Oonagh C. K., author on Inkitt and Galatea
For Oonagh C. K., storytelling began as a creative outlet—and became a powerful way to connect across languages, emotions, and lived experience.
Despite battling dyslexia and struggling with reading in her native Finnish, she found her voice in English and turned her passion into a career.
With Envious Hearts now published on Galatea, Oonagh reflects on her writing journey, the inspiration behind her unforgettable characters, and the moment she realized readers were truly connecting with her story.
Read Envious Hearts
Inkitt: What inspired you to become an author?
Oonagh C. K.: From a young age, while other kids were sketching beautiful pictures, I was never good at it, so I turned to writing. What made that calling even more unusual is that I have dyslexia, and I can’t read or write well in my native language, Finnish. But somehow, English came easier.
10 years ago, I came across some of my grandfather’s poems and stories. One poem about my grandmother moved me deeply. The love, the history, the raw emotion in it were breathtaking. That was the moment I started to lean into writing romance.
Inkitt: What was it like seeing your story gain traction
Oonagh C. K.: I vividly remember the moment I hit 4,000 reads. I told my husband, and we were both stunned. It felt surreal.
The comment I’ll never forget was the first comment from a reader asking when the next chapter would be out.
That was the first time it really hit me: people were not only reading my story, they were invested.
Inkitt: When did you find out you were going to be a Galatea author? How did that feel?
Oonagh C. K.: I found out early in the year, January or February. I actually had to double-check the email because I couldn’t believe it was real. My story had been online for years, and then suddenly… this! I called everyone, my husband, my family, and we even had a celebratory dinner. It was a total shock, in the best way possible.
Inkitt: What are you most excited about readers seeing in your book?
Oonagh C. K.: I’m especially excited for readers to experience the emotional and personal growth of my main character, Ciara. She’s not a perfect heroine, she’s been through pain, betrayal, and a lot of self-doubt. But throughout the story, she evolves.
I think her journey speaks to something many women feel: that we’re allowed to take up space, to want more, to rebuild after we’ve been broken.
Inkitt: What advice would you give to other authors hoping to sign a contract?
Oonagh C. K.: Write the story you want to read. Don’t chase trends or tropes, don’t overthink what readers might want. If you write from a place of passion, readers will feel it. And give yourself grace. There were times I lost confidence, when I thought maybe no one would want to read what I had to say. But what saved me was remembering that I write because I love to write.
Inkitt: How do you develop your characters?
Oonagh C. K.: All my characters begin with a piece of me. I build them by exploring their flaws, thoughts, and emotional baggage. They do surprise me, sometimes they take a turn I didn’t expect, and that’s when I know they’ve come to life.
Inkitt: What themes do you hope readers take away from your stories?
Oonagh C. K.: That love, true, messy, transformative love, is a force for growth. It may look different for everyone, but it has the power to help us become our best selves.
Oonagh C. K.’s path to becoming a Galatea author is proof that writing with heart, honesty, and passion can break boundaries. Envious Hearts is a story about growth, love, and healing—and at its core is a message many of us need: it’s okay to take up space, to rebuild, and to want more. If you’ve ever doubted your voice, Oonagh’s story is a reminder to keep writing the story only you can tell.
