"Creative Writing Workshop Inspires Future Professional Writers of Bulgaria" Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, April Reynolds, an acclaimed writer and professor, conducted creative writing workshops for the University of Sofia and the University of Plovdiv, where Ronda Critchlow serves as the Junior English Language Fellow. Ms. Critchlow, along with her colleague, Assistant Professor Milena Katsarska, facilitated the organization of a two-day creative writing workshop led by the visiting American Professor, April Reynolds, on March 8-9, 2005. Ms. Reynolds teaches creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York. She is the author of Knee-Deep in Wonder, published in 2003, which won the 2004 Beyond Margins Award from the PEN American Center. Open to all Plovdiv University English Philology students and interested members of the community, the creative writing workshops gave participants the opportunity to learn innovative and analytical techniques to enhance their writing style. These workshops created an ideal forum in which attendees could share their own short stories, poetry, and fiction writing with an enthusiastic audience and receive feedback on their literary creations in a supportive and informed environment. As a result, many of these fervent young writers were inspired to continue their composition of various literary genres and even pursue publication. There were approximately forty participants that attended these workshops. Autographed copies of Ms. Reynolds' new book, Knee-Deep in Wonder, were also graciously provided to students and the American Corner in Plovdiv on behalf of the U.S. Embassy.

This is a picture of a student sharing his fiction writing piece with the other participants. Ms. Reynolds is seated behind a desk, attentively listening and taking copious notes in order to provide feedback.

"Experience of Minorities and Expressions in Literature Lecture in Bulgaria" In conjunction with Black History Month, the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria sponsored the visit of an established writer and professor, April Reynolds, to conduct a lecture and discussion on the experiences of minorities in America for the University of Sofia and the University of Plovdiv, where Ronda Critchlow serves as the Junior English Language Fellow. On March 9, 2005, both Ms. Critchlow and her colleague, Assistant Professor Milena Katsarska, facilitated the organization of this lecture and discussion. Mr. Yordan Kosturkov, a full-time lecturer at Plovdiv University, translated Ms. Reynolds' lecture. Students, faculty, and community members were invited to take part in this event. Eloquently addressing the notion of the "Black Experience", Ms. Reynolds provided a philosophical view and introspective reflection on her own experiences as a woman of color in the United States. In addition, she made note of the role that literature produced by African-Americans and other minority writers has played in shaping and drawing more critical attention to the experiences of minorities in American. Ms. Reynolds' lecture spawned much intriguing discussion on the topic of minority experiences and how the works of various Greek classics have influenced her writing.

Ms. Reynolds presents her lecture on "Experience of Minorities and Expressions in Literature" with simultaneous translation into Bulgarian.