<p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">Irina Papancheva was born in the Bulgarian city of Burgas. She graduated from the “St. Cyril and Methodius” high school in Burgas where she specialized in literature, then continued her education at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” where she earned a master’s degree in Slavonic studies, focused on Czech language and literature, and completed her education at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium, where she got a master’s degree in European integration and development, majoring European politics and social integration.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">She has worked as a journalist, editor, translator, deputy mayor of Sofia Municipality and an advocate in the Bulgarian and European NGO sectors. Currently, Irina Papancheva is a Head of EU Advocacy and Campaigns at Lumos Foundation in Brussels.</span></p><p><br></p><p><img src="\ArticlesImages\c9302308-d65f-4033-988e-cb7ff5f6e731.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto"></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">Irina Papancheva was among the ten Europeans invited by Felix Meritis Foundation to participate in a public discussion in Amsterdam on the topic of the New Cosmopolitan after she won an essay competition on the same topic. She was also among the five nominees in the Fans of Flanders &amp; VIW writing contest (2014).</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">She is the author of the illustrated children’s book ‘I Stutter’ (Ciela, 2005), the novels ‘Almost Intimately’ (Kronos, 2007), ‘Annabel’ (Janet 45, 2010), ‘Pelican Feather’ (Janet 45, 2013), ‘She, the island’ (Trud, 2017) and ‘Welcome Nathan!’ (2019) as well as short stories and the play ‘About a hippo’ (2016).</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">Almost Intimately got the audience nomination in the 2008 Bulgarian national literary competition South Spring (Yuzhna prolet), and Annabel has been shortlisted in the 2014 January Contemporary Bulgarian Novel Contest of the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation and Open Letter Books at the University of Rochester.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">Irina’s work has been published in English, French, Arabic and Persian.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51)">We were more than excited to get this exclusive interview with Irina @ Weeglo:</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)"><em>1) Irina, when you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?&nbsp;</em></strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">A journalist and a writer. I was consistent and lucky enough to achieve both. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)"><em>2) Could you tell us a little bit about your path as a writer? Take us through your journey from the beginnings until today.&nbsp;</em></strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">I started writing diaries and poems when I was eight or nine years old. Back then I also had my first attempts at short story writing. The first book I commenced writing was about the children in my neighborhood. I was twelve then and didn’t get very far. 😊 A close family friend, the cameraman, filmmaker and author himself, Hristo Dimitrov-Hindo who years later gave me some very original ideas for two of my novels, told me that to have a book completed the strikethrough text should prevail. I wasn’t thrilled to hear that with my clean notebook pages. Nowadays, I am merciless with my work. I do delete a lot and try to leave everything which doesn’t serve the plot out.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">I went to creative writing classes with the marvelous poet and writer Kerana Angelova when I was thirteen. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">Later on, I was admitted to a secondary school with where I specialized literature and I had the incredible chance to be taught literature by the literary critic Dobrina Topalova. The four years I spent there contributed tremendously to my formation not only as a reader and writer, but also as a person.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">At the university, I switched from poems to short stories and joined a creative writing class with the literary critic Simeon Yanev. Then for five years I only wrote diaries. Until one day I started writing the novel ‘Almost Intimately’. It went out with Kronos publishing house in 2007 – Kerana Angelova was its editor. My second novel – ‘Annabel’ was published three years later by Janet 45. Ever since, I have a new book out every three years. I wrote my latest manuscript ‘Brussels Naked’ as well as a couple of short stories in English. I have also translated my novel ‘She, the island’ into English. </span></p><p><br></p><p><img src="\ArticlesImages\ba9ab8e6-d39a-4a27-97f4-3d5624c1272d.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto"></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">I have worked with two professional editors - Ric Giner and Alastair Penny and with the Welsh poet Phil Madden. Their contribution to polishing my work in English has been invaluable. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">It goes without saying that an essential part of my path as a writer, has been reading. I have always been an insatiable and passionate reader.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)"><em>3) Where do you get your ideas for the books you write about? For you, what&nbsp;makes a great story and how do you get to know your characters?&nbsp;</em></strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">I often get inspired by places. In almost all my books the setting is very important. It is more than environment; it is a character on its own right. In ‘Almost Intimately’ this is Prague; in ‘Annabel’ – Amsterdam, in ‘Pelican Feather’ – my home city Burgas, in ‘She, the island’ – Fuerteventura and in my latest manuscript ‘Brussels Naked’ – obviously Brussels. Then the characters come and start inhabiting the place with their relationships, aspirations and struggles. I often use real life stories which I have heard or experienced myself but then I mix them with fiction which results in a different reality. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">What makes a great story for me is plausibility; no matter whether it is science fiction or magical realism, it must be convincing. I need to believe the characters and their actions, to feel them real and authentic. Then, as important to me is the style. The language and the story should complement each other in a strong and moving partnership. Finally, it’s the structure. The way the story is told. Is it exciting? Is it original? Does it keep my attention? </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">My characters come to me and I get to know them in the process of writing, leaving them to show me who they are, what they are about in life, what are their identity and nature. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)"><em>4) What does it take to be creative?&nbsp;</em></strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">Being present and connected to yourself, while being curious about and open to the world and other people. Being able to stop and listen, and observe. Being empathic. Being vulnerable and honest. Keeping your inner child alive and letting it play. Going for long lone walks.