Darina Anisimova was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She graduated from an engineering and economics university and spent more than ten years working for Saint Petersburg periodicals as a journalist, specializing in data journalism.In 2022, after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, she left the country, openly speaking out against the war. Fearing persecution for her views, she sought political asylum in the United States.Her debut novel, The Other Side, is the author's attempt, first and foremost for herself, to understand how people can live side by side with evil for years without trying to resist it.As she continues her writing career, Darina Anisimova intends to focus on young adult fantasy novels based on real historical events.