Blog

Writer Julia Zolotova at Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens: Botanical Meditation 

Autumn at Kew Gardens provided the perfect antidote to digital overwhelm. The Royal Botanical Gardens in their seasonal transformation reminded me why natural beauty remains irreplaceable despite technological advances. The Palm House’s tropical humidity contrasted sharply with October’s crisp air, creating microclimates that transported visitors between geographical regions within minutes.

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Istanbul Interlude

Calling this an interlude feels appropriate — a pause between movements in whatever symphony my creative life is becoming. Two weeks post-Omnichannel Hearts launch, I needed distance from the intensity of publication cycles, promotional conversations, and the constant hum of digital connectivity that paradoxically inspired the book itself. Istanbul provides

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Release: Omnichannel Hearts

Today marks the fourth time I’ve experienced the peculiar mix of terror and elation that comes with book launches, and I’m struck by how much more confident this feels compared to the Polished Edges debut. Omnichannel Hearts is now live across all digital platforms, and the symmetry feels perfect —

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Recognition and Reflection

Receiving the Creativitys UK Award for July 2024 feels surreal and humbling simultaneously. When the notification arrived while I was finishing Omnichannel Hearts, I initially thought it was spam — awards for writers still seem like things that happen to other people, not to someone painting nails and collecting secrets

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Summer, Home, and a Digital Heart

Writing this from my childhood house, surrounded by the kind of unfiltered family closeness that makes everything else feel like performance. I’ve completed the rough edit of Omnichannel Hearts and decided to retreat here while the manuscript settles before final publication preparations. The irony isn’t lost on me: in the

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Thank You

Yesterday’s presentation of Omnichannel Hearts at BooksEvents exceeded every expectation I’d quietly harbored. Fifteen engaged readers gathered at Library 16, and what began as a formal book presentation evolved into something far more meaningful – a genuine dialogue about identity, connection, and the spaces between cultures. The questions were thoughtful,

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Omnichannel Hearts Writer Julia Zolotova

Moscow Tomorrow

Tomorrow marks something I’ve been anticipating for months – my first literary presentation in Russia. At 7 PM on June 30th, I’ll be at BooksEvents, one of Moscow’s most vibrant book clubs, presenting Omnichannel Hearts to Russian readers. The venue is Library 16 (Novospassky lane, 5, Taganskaya metro), and I

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Receiving the Stein Arts Award

Receiving the Stein Arts Award from 50CA Asia feels profoundly meaningful, particularly given its namesake’s extraordinary legacy in nurturing artistic innovation. The recognition comes for my novel “Eastern Empire,” which explores themes of cultural intersection and identity formation across historical boundaries. Gertrude Stein’s Paris salon wasn’t just a gathering place—it

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Writer Julia Zolotova at Chelsea in bloom flower festival

Chelsea in Bloom: Floral Revolution

Chelsea in Bloom transformed London’s most elegant neighborhood into an outdoor art gallery where flowers became a sculptural medium. Shop windows competed with increasingly elaborate botanical installations that challenged traditional gardening conventions. The world-class alternative floral show proved that flower arranging has evolved far beyond traditional bouquets. Designers used petals

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