The Elizabeth Kostova Foundation offers its fifth annual summer fiction writing seminar in the ancient town of Sozopol (Apollonia), Bulgaria. The seminar program consists of intensive daily fiction workshops, roundtable discussions, guest lectures and literary readings by faculty and participants. Fiction writers from Bulgaria and fiction writers from English-speaking countries, including but not limited to the U.S. and the U.K., are invited to apply. A total number of ten applicants will be selected for participation and funding.

PROGRAM AND FACULTY:
Morning workshops will be led in English by Elizabeth Kostova (US), the author of the best-selling novel "The Historian" (2005) and "The Swan Thieves" (2010), and in Bulgarian by Krassimir Damianov (BG/ESP), the author of  "Diary of a Butterfly" (2008) and "The House of the Hanged" (2009).
Guest lectures will be provided by Barry Lopez (US), the author of the award-winning "Of Wolves and Men" (1978, 1979, 2004) and "Arctic Dreams" (1986, 2001), and Deyan Enev (BG), an award-winning writer, the author of "Everyone on the Bow of the Boat" (2005) and "Circus Bulgaria" (2010).
The program in Sozopol, Bulgaria, includes also roundtable discussions, meetings with distinguished international and Bulgarian editors, publishers, translators, as well as literary readings.
One-day follow-up events are usually organized in Sofia, Bulgaria, as part of the long-term program of the Elizabeth Kostova Foundation called "CapitaLiterature" (2011-2019).

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
All fiction writers working in English or Bulgarian are eligible to apply, regardless of publication record and educational status. Acceptance will be based on the quality of the submitted writing sample, on the statement of purpose and on the letter of reference. Neither are the applicants from English-speaking countries required to have knowledge of Bulgarian language, nor are the Bulgarian applicants required to have knowledge of English, although either would be helpful.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
In order to apply, the applicants must complete an online submission form and attach all the required application materials to it: a biography, a statement of purpose and a fiction writing sample of 10-20 pages. A letter of reference, sent directly to EKF via email by the reference, is required in addition to the online application. Reference letter should be sent to silieva@ekf.bg. Only online applications will be accepted!
For detailed instructions on how to apply, please visit the following link: http://www.ekf.bg/sozopol/apply.

CONFIRMATION OF SUBMISSION:
All candidates will receive a confirmation e-mail that their application has been received shortly after March 7, 2012.

WINNER NOTIFICATION:
All approved applicants will be notified via e-mail by April 15, 2012.