The project focuses on the translation of Keder, a short story collection by Bulgarian writer and poet Yordanka Beleva, from Bulgarian into Romanian during the residency. Originally published in Bulgaria in 2018 by Janet 45 Publishing House, Keder brings together stories marked by emotional depth, subtle irony, and an attentive exploration of human relationships, memory, loss, and everyday life.

Yordanka Beleva is an established Bulgarian author of poetry and prose. She has published four poetry collections and five collections of short stories, including Keder (2018). Her work has received national literary awards, and her poetry and prose have been translated into Arabic, English, French, German, Polish, Spanish, and Ukrainian. Her writing has appeared in international literary journals and anthologies. The English translation of Keder, translated by Izidora Angel, received the National Endowment for the Arts Prose Award in the United States in 2022. Stories from the collection have also appeared in The Los Angeles Review, Words Without Borders, Firmament, and Two Lines Journal. 

The residency will provide dedicated time for close reading, translation, revision, and consultation around linguistic and cultural nuances. Particular attention will be given to the rhythm, imagery, tone, and emotional precision of the original Bulgarian text. The project is also motivated by the limited literary exchange between Bulgaria and Romania. Although the two countries are geographical neighbors and share important historical and cultural connections, relatively few contemporary literary works circulate between Bulgarian and Romanian.