Natacha Pavlov

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Julia
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Natacha Pavlov

Goodreads Author


Born
in Brussels, Belgium
Website

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Member Since
December 2011

URL


Bruxelles born and raised, I'm a bilingual writer with a Comparative World Literature background who wrote my first poem at 7 years of age.

My latest historical fiction novel Jayida, set in sixth century pre-Islamic Arabia, is the work of years of research and the project that first made me want to write historical fiction. It's been called "a magnum opus of historical fiction" and was longlisted for the 2024 HFC Book of the Year Awards.

I'm also the author of The Well-Loved Demon, where the elusive 18th century French monarch, Louis XV, offers a Gothic-sentimental glimpse into his life and mind, and the short story collection, Our Lives Are Fairy Tales.
Other works include Nicola's Leg about our Russian family's relocation
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Natacha Pavlov Hello,
In my experience so far, it's a mix of reading and taking ample notes on academic and history works, watching documentaries, conducting intervie…more
Hello,
In my experience so far, it's a mix of reading and taking ample notes on academic and history works, watching documentaries, conducting interviews, and traveling to locations, when possible.
"How much" depends on what you need to know to make your setting and characters come alive, and as the story itself evolves. In that sense, the evolution of technology may be useful in providing the answers needed.
Researching can easily be a neverending process though, especially if you're enjoying all the learning, so at some point you'll just have to pause that and switch to actually writing your book. Another reason for that is, as great as learning is, you'll also soon come to realize that you can't (or don't need) to weave all that material you've come upon into your story, although it may offer opportunities for interesting twists in your work.
That's where I say the ever-active intuition comes in, to guide you in researching, then writing, and continuing the process as needed. As a Christian, my spiritual practice is crucial, and guides my next steps—indeed, nothing gets done without it (Philippians 4:6-7).(less)
Average rating: 3.74 · 23 ratings · 14 reviews · 9 distinct works
Twisted Reflections

3.92 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2015
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Nicola's Leg

4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2017
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Jayida

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating
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Quicklet on Lois Lowry's Th...

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2012
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The Lois Lowry Quicklet Bun...

liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2012
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The Well-Loved Demon

liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating
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Quicklet on Jules Verne's T...

did not like it 1.00 avg rating — 1 rating2 editions
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Quicklet on Lord of the Fli...

did not like it 1.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2011
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Our Lives Are Fairy Tales

0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
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More books by Natacha Pavlov…

Natacha’s Recent Updates

Natacha Pavlov rated a book really liked it
The Vampyre and Other Tales of the Macabre by John William Polidori
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"When I was on my own side of the stream again, I bounded with joy, and lifted my voice; 'I shall be alone now!' said I."

Enjoyable mix of biting (heh) and likely forgotten macabre tales that reflect the vampire and Gothic literature boom spurred by P
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The Complete Tales of Washington Irving by Washington Irving
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*Partial delightful read of the volume; namely Strange Stories by A Nervous Gentleman & a few others.
Natacha Pavlov rated a book it was ok
The Man in the Picture by Susan         Hill
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Natacha Pavlov added a status update: Ever visited and/or have the Brussels Grand Place on your bucket list? I ruminate on contrasting personal & family experiences of the location ~ on my website:
https://natachapavlov.com/shadows-of-...
Natacha Pavlov rated a book really liked it
A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner
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The short 1983 film with Anjelica Huston brought me here :)
Natacha Pavlov rated a book really liked it
Northanger Abbey, Lady Susan, The Watsons, Sanditon by Jane Austen
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*Northanger Abbey review only*
"Its long, damp passages, its narrow cells and ruined chapel, were to be within her daily reach, and she could not entirely subdue the hope of some traditional legends, some awful memorials of an injured and ill-fated nu
...more
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Collected Ghost Stories by M.R. James
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'Mixed' stories but still generally enjoyably brief, creepy tales with a touch of academia. They basically grew on me xD ...more
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The Pearl by Douglas   Smith
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Natacha Pavlov rated a book it was ok
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
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A tragic tale that I hoped to get more from. Sadly I'm left wondering about potential translation/editorial issues because the first part was tediously redundant and there was much left unanswered.
Still, I appreciate the 'mystical' touch (limited as
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The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas
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"She had never had anyone but the demon." 🥺

As an 18th century enthusiast, this title stood out to me as 1765 Mexico seemed a rare setting for historical fiction. What I found most effective was the blend of Gothic-supernatural setting of a haunted s
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I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.
“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”
Jorge Luis Borges

Albert Einstein
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
Albert Einstein

Edgar Allan Poe
“I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.”
Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe
“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.”
Edgar Allan Poe, Eleonora

Billy Sunday
“Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.”
Billy Sunday, "Billy" Sunday, the man and his message: with his own words which have won thousands for Christ

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Comments (showing 1-6)    post a comment »
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Natacha Pavlov Scott wrote: "Merry christmas"
Merry Christmas!!


message 5: by Scott

Scott Roberts Merry christmas


Natacha Pavlov M.P. wrote: "Thank you for the add Natacha :) Happy writing & reading!"

Thanks and same to you M.P.!


message 3: by M.P.

M.P. Sharma Thank you for the add Natacha :) Happy writing & reading!


Natacha Pavlov S.K. wrote: "Thank you for accepting my friend request."

No problem :)


message 1: by S.K.

S.K. Gabriel Thank you for accepting my friend request.


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