Beyond the Mother Tongue: Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry on her debut novel and Exophony

Creative writing in foreign languages, also known as exophony or translingualism, has been practised since time immemorial. However, in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, it multiplied and intensified as a consequence of patterns of migration, changing demographics and the rise of English as a global language. What challenges do writers and poets face when working in a foreign tongue? Does the language of writing shape an author's artistic identity or connect them to a specific literary tradition? With English as a well-established lingua franca, should authors strive to emulate native speakers, or is the "New" English literature becoming the new normal?

On 18 November, 2023, Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry, a rising star in the American literary scene, addressed these and other questions in a conversation with Artemii Levkoy. The interview was followed by Q&A, a book signing session, and an Open Mic featuring original poetry in English and Russian.

In the latter part of the evening, attendees enjoyed an Open Mic session featuring poetry recitations in English and Russian. The most outstanding poet, as determined by our esteemed guest, was awarded a copy of Kristina's book.

You can watch the full internview on The Blue Lamp channel.

ONRS on film

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