
DONA DRAGOVA
FANTASY AUTHOR
ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Dona, a Bulgarian author, living in Germany. My love for writing began when I first learned how to read. As a child I dabbled in poetry, influenced by my mother, but then quickly found my love for prose.
Be it short stories, essays or simply journaling, I've always been writing something. But it was back in 2014 when I decided to give my own fantasy novel a try.
When I don't have my nose buried in my manuscript or another author's book, I spend my time with my German husband, our 3 year-old son and our rescue dog Gimli.
There's nothing I love more than a good story, regardless if it's a standard or a graphic novel, an addictive TV show or a video game.
Querying SAMODIVA

SAMODIVA
SAMODIVA is my debut novel and the first book in The Curse of Slavs series. It's a new adult contemporary fantasy, based on Bulgarian mythology.
I started writing it in 2014 and have been working on the project on and off for the past twelve years. Even when life got in the way and I had to make sometimes-year-long gaps in the writing process, I never stopped thinking about the world I'd created. In 2025 I picked it up again and here we're today — with a polished manuscript, diving headfirst into the challenges of querying.
THE BLURB
Born just a Moon ago, Vaya struggles to fit in. She’s uncertain of all but two things: she exists to serve Nature, and humans are evil. When she comes face-to-face with Daniel and fails to curse him with her magic, she’s stunned that he means her no harm. Curiosity wins over and Vaya begins meeting him regularly, learning about his fascinating kind and coming to accept that humans can be good. At the same time she uncovers secret after secret about Samodivi that expose the deceitful and manipulative nature of their leaders. Vaya has to make a choice between her duty to Nature and her developing attachment to a human.Heart-broken by a family truth bomb, Daniel’s best friend April has followed him to Argentina. As she wrestles with the decision whether to forgive her mother, her questionable choices hurt others in the process. Her emotional turmoil doesn't spare her romantic life and she ends up in a situation she'd never imagined for herself. And as she keeps making mistakes she learns tons about love, trust, family — found and given, and ultimately, about herself.Slowly, imperceptibly, Vaya’s and April’s paths intertwine through Daniel until the unavoidable moment of their meeting.

THE TROPES
FORBIDDEN LOVE
ENEMIES TO LOVERS
SLOW BURN
HE FALLS FIRST
HIDDEN IDENTITY
FOUND FAMILY
THE CURSE OF SLAVS SERIES
The series is planned to span over four books.
While each instalment has a strong contemporary vibe, the further we dive into the series, the more we'll get to experience the unique darkness of Bulgarian folklore and curses, Slavic ancient creatures and deities and most of all the inner battles women have faced — from age old days to the modern era.

MY WRITING PROCESS
When I was a child the older kids would often scare us with stories about Samodivi — the mythical beautiful women that gathered at night to dance and who supposedly only needed one look at us to paralyse us with their magic forever.
It was in 2014 when I decided I wanted to translate these legends into a modern day novel. I spent the first two years after that mostly doing research — any sources I could find in both Bulgarian and English about Samodivi but not only. I read about little-known mythological creatures and monsters that haunted my ancestors; about Slavic gods and the stories surrounding the; about the history of Slavs, Bulgars and Thracians, which are the tribes that formed modern-day Bulgaria many centuries ago.
Growing up in a small village I already knew tons about healing herbs and rituals, but I dived into it even further.
Next was the language: I started learning about Old Bulgarian language, also known as Old Church Slavonic, which is the base for Ancient Slavic — the fictional language Samodivi in my book use to cast spells and curses.
Then came the writing. On and off that continued for more than a decade with the most productive periods happening in 2016 and 2019.
Every time I started anew, I rewrote what I'd written so far and added more. And again and again.
Until when I finally opened my manuscript in September 2025 I had 80,000 words.
Once more I threw myself into revising and rewriting, but this time I actually stuck to it. I didn't allow any distractions: my day job, my wonderful son, who I love more than life itself, my dog, my husband, nothing could divert me from my goal — I was finishing that book.
And then I did. I really did.
It was early April 2026 when I finally put THE END on the final page. I'd revised the initial 80,000 words and wrote the remaining 20,000. By mid-July my manuscript had been through two rounds of beta readers and two more edit rounds.
