Premiere of "The Pain Comes Later" by Antonia Apostolova in Burgas

A cultural event of national importance is coming to Burgas. The famous writer Antonia Apostolova is returning to her hometown to present her latest novel, “The Pain Comes Later”, published by “Zhanet 45” in 2025. The event, which is eagerly awaited by the city's reading community, will take place on September 11 at 6:00 PM at the “Peyo Yavorov” Regional Library.

The moderator of the literary evening will be Diana Savateva, a well-known name in Burgas' cultural circles. She is not only a journalist and poet, but also the Deputy Mayor for “Culture and Religious Affairs” in the Municipality of Burgas. Her presence at the event underscores the novel's significance for the local culture.

The Return to Burgas and Past Successes

Apostolova's return to Burgas is particularly exciting, as it comes just a few years after the triumphant premiere of her previous novel, “Us, Who Aren't There”. At that time, in a packed hall, she presented the book, which tells the story of the 90s generation in the city and is based on real prototypes from the youth subculture of that era. The novel's success was so great that it has already been adapted into a short film of the same name with financial support from the Municipality of Burgas. A feature film adaptation is currently being planned.

Burgas is inextricably linked to Antonia Apostolova's creative path. It was here, as a 17-year-old student at the English Language High School, that she published her first book – the poetry collection “Salty Apple”. At the time, the great Burgas artists Peyo Panteleev and Rusi Stoyanov championed her talent, collecting and organizing the publication of her poems. This first work is also the only one illustrated by the author of the iconic Gramophone, who also created statuettes named after poems by Antonia.

About the novel “The Pain Comes Later”

The new novel, “The Pain Comes Later”, is the author's fourth book and is already being hailed as an event in Bulgarian literature. It is a large-scale family saga that is simultaneously a coming-of-age novel and a father's confession, written in the form of a letter to the son he abandoned. The work is provocative in its messages, sensual in its language, and incredibly rich in themes and ideas. The father's narrative evolves into a bold and self-revealing confession about the history of his ancestors, his relationships with his brother and parents, his two marriages, and the one, but forbidden due to blood ties, woman in his life. This story crosses continents, cultures, and generations, boldly breaking the traditional timidity of Bulgarian literature, daring to address topics such as sexuality, parenthood, and family relationships with a previously unsuspected sincerity.

A number of enthusiastic reviews for the novel have already appeared in leading media outlets and on social networks. The critic and university professor of literary theory, Dimitar Kamburov, is concise in his assessment: "After “Tobacco,” Bulgarian literature finally has a new world family novel. A masterpiece". The writer Rusana Bardarska also does not hide her admiration, stating: "We have a book in Bulgarian, by a Bulgarian author, that would be an event even in the most authoritative foreign literatures, and in ours, it's a miracle". For her part, the critic Kristina Yordanova adds that “The Pain Comes Later” "fits into the traditions of great European writing, complex and tense, attentive to details and metaphorical, relying on the rhythm of the language and on recurring themes".

Other books and achievements of the writer

Antonia Apostolova's other books include:

• the collection “Sinking in the Dead Sea” (2019) – winner of the “Yordan Radichkov” 2020 award for debut in short stories and a nomination in the short list of “Portal Kultura” 2020.
• the novel “Us, Who Aren't There” (2021) – awarded the “Portal Kultura” II prize for 2022 and the Burgas Municipality prize for prose for 2022, as well as a nomination for “Peroto” in 2021.
• the novel “The Pain Comes Later” (2025).

In addition to her work as a writer, Antonia Apostolova is also known for her work as an editor and reviewer of fiction, as well as a literary journalist for publications such as “Literaturnen Vestnik,” “Portal Kultura,” and “Toest.” She is the creator of the website “Literary Conversations” and the platform for literary consultations and boutique editing, Stilnica.com.