"I didn’t decide to become a writer — it was decided for me": Darya Dontsova at the RUSSIA EXPO

A creative meeting with writer Darya Dontsova was held at the RUSSIA EXPO. She told about her creative path, as well as how to find inspiration.

 "I did not decide to become a writer - it was decided for me. I wrote my first book in the intensive care unit of an oncology hospital. My husband brought me the book "12 feats of Hercules", paper and a pen. I was a journalist then, I didn't write books. It was hot June, the third floor of the hospital, the time was about one o'clock in the morning. The window opened, a woman in a gray coat, cap, winter boots appeared. She says: "I've been married so many times and every time - successfully", and then turns around and goes out the window. I thought, "I've lost my mind." I called the nurse and told her what had happened. And the nurse patted me on the head and told me I was under anesthesia and on serious medication. But this phrase - "I've been married so many times and every time - successfully" stuck in my head, and I wrote it on the paper given by my husband. And since then, I can not stop for 25 years," said Darya Dontsova.

Photo: Ekaterina Chesnokova/RIA News

She admitted that she was never guided by ambitions to become one of the most popular writers in Russia.

"My arrival at the publishing house is a whole different story. I came out of the hospital with five written books. I practically lived there, because I had five surgeries. I was lying in the hospital and writing all the time. My doctor said, "Are you writing some kind of denunciation on us?" So I came out with five manuscripts, but what to do with them? And then my daughter Masha said to me: "September 6 is my birthday, you should be lucky - take the books to the publishing house, you will be published!" I brought one manuscript, but there were so many of them that they were propping up the ceiling. I burst into tears right at the bus stop, but two months later I got a call from the publishing house and was informed that they decided to publish my novel," Darya Dontsova said.

The writer also shared her vision of the current state of affairs in Russian literature.

"There are so many authors, so very different and very good. First of all, I will name my friends - Tanya Ustinova and Alexandra Marinina. Andrei Dyshev is yet another good author. Another great author and my friend is Oleg Roy. My friend Tanya Polyakova was also a great writer," said Darya Dontsova.

The meeting with the famous writer was held with the participation of the Russian Society "Knowledge" - the general partner of the educational program of the exposition.