What's next?
Now comes the really scary part — sharing my work with literary agents and praying for the best. Wish me luck!
NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
COMING SOON!
contact form
IMPRESSUM
Dona Dragova - Author of SAMODIVA
c/o Autorenglück #92750
Albert-Einstein-Str. 47
02977 Hoyerswerda, GermanyEmail address: [email protected]
Privacy Policy
Preamble
This privacy policy is intended to inform you about the types of personal data (hereinafter also referred to as “data”) that we process, the purposes for which we process it, and the extent of such processing. This privacy policy applies to all processing of personal data carried out by us, both in the context of providing our services and, in particular, on our websites, in mobile applications, and within external online presences, such as our social media profiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as “online services”).
The terms used are gender-neutral.
Effective as of: June 10, 2026Table of Contents
Preamble
Data Controller
Applicable Legal Bases
Overview of Data Processing Activities
Security Measures
Transfer of Personal Data
International Data Transfers
General Information on Data Storage and Deletion
Provision of the Online Service and Web Hosting
Contact and Inquiry Management
Newsletters and Electronic Notifications
Social Media Presence
Data Controller
Dona Dragova - Author of SAMODIVA
c/o Autorenglück #92750
Albert-Einstein-Str. 47
02977 Hoyerswerda, GermanyEmail address: [email protected]
Applicable Legal Bases
Relevant legal bases under the GDPR: Below is an overview of the legal bases under the GDPR on which we process personal data. Please note that, in addition to the provisions of the GDPR, national data protection regulations may apply in your country or our country of residence or establishment. Furthermore, should more specific legal bases apply in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the privacy policy.
Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) – The data subject has given consent to the processing of personal data concerning him or her for a specific purpose or for several specific purposes.
Performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures taken at the data subject’s request.
Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data.
National data protection regulations in Germany: In addition to the GDPR data protection regulations, national data protection regulations apply in Germany. These include, in particular, the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG). The BDSG contains specific provisions regarding the right of access, the right to erasure, the right to object, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes, and data transfers, as well as automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. Furthermore, state data protection laws of the individual federal states may also apply.Applicability of data protection regulations in the country of domicile: In the country where the controller is domiciled, national data protection regulations apply in addition to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Overview of Data Processing Activities
The following overview summarises the types of data processed and the purposes of such processing, and identifies the data subjects.Types of data processed
Inventory data.
Contact data.
Content data.
Usage data.
Metadata, communication, and process data.
Log data.
Categories of data subjects
Communication partners.
Users.
Purposes of processing
Communication.
Security measures.
Direct marketing.
Organisational and administrative procedures.
Feedback.
Provision of our online services and user-friendliness.
IT infrastructure.
Public relations.
Security Measures
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures in accordance with legal requirements, taking into account the state of the art, the costs of implementation, and the nature, scope, context, and purposes of the processing, as well as the varying likelihood and severity of the risks to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, in order to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk.
These measures include, in particular, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data, as well as access to, input of, and disclosure of the data, ensuring its availability, and its segregation. Furthermore, we have established procedures that ensure the exercise of data subjects’ rights, the erasure of data, and responses to data breaches. In addition, we take the protection of personal data into account from the very beginning of the development or selection of hardware, software, and procedures in accordance with the principle of data protection by design and by default.Securing online connections with TLS/SSL encryption technology (HTTPS): To protect user data transmitted through our online services from unauthorised access, we rely on TLS/SSL encryption technology. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) are the cornerstones of secure data transmission on the internet. These technologies encrypt the information transmitted between the website or app and the user’s browser (or between two servers), thereby protecting the data from unauthorised access. TLS, as the more advanced and secure version of SSL, ensures that all data transmissions meet the highest security standards. When a website is secured with an SSL/TLS certificate, this is indicated by the display of HTTPS in the URL. This serves as an indicator to users that their data is being transmitted securely and encrypted.
Transfer of Personal Data
As part of our processing of personal data, it may be necessary to transfer or disclose this data to other entities, companies, legally independent organisational units, or individuals. Recipients of this data may include, for example, IT service providers or providers of services and content integrated into a website. In such cases, we comply with legal requirements and, in particular, conclude appropriate contracts or agreements with the recipients of your data to ensure its protection.
