Julia Spiridonova (Yulka) (; born October 30, 1972) is a Bulgarian novelist and a screenwriter. She was born in Sofia into a family of artists. She is the first Bulgarian nominated for the world's highest price for children’s literature, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Research by the I Read Foundation in 27 public libraries in Bulgaria showed that Spiridonova’s books are the most often asked-for and borrowed books. Spiridonova also works as a screenwriter. She is the creator and author of several TV shows and series for children and teenagers. Since 2021 she has lived in the United Kingdom.
Books
The Scissors (Ciela Books, 2022) with Damyan Damyanov
Sois Mon Ami (Elitchka, 2022) The Cricket's Shadow (Kragozor, 2022) Jigo's Adventures (Fut, 2022) Voyage dans la Terre d'en Bas. Les Aventures de Baptiste, détective privé (Elitchka, 2022) GooGoo Birdies's Fairtails (Softpres, 2001) Kronos, toj nesrectnik! (Blesok, 2020) Kronos, acest nefericit! (Editura Aramis, 2019) Santa's secret agents (Kragozor, 2018) Milyen varazslatot rejt a ho? (Terézvárosi Bolgár Önkormányzat, 2017) Sun, Where Are You (Kragozor, 2017) Kronos, that looser (Kragozor, 2016) What Sorcery Had Snow (Kragozor, 2015) Be My Friend (Kragozor, 2015) A Tale of the Magic Flute (Enthusiast, 2013) The Labakan's needle (Kragozor, 2013) Max (Kragozor, 2012) Blood of Kings (Kragozor, 2011) The Countess Bathory (Kragozor, 2010) My Sweet Pathwalker (Kragozor, 2009) Krustyo - the Private Eye's Adventures in the Downworld (Fut, 2009) Big Deal Tina (Fut, 2008) Adventures with Djigo (Fut, 2003) GooGoo Birdie's Stories (Damyan Yakov, 2000) The GooGoo Birdies (Interpress, 1999)
Awards
2023 - The annual Hristo G. Danov Award winner
2023 - The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) Nominee
2022 - The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) Nominee
2021 - The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) Nominee
2020 - The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) Nominee
2019 - The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) Nominee
2018 - The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) Nominee
2017 - The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) Nominee
2016 - The Magic Pearl National Children's Choice Award
2015 - The Quill Award winner, Children's Book of the Year category
2015 – The annual Hristo G. Danov Award nominee
2012 – The Child Honorary Diploma for lifetime contribution to the happy childhood of Bulgarian children 2012 - The annual The Golden Apple Award nominee 2011 – The annual Hristo G. Danov Award nominee 2010 – The P.R. Slaveykov - Contribution to the Bulgarian Literature Award winner 2010 – The annual Konstantin Konstantinov Award winner, Author of the Year category 2010 – The annual Hristo G. Danov Award nominee 2006 - Children's book manuscript competition, held by the Bulgarian Writers Association for the My Sweet Pathwalker novel 2005 - Europe in a Fairytale competition third prize winner 1995 – The annual UNESCO award for The Pacifier short story
Charity
From 2009 to the present Spiridonova has been the founder and organizer of the weekly Who Loves Fairytales initiative at the Children and Youth Department of the Sofia Capital Library.
From 2010 to the present she has been the founder and organizer of the Where Children Live, There Should Be Children's Books campaign. The campaign aims to set up libraries of newly published books for orphanages.
From 2015 to the present she has been the founder and organizer of the Flying Pig literary teen club initiative at the Children and Youth Department of the Sofia Capital Library.