarková has also been self-publishing e-books featuring her older short stories under the Short eBook Storiesseries. These include:
- SEIF (2021)
- Odkaz zpovědníka z Loudunu (The Confessor’s Legacy from Loudun, 2022)
- Morituri te maturitas (2023)
- Návrat vlkodlaků (The Return of the Werewolves, 2023)
- Vlastenci, kteří nezapadnou (Patriots Who Don't Fit In, 2025)
Many of these stories are being translated and published internationally via Babelcube and Amazon.
In 2024, Štarková expanded her repertoire to adult fiction with Dej mi pokoj, a contemporary novel focusing on interpersonal relationships and the quest for personal boundaries.
Awards and Recognition
Štarková's literature has garnered critical acclaim and has been featured in the Nejlepší knihy dětem catalog, which highlights outstanding Czech children's books. The Má to háček series received the Golden Ribbon Award (Zlatá stuha) in 2021 for its significant contribution to children's literature.
Her books are frequently recommended by educators and child psychology experts for their sensitive and informative approach to complex social and psychological issues.
References
External links
This article "Petra Štarková" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.