Biography

Early years and ethnic roots

  • Date and place of birth: December 19, 1959, p. Roztoki, Putylsky district, Chernivtsi region
  • Origin: native Hutsulka from Bukovyna
  • First publications: poems printed at the age of 15

Education and scientific interests

  • Faculty of Philology, Chernivtsi University
  • Among the initiators of assigning the name of Yury Fedkovich to his native university
  • Specialization: Ukrainian philology; an ethnologist by profession

Cultural and educational activities

  • Management of the Union of Writers of the Chernivtsi Region
  • Co-founder of the scientific and literary "Bukovynsky magazine"
  • The author of a thorough family study with roots from 1790

Literary path

Poetry

  • "From grass and leaves"
  • "Fire of resin"
  • "Garden of Impatience"
  • "Ten decks of frosty water"
  • "Women's Rope"

Prose

  • "Diary of an executed woman" (2005)
  • "Nation" (2006) and the expanded version of "Nation. Revelation" (2006)
  • "Boulevard novel"
  • "Life is short" (2001)
  • "Buffet" (2003)
  • "Sweet Darusia" (2004)
  • "Mr. and Mrs. Yu in the land of the stolen" (2006)
  • "Almost never the other way around" (2007)
  • "Moskalytsia; Mama Maritsia is the wife of Christopher Columbus" (2008, "Pyramid")

Journalism

  • Articles and essays for domestic and foreign publications
  • Author of author's columns in magazines

Entering the international market

  • 2007 — Russian translation of "Nation" + "Sweet Darusia" in one volume ("Nation")
  • Significant editions and translations to Europe and the USA

Political career

  • People's Deputy of Ukraine of the VII and VIII convocations

Themes and style

  • A combination of ethnology and depth psychology
  • Strong female voice, folklore motifs, socio-historical context
  • Vivid metaphors, sharp life humor and a philosophical approach

Interests and image

  • Hobbies: psychology, ethnography, gardening, floriculture
  • Uncrowned title "the most prolific writer of Ukraine"
  • Critics call her "a devil from a snuffbox" or "the grant lady of Ukrainian literature"
  • Lives and works in Kyiv; lives on royalties from books

Recognition and awards

  • National Award of Ukraine named after Taras Shevchenko for "Sweet Darusia" (2005)
  • Grand Prix and 1st place of the "Coronation of the Word" competition for "Almost never the other way around" (2007)
  • Book of the Year winner:
  • "Sweet Darusia" (2004)
  • "Moskalytsia; Mama Maritsia is the wife of Christopher Columbus" (2008)
  • Honored Culture Worker of Ukraine (2008)
  • Honorary citizen of the city of Chernivtsi (2008)