About the Author

I, Alina Manuylov love
gathering true stories and weaving
them into an intriguing drama that
is at times mind-blowing but also
teaches a lesson. I originally wrote
Destiny in Russian over the course of
seven years and translated it into
English. The story was inspired by
the life of my grandmother, who
survived a difficult childhood that
included a complicated relationship
with her mother and an abusive father. Despite the trouble at
home, my grandmother stood up for what she believed in.
I was born in the independent region of Gagauziya, in
the country of Moldova, and I am a descended from the cultures
of the Balkans. You will find nature descriptions in the narrative
that were inspired by those countries and regions. This is my
first book.