Simona Vilar Ukrainian writer Date of Birth: 01.05.1965 Country: Ukraine

1. The Literary Journey of Simone Villar
2. Early Career and Pseudonyms
3. Best-Selling Historical Novels
4. Expansion into Historical Detectives and Ukrainian History
5. Slavic Fantasy and the "Svetorada" Trilogy
6. Return to Western European History
7. A Dedicated Medievalist

The Literary Journey of Simone Villar

Simone Villar is a Ukrainian writer whose works have garnered immense popularity in both Russia and Ukraine, particularly in the genres of historical romance and Slavic fantasy.

Early Career and Pseudonyms

Born Natalia Gavrilenko, Simone Villar graduated from the Faculty of History at Kharkiv State University. She began publishing in 1994, initially using the pseudonym Simone Villar. Publishers at the time believed it was more profitable to publish books by foreign authors. Villar's books were therefore released with her real surname (Gavrilenko) credited as the "translator from French." She later adopted her maiden name (Obraztsova) and eventually returned to her pseudonym.

Best-Selling Historical Novels

Villar's historical novels catapulted her to fame in the mid-1990s. Her "Anna Neville" cycle (1994) and "Norman Legend" cycle (1995-1997) are both composed of four books, recounting historical events in England and France during the War of the Roses. The protagonist of "Anna Neville" is Anna Neville, the wife of King Richard III. "Norman Legend" revolves around the love-hate relationship between Emma of Bayeux and Viking Rollo, the founder of the Duchy of Normandy.

Expansion into Historical Detectives and Ukrainian History

Villar's repertoire expanded to include historical detective novels, such as "Castle of Secrets" (set during the English Civil War), and historical romances with a Western focus, such as "Queen as an Addition" and "Confession of a Rival." She also delved into Ukrainian history with novels like "Outsider," set in Kievan Rus during the reign of Oleg the Prophet.

Slavic Fantasy and the "Svetorada" Trilogy

The "Witch" series is an experiment in historical fantasy, featuring a female protagonist from a pre-Christian Slavic tribe. The historical-sentimental trilogy "Svetorada" gained immense popularity, portraying a young woman living in the times of Prince Oleg.

Return to Western European History

Villar continued her exploration of Western European history with the "Distant Light" duology (2010-2011) and the "Shadow of the Sword" trilogy (2013-2015). The latter trilogy follows the events of the Third Crusade.

A Dedicated Medievalist

Simone Villar is a self-proclaimed medievalist. Despite being asked why she does not write about contemporary life, Villar remains unwavering in her focus on the Middle Ages, saying, "I don't want to!" She has contemplated a novel set during the Napoleonic Wars, but for now, her literary adventures continue to take place in the worlds of Western Europe and Kievan Rus.