Anton Donchev graduated from the University of Sofia in 1953, but soon declined a position as a judge in a regional court and started writing. His first book was published in 1961 and was followed by the world-famous Time of Parting (1964) said to be written in only 41 days. Donchev went on to write a dozen novels and about half a dozen screenplays.
His latest book was published in 2016.
Bulgarian biography in Wikipedia