International Data Transfers
Data processing in third countries: If we transfer data to a third country (i.e., outside the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA)) or if this occurs in the context of using third-party services or disclosing or transferring data to other persons, bodies or companies (which can be identified by the postal address of the respective provider or if the privacy policy expressly refers to the data transfer to third countries), this is always done in accordance with the legal requirements.
For data transfers to the USA, we primarily rely on the Data Privacy Framework (DPF), which was recognised as a secure legal framework by an adequacy decision of the EU Commission on July 10, 2023. In addition, we have concluded standard contractual clauses with the respective providers, which comply with the requirements of the EU Commission and establish contractual obligations for the protection of your data.This dual safeguard ensures comprehensive protection of your data: The Data Protection Framework (DPF) forms the primary layer of protection, while the Standard Contractual Clauses serve as an additional safeguard. Should changes occur within the framework of the DPF, the Standard Contractual Clauses act as a reliable fallback option. This ensures that your data remains adequately protected even in the event of any political or legal changes.
For each service provider, we will inform you whether they are certified under the DPF and whether standard contractual clauses are in place. Further information about the DPF and a list of certified companies can be found on the U.S. Department of Commerce website at https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/ (in English).
For data transfers to other third countries, appropriate safeguards apply, in particular standard contractual clauses, explicit consent, or legally required transfers. Information on third-country transfers and applicable adequacy decisions can be found in the EU Commission's information service: https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection_en?prefLang=de.
General Information on Data Storage and Deletion
We delete personal data that we process in accordance with legal provisions as soon as the underlying consents are withdrawn or there are no further legal grounds for processing. This applies to cases where the original purpose of processing no longer applies or the data is no longer required. Exceptions to this rule apply where legal obligations or specific interests require the data to be retained or archived for a longer period.
In particular, data that must be retained for commercial or tax law reasons, or where storage is necessary for legal proceedings or to protect the rights of other natural or legal persons, must be archived accordingly.
Our privacy policy contains additional information on the retention and deletion of data that applies specifically to certain processing operations.
Where there are multiple references to the retention period or deletion deadlines for a particular piece of data, the longest period shall always apply. We process data that is no longer retained for the originally intended purpose, but rather due to legal requirements or other reasons, exclusively for the purposes that justify its retention.
Data retention and deletion: The following general retention periods apply to data storage and archiving under German law:
10 years - Retention period for books and records, annual financial statements, inventories, management reports, opening balance sheets and the work instructions and other organisational documents required for their understanding (§ 147 para. 1 no. 1 in conjunction with para. 3 AO, § 14b para. 1 UStG, § 257 para. 1 no. 1 in conjunction with para. 4 HGB).
8 years - accounting documents, such as invoices and cost receipts (§ 147 para. 1 no. 4 and 4a in conjunction with para. 3 sentence 1 AO as well as § 257 para. 1 no. 4 in conjunction with para. 4 HGB).
6 years - Other business documents: received commercial or business letters, copies of sent commercial or business letters, other documents insofar as they are relevant for taxation, e.g. timesheets, operating statements, costing documents, price labels, but also payroll documents, insofar as they are not already accounting documents and cash register tapes (§ 147 para. 1 no. 2, 3, 5 in conjunction with para. 3 AO, § 257 para. 1 no. 2 and 3 in conjunction with para. 4 HGB).
3 years - Data required to consider potential warranty and damage claims or similar contractual claims and rights, as well as to process related inquiries, based on previous business experience and standard industry practices, will be stored for the duration of the regular statutory limitation period of three years (§§ 195, 199 BGB).
Commencement of a time limit at the end of the year: If a time limit does not expressly begin on a specific date and is at least one year long, it starts automatically at the end of the calendar year in which the event triggering the time limit occurred. In the case of ongoing contractual relationships in which data is stored, the event triggering the time limit is the effective date of the termination or other end of the legal relationship.
Provision of the online service and web hosting
We process user data to provide our online services. For this purpose, we process the user's IP address, which is necessary to transmit the content and functions of our online services to the user's browser or device.
Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g., page views and time spent on the site, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); Metadata, communication and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, timestamps, identification numbers, persons involved); Log data (e.g., log files concerning logins or data retrieval or access times). Content data (e.g., textual or image messages and posts, as well as information relating to them, such as authorship details or time of creation).
Affected persons: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Provision of our online service and user-friendliness; Information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical equipment (computers, servers, etc.)); security measures.
Storage and deletion: Deletion according to the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion".
Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:
Provision of online services on rented storage space: For the provision of our online services, we use storage space, computing capacity and software that we rent from a corresponding server provider (also called "web host") or otherwise obtain; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
Collection of Access Data and Log Files: Access to our online services is logged in the form of so-called "server log files." Server log files may include the address and name of the accessed web pages and files, the date and time of access, the amount of data transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user's operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page), and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider. Server log files may be used for security purposes, e.g., to prevent server overload (especially in the case of malicious attacks, so-called DDoS attacks), and to ensure server capacity and stability. Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR). Data Deletion: Log file information is stored for a maximum of 30 days and then deleted or anonymised. Data that needs to be retained for evidentiary purposes is exempt from deletion until the respective incident has been fully resolved.
Carrd: Hosting and software for creating, providing, and operating websites, blogs, and other online services; Service provider: Carrd Inc., 231 Public Square Suite 300 PMB 12, Franklin, TN 37064, USAl; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://carrd.co/; Privacy policy: https://carrd.co/docs/general/privacy; Data processing agreement: Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) integrated automatically into Carrd's Terms of Service / Data Processing addendum; Basis for third-country transfers: EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (DPF) and/or Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).
Contact and Inquiry Management
When you contact us (e.g. by mail, contact form, email or via social media) and within the framework of existing user and business relationships, the information provided by the requesting persons is processed to the extent necessary to answer the contact requests and any requested measures.
Types of data processed: Contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); Content data (e.g., textual or pictorial messages and posts, as well as information relating to them, such as details of authorship or time of creation). Metadata, communication and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, timestamps, identification numbers, persons involved).
Affected persons: Communication partners.
Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Communication; organisational and administrative procedures; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form); provision of our online services and user-friendliness.
Storage and deletion: Deletion according to the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion".
Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR). performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR).
Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:
Contact form: When you contact us via our contact form, email, or other communication channels, we process the personal data you provide to answer and process your request. This typically includes information such as your name, contact details, and any other information you provide that is necessary for proper processing. We use this data exclusively for the stated purpose of contacting you and communicating with you. Legal basis: performance of a contract and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
Newsletters and electronic notifications
We send newsletters, emails, and other electronic notifications (hereinafter "newsletters") only with the recipient's consent or on the basis of a legal obligation. If the newsletter's content is specified during the registration process, this content is decisive for the user's consent. Normally, providing your email address is sufficient to register for our newsletter. However, to offer you a personalised service, we may ask for your name for a personal greeting in the newsletter or for further information if necessary for the newsletter's purpose.
Erasure and restriction of processing: We may store unsubscribed email addresses for up to three years based on our legitimate interests before deleting them, in order to be able to prove previously given consent. The processing of this data is limited to the purpose of defending against potential claims. An individual deletion request is possible at any time, provided that the prior existence of consent is confirmed. In cases where we are obligated to permanently respect objections, we reserve the right to store the email address solely for this purpose in a blocklist.
The registration process is logged based on our legitimate interests for the purpose of documenting its proper execution. If we engage a service provider to send emails, this is done based on our legitimate interests in an efficient and secure email delivery system.
Contents:
Information about us, our services, promotions and offers.
Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., full name, home address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, timestamps, identification numbers, persons involved), usage data (e.g., page views and duration of visit, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions).
Affected persons: Communication partners.
Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Direct marketing (e.g. by email or post).
Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
Right to object (opt-out): You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time, i.e., withdraw your consent or object to receiving further newsletters. You will find a link to unsubscribe at the end of each newsletter, or you can use one of the contact options listed above, preferably email.
Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:
Measuring open and click rates: The newsletters contain a so-called "web beacon," i.e., a pixel-sized file that is retrieved from our server, or its server if we use a mailing service provider, when the newsletter is opened. During this retrieval, technical information such as details about your browser and system, as well as your IP address and the time of retrieval, are collected. This information is used to technically improve our newsletter based on technical data or target groups and their reading behaviour based on their access locations ( this text area must be unlocked with a premium license). Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR).
MailerLite: Email marketing, automation of marketing processes, collection, storage and management of contact data, measurement of campaign performance, recording and analysis of recipient interaction with content, content personalisation; Service provider: MailerLite Limited, 88 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, D02 DK18, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.mailerlite.com/; Privacy policy: https://www.mailerlite.com/legal/privacy-policy; Data processing agreement: Automatically integrated into the Terms of Use, available via https://www.mailerlite.com/legal/terms-of-service; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF), Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs); Further information: Specific security measures: https://www.mailerlite.com/legal/privacy-policy.
Presences in social networks (social media)
We maintain online presences within social networks and process user data in this context in order to communicate with the users active there or to offer information about ourselves.
Please note that user data may be processed outside the European Union. This may pose risks for users, as it could, for example, make it more difficult to enforce their rights.
Furthermore, user data within social networks is generally processed for market research and advertising purposes. For example, user profiles can be created based on usage patterns and the resulting user interests. These profiles may then be used to display advertisements both within and outside the networks that are presumably tailored to the users' interests. Therefore, cookies are typically stored on users' computers to record their usage patterns and interests. Additionally, user profiles can also store data independent of the devices used by the users (especially if they are members of the respective platforms and logged in).
For a detailed description of the respective processing methods and the options for objecting (opt-out), we refer to the privacy policies and information provided by the operators of the respective networks.
Regarding requests for information and the assertion of data subject rights, we would like to point out that these can be most effectively addressed directly with the service providers. Only the latter have access to user data and can take appropriate action and provide information directly. Should you nevertheless require assistance, you can contact us.
Types of data processed: Contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); Content data (e.g., textual or pictorial messages and posts, as well as information relating to them, such as details of authorship or time of creation). Usage data (e.g., page views and time spent on the site, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, types of devices and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions).
Affected persons: Users (e.g., website visitors, users of online services).
Purposes of processing and legitimate interests: Communication; feedback (e.g. collecting feedback via online form); public relations.
Storage and deletion: Deletion according to the information in the section "General information on data storage and deletion".
Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR).
Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:
TikTok: Social network and video platform for short-form video sharing, user interactions (comments, likes), messaging, content personalisation, and targeting of advertising; Service provider: TikTok Technology Limited, 10 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin, D02 T380, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.tiktok.com; Privacy policy: https://www.tiktok.com/legal/page/eea/privacy-policy/; Basis for third-country transfers: Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).
Instagram: Social network that allows users to share photos and videos, comment on and like posts, send messages, and subscribe to profiles and pages; Service provider: Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.instagram.com; Privacy policy: https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
YouTube: Social network and video platform; Service provider: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.youtube.com/; Privacy policy: https://business.safety.google/privacy/; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF); Opt-out option: https://myadcenter.google.com/.
Pinterest: Social network that allows users to share photos, comment on, favourite, and curate posts, send messages, and subscribe to profiles; Service provider: Pinterest Europe Limited, 2nd Floor, Palmerston House, Fenian Street, Dublin 2, Ireland; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.pinterest.com; Privacy policy: https://policy.pinterest.com/de/privacy-policy; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF).
Spotify: Audio streaming platform, embedding of audio files, albums or playlists, recording and analysis of recipient interaction with audio content, and personalisation of advertising; Service provider: Spotify AB, Regeringsgatan 19, 111 53 Stockholm, Sweden; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f) GDPR); Website: https://www.spotify.com; Privacy policy: https://www.spotify.com/au/legal/privacy-policy/; Basis for third-country transfers: Data Privacy Framework (DPF) for instances where data is processed by its certified US parent entity (Spotify USA Inc.), backed by Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).
This Privacy Policy was created using the free Datenschutz-Generator.de tool by Dr. Thomas Schwenke.
© 2026 Dona Dragova. All rights reserved.






