Yulia Shilova Writer Date of Birth: 11.05.1969 Country: Russia

1. Julia Shilova: A Biography
2. Early Life and Career
3. Writing Career

Julia Shilova: A Biography

Julia Shilova is a renowned author whose books are among the most highly rated crime novels in the women's genre. Her heroines are extraordinary and self-assured women, who are both charming and aggressive. They navigate extreme situations and find themselves in fantastical circumstances. To date, Shilova has authored around 70 works with attention-grabbing long titles and a total circulation of over 10 million copies. Alongside Alexandra Marinina, Daria Dontsova, Tatiana Polyakova, and Tatiana Ustinova, Julia Shilova makes up the top five most published female authors.

Early Life and Career

At 45 years old, Julia Shilova is an enchanting and elegant woman who could easily be mistaken for a movie actress or showbiz star. However, her biography is filled with tragic moments that could be the plot of a thriller. Julia Antonova was born on May 11, 1969, in Primorsky Krai, specifically in the city of Antratsyt. Her father, Vitaliy Artemyevich, worked in criminal investigations, while her mother, Lyudmila Olegovna, was a dispatcher at a power station. Her parents divorced when she was very young, and her mother remarried. Throughout her childhood and youth, Julia studied dance. In 1985, she graduated from a choreographic school in Vladivostok and set out to conquer the capital. However, Moscow theaters were not quick to open their doors to a young dancer from the Far East. Julia returned home and enrolled in the journalism faculty at the Far Eastern University before getting married.

Her husband, Oleg Shilov, had a successful pharmaceutical business, and soon after their marriage, they welcomed their daughter, Lolita. Unfortunately, their happiness was short-lived. In 1996, when Lolita was just two years old, Oleg died in a terrible car accident. Many circumstances pointed to the involvement of his competitors in the tragedy. Julia Shilova took over the business and moved to Moscow. Initially, things went well, and she remarried and gave birth to her second daughter, Zlata. However, in 1998, the crisis struck, and Julia suddenly lost her entire fortune. Her second husband, Igor, turned out to be weak-willed and not only failed to support her in her difficult situation but also turned their divorce proceedings into a nightmare. Julia was left with no money and two children, the youngest being just eight months old. In addition, she was the victim of an attack, presumably orchestrated by her ex-husband, which resulted in her hospitalization and several surgeries. To overcome her depression, Julia Shilova started writing.

Writing Career

Her first manuscript featured a provincial girl named Yana, who ventured to conquer Moscow but ended up with a husband who turned out to be a deadly threat not only to her but also to her loved ones. Writing her own biography on paper helped Julia find emotional balance. She went on to write another novel, this time about the adventures of two journalists who found themselves in the midst of criminal conflicts while searching for an exciting story. She decided to try to get them published. The first publishing house held onto the manuscript for two months before returning it without explanation. After seeking advice from friends, Julia learned that publishers prefer to sign contracts for multiple novels at once. So, at the second publishing house, she decided to be cunning. She handed the editor a disk with the text, claiming to have submitted the same disk to all competing publishers and stating that she already had six novels ready. The editor called the next day and offered her a contract for six books. Julia agreed and, slightly extending the deadlines, managed to write all the novels outlined in the contract within a remarkably short period. Her first book, titled "Changing the World, or My Name is Lady Bitch," was published in 2000 by Ripol Classic Publishing House and remains highly rated among readers.

Julia Shilova shows no signs of slowing down the pace she set at the beginning of her writing career. Her novels that have received the most positive reader feedback include "Even Death Suits Me" and "The Attraction of Married Men, or It's Time to Tie the Knot." Even as a successful author, Julia Shilova completed her studies at the National Institute of Business, obtaining a law degree. Later, she earned a diploma in social psychology from the Moscow Humanities and Social Academy. The writer currently resides in a lovingly arranged apartment in Moscow with her mother and daughters. While she is in a serious relationship with a successful Swedish businessman, she is in no rush to get married. The pictures of her in wedding dresses on social media are explained as being taken for a wedding catalog. Julia attributes her beautiful appearance to a complete avoidance of sweets, which she has disliked since childhood, as well as to her active engagement in sports such as fitness, mountain biking, and even boxing.