site.btaWriter Zdravka Evtimova Talks About Importance of Words

Prominent Bulgarian writer Zdravka Evtimova met with fans and admirers of her work in Razgrad on Wednesday, said the Regional Library, which organised the writer's meeting in partnership with the Razgrad Women's Federation. At the meeting, Evtimova described her great love for the Bulgarian language and Bulgarian words and said that she owed many friendships to kind words. "What words create, nothing else can create", the writer said. 

Evtimova compared sayings in different languages to show how different cultures show appreciation for language and words. While Bulgarians say that "a kind word opens iron doors", the French say "politeness costs nothing, but buys everything". A similar English saying about words is "the less you say, the better things will turn out". According to Evtimova, this shows how the French put the emphasis on buying and selling, the English present themselves as diplomats, while the Bulgarians emphasise the kindness and soul of the people. She noted that this is very important to her.

Evtimova talked about her childhood, saying that she learned from her father that words are powerful and that there is always a softer and nicer way of saying things, which opens doors. She also told the audience personal stories about her visits in the USA and China and how her latest book came to be, writing about real people, including her neighbours and acquaintances.

Chief librarian Mila Marinova cited Edgar Allan Poe to say that "when we read Zdravka Evtimova's stories, we, the readers, have her soul and heart at our disposal." Among the attendees of the meeting were Elka Nedelcheva, Razgrad Municipality Deputy Mayor, Lyubka Stoyanova, Chairwoman of the Razgrad Women's Federation, and Dimitar Petrov, Director of the Regional Library. Singer Deya Kumanova addressed the guests at the meeting.