A fresh cultural voice has entered Georgia’s media landscape — Litguru. More than a podcast, it is an intellectual platform that weaves together literature, creative writing, the publishing industry, and copyright. Its author and host, Tatuli Ghvinianidze, is no stranger to the public eye: a journalist of fifteen years and the bestselling author of „Confession on the palm“ and “A week in the room”, she has long explored the intersections of social questions and personal growth.
Tatuli, how did the idea of Litguru come to you, and what was the main motivation to start the podcast?
After “Confession on the Palm” became a bestseller, I began receiving letters every day. Readers were asking me how to write a novel on their own, without a mentor. They also wanted to know what to do after the work was finished. The publishing industry is one long chain: the writer completes the text, establishes a relationship with the publisher, prepares the documents, the editing process begins, the book is printed, PR campaigns and presentations are organized, and then distribution and sales take place across the country. It’s impossible to share such a large amount of knowledge through letters or one-time meetings. That is why the idea of Litguru was born.
For the past eight years, I have been traveling throughout Georgia with educational purposes: visiting schools, universities, academies, libraries, and NGOs. Sometimes I am invited to salon-style meetings at literary cafés and intellectual forums, where I meet many people and the needs of society quickly become clear — there is an intellectual hunger. People want to know themselves better and to understand the world around them; they want to make the right career choices and take the right steps. They simply don’t know where to start or where to find the information that would answer their interests. So, meeting and talking with people also became a source of inspiration for me. I knew that the creation of Litguru was, in fact, inevitable.
What makes Litguru stand out in the Georgian media landscape?
Literature is a vast dimension. You can approach it from a legal perspective, analyze it as a business, or consider it as a profession. Behind the books and series we love so much stand whole teams of professionals: lawyers, writers, editors, proofreaders, mentors, illustrators, designers, translators, marketers, sales specialists, project managers, consultants, and more.
What distinguishes Litguru above all is that it presents all these dimensions of literature. It does not limit itself to book reviews or discussions alone. At the same time, Litguru balances theory and practice in equal measure — because theory without practice is powerless, just as practice without a theoretical or academic foundation can often be fragile.
Litguru is unique because it serves several purposes:
- Promoting education — we support pupils, students, and listeners of all ages in developing and strengthening their skills of analysis and interpretation.
- Encouraging self-knowledge — we believe the audience should cultivate psychological skills, since Litguru constantly pushes toward introspection and reflection.
- Providing professional support — we share knowledge vital for specialists already working in the publishing industry, as well as for those who plan to enter it.
- Raising legal awareness — we deliver accessible information on intellectual property and copyright, fields where knowledge remains particularly scarce today.
You are a well-known writer. How has this fact influenced the podcast?
My status as a successful author adds an element of unconditional trust to Litguru. When listeners know that the host — despite the small scale of the Georgian book market — sells more than 20,000 copies a year, they are willing to take advice. They understand they are dealing with a practitioner who has walked this path herself and now guides her audience toward tangible results. In addition, my eight years of work in the literary field have built a professional circle that the podcast can draw upon. Thanks to these contacts, listeners often gain access to exclusive insights from influential figures in the world of literature.
What topics do you cover on Litguru? How do you manage to make them resonate with both young people and a more mature audience?
Our themes are diverse yet interconnected. For example, the first episode — The Nature, Form, and Character of Literature — was dedicated to re-discovering the very concept of literature. The second, The Essence, Function, and Anatomy of Literary Genre, focused on helping listeners identify their favorite genres, both for writing and for reading. In the third episode, The Linguistic Fabric of Prose and Poetry, we naturally transitioned into the search for one’s own writing style. We aim for the knowledge we share to be thorough and comprehensive, but also engaging and accessible. I believe both I and my guests succeed in striking that balance.
What does collaboration with Litguru offer potential partners?
Litguru allows businesses to connect with an intellectual, thoughtful, and creative audience. It isn’t simply advertising — it is a statement of values. Brands that support Litguru demonstrate that education, culture, and intellectual growth matter to them. Such partnerships position a company as socially responsible and forward-thinking, a business that actively contributes to the development of society. Supporting education, culture, and literature gives brands a positive, lasting image. This isn’t just about promoting a product — it is about entering into a dialogue with the community. Collaborations like these help brands strengthen their position in the market and build long-term relationships with their audiences.
In what form is partnership with Litguru possible?
At this stage, Litguru offers four sponsorship packages: General Sponsor, Series Partner, Series Supporter, and Friend of Litguru. There are also additional promotional opportunities — for instance, featuring a product naturally within an episode, including it in the gift packages prepared for guests, or integrating it into giveaway campaigns. These forms of collaboration allow a brand to connect with the audience in a more organic and memorable way.
And finally, what kind of feedback do you receive from listeners?
The feedback has been positive. The most frequent compliments are about the high quality of the production. Listeners often write that the podcast is both engaging and dynamic, that the questions are sharp and thoughtfully framed, allowing guests to open up and explore topics in depth. Many also share that Litguru helps them rediscover familiar writers and works from a new perspective. Beyond that, it inspires them to write, to reconsider their professional choices, to start new ventures or return to studying. Reading these messages reminds me that the enormous effort I put into Litguru is far from in vain.