</span></p><p><br></p><p><img src="\ArticlesImages\fe81ab93-e7c9-4ada-994a-7e8483293591.jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto"></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)"><em>5) Do you have a writing routine? If so, what does a typical writing day look like for you?&nbsp;</em></strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">As I have always had a full time job and have written next to it, for years, I didn’t have any writing routine. I just wrote when I could – evenings, weekends, holidays, often with long breaks in between. But I grew to realise that routine and regularity are very important for writing, they help its flow and rhythm. In the past three-four years, I built a routine of writing every day, even if only for one hour, usually in the morning, before going to work. During the weekend and holidays I would write for three or more hours. But I have, recently, become a single mother which will certainly impact my writing routine and, probably, lead to creating a new one. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)"><em>6) What was the process of finding a publisher for your books? Best piece of writing advice to writers looking for their work to be published?</em></strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">In Bulgaria I haven’t struggled with finding publishers. I just sent my work with a cover letter and there was always a publisher interested to take it forward.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">Only for my last book, ‘Welcome Nathan!’, I didn’t look for a publisher but self-published it. As it is a very personal book, I wanted to have full control over the process and its timing. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">Internationally, one of my novels, ‘Pelican Feather’ has been published in French and Arabic, and a chapter of ‘Brussels Naked’ has been published in Persian. Currently, I am in a process of looking for an agent. </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">What I could advice writers looking for their work to be published is the obvious – polish your manuscript as much as you can, ideally, with the help of an editor, write a strong cover letter and a concise and informative synopsis, and look for an agent, representing writers who create in the same vein like you. You could as well approach publishers directly, but an agent is supposed to get you a better deal. Finally, you could self-publish on Amazon or another platform which I have done with the English translations of two of my novels. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)"><em>7) What is your favorite story, from the ones you have written so far? And why?&nbsp;</em></strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">Asking this is like expecting a mother to point out her favourite child. I love them all. Still, my latest manuscript/novel gets more of my attention so that it can reach the world and start an independent life. At the moment, these are the English translation of ‘She, the island’ and my manuscript ‘Brussels Naked’. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)"><em>8) Do you have any tips for the young writers who are about to write their first novel?&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">Do you really need to write that novel? Does it desperately need to get a body, voice and soul, and – more importantly – does it require this from you? If so, then sit down and write it without thinking and strategising too much. Get your first draft ready and then start editing it. Make as many drafts as it takes until you feel it is almost there. Then find a good editor, the more merciless the better, and be prepared to take honest, sometimes harsh, feedback, and to work hard to integrate what feels right for your manuscript. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)"><em>9) What is the&nbsp;best book you&nbsp;have written and why?&nbsp;</em></strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">I suppose my best book is always the one I have just finished. 😊 Each book is a stop in my journey as a writer. I always learn from the books I read and from my own writing, experiment, challenge myself and the reader.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)"><em>10) What's coming up next for you?</em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">Getting ‘Brussels Naked’ published. I have a couple of other drafts to further work on and a bunch of ideas for novels and short stories.&nbsp;</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Read more about the writer on her website by clicking the link </span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)"> </span><a href="https://ipapancheva.com/" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">https://ipapancheva.com</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;and follow her on the social media on IG&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/irinapapancheva/?hl=fr" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204)">@irinapapancheva</a><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)"> and </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/pelican_feather/?hl=fr" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204)">@pelican_feather</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;or on Facebook&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Author/Pelican-Feather-215901438788673/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204)">Pelican Feather</a></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">Books: ‘She, the island. A novel about Fuerteventura”: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/She-island-novel-about-Fuerteventura/dp/B08T43TVP8" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/She-island-novel-about-Fuerteventura/dp/B08T43TVP8</a></p><p><br></p><p><img src="\ArticlesImages\b99cda14-da32-4742-a149-1687341a022d.PNG" style="display: block; margin: auto"></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">‘Pelican Feather’: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pelican-Feather-Irina-Papancheva-ebook/dp/B01AFAA74S?ie=UTF8&amp;%2AVersion%2A=1&amp;%2Aentries%2A=0" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Pelican-Feather-Irina-Papancheva-ebook/dp/B01AFAA74S</a></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">In Brussels her books can be found in </span><a href="https://librebook.eu/fr/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204)">Librebook</a><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">, Ixelles. </span></p><p><br></p><p><img src="\ArticlesImages\20ba9ff1-07b3-4c77-98f1-df843f885908.JPG" style="display: block; margin: auto"></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">You can find all the covers of here books here: </span><a href="https://ipapancheva.com/books-irina-papancheva/" target="_blank">https://ipapancheva.com/books-irina-papancheva/</a></p><p><br></p><p><img src="\ArticlesImages\cc4a2671-7886-4747-b53d-bfe1d308d3fa.JPG" style="display: block; margin: auto"></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34)">&nbsp;</span></p>