/Detelina Kamenova, media relations, International Elias Canetti Society, journalist/

/Lucas Cejpek, author of Encirclement (Umkreisung)/

• What do you think gives a literary festival the strength to survive 15 consecutive years?

The personal encounters of authors with readers, critics and scholars.

• What do you know about the Literary Festival organised by the International Elias Canetti Society?

This will be my first time participating in the festival. The International Elias Canetti Society is well known to me for organizing international meetings of authors in Ruse, which I liked years ago as a very good place for readings and discussions.

• Why would an artist want to meet an audience in person and at festivals in particular?

We are all social beings. And we are only virtual beings when there are no other means to overcome distances. The festival gives us the opportunity to meet both audience and colleagues, also to have time for discussions and informal conversations.

• What do you expect from the live meetings with the audience in Ruse?

We will share our time and experiences in conversations. I hope we will also share drinks and food together, as well as walks along the lovely green street in the city centre and in the parks.

• What should the audience expect from meeting you?

My essayistic work combines experience in all areas, so let’s surprise each other!

• Where do you most often find interesting subjects for interpretation – in life or on social media?

I don’t look at social networks. I deal with real life and its everyday interpretations.