From Reality to Fiction: ACSers Meet Writer Diana Ignatova at the Gipson Library

November 6, 2025 – On October 29, the Gipson Library of the American College of Sofia  hosted a discussion titled From Reality to Fiction. The event was part of the library’s initiatives in collaboration with The Fountain Journal to mark the National Enlighteners Day. The Fountain is a literary and cultural journal or magazine of the American College of Sofia, founded in 1994 as a student initiative. Today it is an official College publication with an international ISSN number that promotes young talent, features students’ work, and introduces students to the full process of producing a magazine.

Writer Diana Ignatova, Bulgarian author with numerous publications in the periodical press and the creator of several photo-documentary exhibitions, was special guest at the event. Between 2009 and 2019, she served as Director of the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Paris. At ACS, she spoke about the creation of her debut book Rockefeller Street, a collection of twenty-three short stories where reality and imagination intertwine in unexpected ways. The book presentation evolved into a discussion about stories born from reality – about the people, places, and moments that inspire fiction. At the end of the discussion, the guest author invited the young writers from the College to take on a creative challenge – to write a story inspired by a real event. The best piece will be published in the winter edition of The Fountain.

The College and its emblematic magazine The Fountain owe the success of this event to the tireless enthusiasm of the student organizers and hosts — Vera Velkova, Elena Kirova, Siyana Stoyanova, and Ema Mihaylova — as well as to all The Fountain contributors in the audience and the Gipson library’s student helpers. Support also came from the magazine’s faculty team: Ms. Tatyana Stoyanova, who initiated the event; and teachers Ms. Milka Getskovska, Ms. Malina Tonova, and Ms. Teodora Todorova. The welcoming atmosphere and the event’s promotion as part of the National Enlighteners’ Day celebrations were provided by the Gipson Library heads, Ms. Alexandra Alexandrova and Ms. Emilia Peeva. The audience included students and teachers from the Department of Bulgarian Language and Literature.

From Reality to Fiction became not only a celebration of the written word but also an inspiration for new creative pursuits among ACS students — a shining example of how The Fountain continues its mission to discover and encourage young literary talent.