Katarzyna Gołda, who dedicated nearly 20 years to Poland's Internal Security Agency and Military Counterintelligence Service, is making her literary debut under her real name which she had kept hidden for years. Her new novel "Złoty spadochron" is set to be released on March 11 and draws inspiration from the notorious Żelazo affair that occurred during the communist era in Poland. The book explores themes of personal freedom, the intricacies of paperwork within secret services, and the challenges faced in counterintelligence work.

In an interview, Gołda discusses the balance she aimed for between reality and the conventions of the thriller genre, emphasizing the need for dynamic storytelling while also trying to maintain authenticity. Her years in the services influenced her perspective, and she sought to avoid the exaggerated portrayals often found in action films, aiming instead to provide a more nuanced view of life within the secret services. Her goal is to engage readers by inviting them into a world that, while thrilling, reflects her lived experiences.

As Gołda steps into the literary world, her revelations and insights are likely to spark discussions around the legacy of the PRL's secret services, the role of women in these institutions, and the ongoing interest in Poland’s communist past. Her debut is set not only to entertain but also to provoke thought about the broader implications of secrecy, loyalty, and the quest for truth in a landscape marked by mistrust.