Winner in the Bulgarian Novel of the Year Contest

Once born, the good book starts living a life of its own. Creates its history. The Amazon of Varoe by Prof. Boyan Biolchev triumphantly started writing its own biography. Only just published, it won two victories: the Vick Award for Bulgarian Novel of the Year and the Readership Award; and the readership is the severest judge!

In the third national contest Bulgarian Novel of the Year for the Vick Award competed 67 titles of Bulgarian authors, published in 2005. In June the extremely precise jury comprising Peter Anastasov, Dimiter Tomov, Irina Vagalinska and Georgi Koritarov nominated the six novels that were to compete in the last battle: Vladimir Zarev’s Worlds, Lea Kohen’s Consortium Alternus, Viktor Paskov’s The Autopsy of a Love, Ivan Golev’s Dani, Valeri Stephanov’s The Lost Donkeys and Boyan Biolchev’s The Amazon of Varoe. Once again the fifth jury member for the selection of the Bulgarian novel of the year were the readers. Following the regulations, they only join the contest after the 6 finalists are announced.

The awarding ceremony of the contest took place on October 27 at the Central Military Club. The novel of Boyan Biolchev won the grand prix. The author received 10 thousand levs and a translation of the novel into English, provided by the international translation company Vick Translations EVS - Bulgaria, general sponsor of the contest.
The heart of every big writer brims with joy at so much applause and flowers. And opens generously to those who are likewise captivated by the pen. Prof. Boyan Biolchev donated the entire monetary award for the establishment of a National competition for poems and short stories by Bulgarian students. Such things happen when the rector speaks in the heart of the writer.

The French say that reading is a holiday. For us, Bulgarians, this is true too. In 2005 we could enjoy many new editions. In line with this, at the official ceremony on October 27 the Vick Foundation announced the start of a campaign of public significance for restoration of the interest in reading. In 2007 the foundation will organize a series of events with the aim of promoting reading as part of the modern life and of social adaptation.

And to make the gala complete, the guests were greeted by Upsurt band and Karizma duet. Partner of the ceremony of awarding the Vick prize this year was NESCAFE 3in1, the brand that once again claimed its social responsibility and excellent communication with the young generation in Bulgaria.
When Prof. Biolchev was asked to provide his CV for the novel cover, he wrote: “I will not be selfish, I will be fair. I cede the floor to the book’s biography. Since I have been writing it for three years, I had the chance to get to know it and I decided it deserves this more than I do.” Today, very much to the pleasure of its author, The Amazon of Varoe is already writing its own biography.