Me: Why Bulgarian mythology? Who told
you about the Samodivi?
Ronesa: I
was born and raised in a Bulgarian household and have witnessed many unique
rituals and beliefs practiced by my parents and grandparents. They never fully
explained these rituals and beliefs, so they continue to be a mystery to me
even today.
Bulgarian
folklore is rich in rituals and tales. There are tales about “lamia,” the
Bulgarian version of a dragon, “talasum,” as well “Samodivi.” These rituals
have survived thousands years and have been practiced by Bulgarians, Greeks and
other Europeans for countless generations. Some of these stories and rituals
may seem silly, but the fact that they are still with us is a testament to just
how strong forces of nature and love are even today.
My
grandmother was a talented story teller and healer. When I visited her, she
always had so many different stories to tell. One of the most fascinating myths
was about Samodivi.
They
are the most enchanting mythological creatures in Bulgarian folklore. They are
known for their beauty, power and magical seductive voice. They’ve been portrayed
for centuries in many fairy tales, poems and legends passed from one generation
to another. Numerous legends about them are still alive. In remote villages,
people pay respect to them and are afraid of these creatures who can seduce men
with their beautiful songs. In Bulgaria,
small villages have been deserted because locals are still afraid of the
Samodivi powers. A man was found dead in the woods, murdered and left naked,
and the common belief was that this was done by Samodivi.
With
“Mystical Emona,” I want to introduce readers to these ancient beliefs, rituals
and traditions that have survived through the centuries.
Me: Did you actually go hunt a Samodiva?
Do you think such mythical creatures could still exist in our modern world?
Ronesa: As
I child, I was told scary stories about Samodivi and was curious to find if
they really existed. I didn’t hunt one,
but I once went with a friend to a graveyard at midnight to see if we could see
a vampire. The only things we discovered were the grave stones and a few scared
cats. But we humans always want to look beyond what we see and breathe to see
what’s on the other side of the Moon.
I
think beliefs and fairy tales are created for a reason. They are an important
part of our lives and help us to connect to our future, with our imagination
and creativity. The existence of Samodivi (Wildalone) hasn’t been proven and
may never be. Their images simply represent the fear and respect of the unknown
and of nature. When we don’t understand something, we call it magic, witchcraft
or bad, but sometimes it is a reality we don’t want to face.
Me: What traits of those enchanting
ladies speak to you the most?
Ronesa: For some they are
witches of the darkness, but I think they are Thracian Goddesses, daughters of
Bendis, the Thracian Goddess of Hunting and Nature. There’s a reason why they come
back to our world on March 25 each year. This is the time when Spring returns,
bringing light and love.
Me: If you had a picture of someone in
your wallet, who would it be?
Ronesa:
Hmm, this is a very hard question. My handsome husband and love of my love, and
one of Ian Somerhalder.
Me: How do you take your coffee?
Ronesa:
Black
Me: What's your greatest fear?
Ronesa:
I won’t have enough time to
write all books I have in my head.
Me: Is there someone you'd like to thank
for encouraging you through the hard times?
Ronesa:
My friend Rebecca, for working
with me, editing, writing and sharing the passion of writing.
Me: How did you come with the idea for
your current story?
Ronesa:
My story was inspired by
Emona, a village on the coast of the Black Sea. I visited there in the summer
of 1998. The wild beauty of this mystical place, a land and its people and
history hidden from the world, left a deep impression on me. Emona opened a new
world for me—time turned back thousands of years. I imagined the era when the
great Thracians ruled the land, when King Rez defended his people and the cape.
I envisioned the Thracian legions and their giant horses galloping with pride
as portrayed in the Iliad. I imagined the time when the old lighthouse, now so
lonely and forgotten, was once alive, and its light illuminated the way for
sailors on the stormy Black Sea.
I imagined the time when
the now-ruined church was alive with activity. As I stood beneath the dome of
the ruined church, the wind danced inside and blasted the walls covered with
faded paintings. I felt the gaze of the cracked faces of the icons painted by
the hands of talented unknown artists centuries ago.
The light shone
through the window in the form of a rudder and lit the altar. The church was
ruined, but it was once filled with generations of people praying to God for
good health and luck. I heard the cry of babies who being baptized, and the
music of the tupan and shepherd pipe celebrating the union of two souls—woman
and man in colorful costumes and flowers. As well as children holding baskets
with Easter eggs with bracelets woven from white and red strings sign for happiness
and good health.
A whirlwind of
galloping horses brought me back to reality, their power, independent freedom
and strength impressive as they galloped like a hurricane along the foothills
of the Stara Planina. The moment remained imprinted on my mind. It inspired me
to use my pen and my brushes to unveil a story of love and mystery, and to
depict its wonders through my characters, born from the imagination of my
personal experience.
Me: Why do you write?
Ronesa:
To tell a story and take my
readers on a journey. I call each book a “virtual trip.” If you like to read,
the world is in your hands.
Me: Tell us about your favorite book
character.
Ronesa:
Sultana from “The Iron Lamp,” the first book of Talev's epic masterpiece.
Me: Do you feel scared to pick up a book
about which you've heard a lot of different opinions?
Ronesa:
No, if I like the blurb, I
want to try it myself. It is like a meal; we each have different tastes and
sometimes you can find a hidden jewel.
Me: Do you read any blogs regularly?
Ronesa:
Brain Picking to keep my
mind fresh and feed my soul.
Me: Who would you like to take a picture
with?
Ronesa:
Nina Dobrev. I would like
to see her in my book “Mystical Emona” as Kalyna.
Me: Fruit you can't live without.
Ronesa:
Apples.
Me: If you had to send a post card right
now, what would you write on it?
Ronesa:
I would send one to all my
readers and write, “I love you and thank you for being part of my world.”
Me: If you could take a day off from
your everyday life, where would you go?
Ronesa:
I love boating and deep sea
fishing. This is where you can find me during the summer and where some of my
ideas are coming together into a story. I like the Infinity of the ocean.