site.btaValentin Evstatiev Brings Together 94 Poems in His New Book “Norwegian Jazz”

Valentin Evstatiev has compiled 94 poems in his new book Norwegian Jazz, which will be presented on October 7 at 7:00 PM at the American Corner in the Sofia City Library, the author tells BTA.

The event will feature actor Malin Krastev, who will read selected poems from the book, and a jazz duo: Rosi Delieva (vocals) and Jordan Vladev (piano).

According to the author, Norwegian Jazz displays a certain level of conceptual depth, combined with a moderate amount of improvisation. “The themes are varied – not only linked to my personal experiences, but also to my observations of the joys and dramas of others,” says Evstatiev.

He explains that the title of the book is borrowed from one of the poems in the collection. “It’s a metaphor I leave to the reader to interpret for themselves. I wanted the book title to be, as far as possible, unique and attention-grabbing. I think I’ve managed that,” the author says.

“I write in classical verse. As a reader, I also enjoy some works in free verse – in general, I try to stay open to anything of value in poetry, especially Bulgarian poetry,” he adds.

Evstatiev says his writing began with reading poetry. “There was some kind of inner accumulation, and at some point, I decided to try writing myself. And so – it’s been almost 20 years now,” he says, naming some of his favourite Bulgarian poets as Pavel Matev, Kalin Donkov, Emil Simeonov, Boris Hristov, Veselin Hanchev, and Nikolay Liliev.

He also acknowledges the contribution of poetess Dimitrina Zhelyazkova – Etina, who edited Norwegian Jazz.

In a description of the book, Etina writes: “In publishing a book, a poet stands before their readers, but before that, they must face themselves. Valentin Evstatiev has that courage. And precisely because of it, his thoughtful and powerful poems create an instant and lasting connection with the reader. Norwegian Jazz is a book for the thinking person – it offers support for their strength and assurance that they are not alone on the uneven roads of life. It is a masterful look at existence from within, an alternative perspective where meaning reveals itself and keeps the best of our humaneness awake.”

Valentin Evstatiev was born in 1966 in Kazanlak, grew up in Sliven, and has lived in Sofia since 1987. In 1992, he graduated in English Philology from Sofia University. Since 1999, he has worked as a translator at the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), in the Directorate for International Information. He publishes his poetry in national periodicals and almanacs and has won awards in national poetry competitions. He is the author of the collections As Long As I Have You (2013), The Hands Remember (2022), and his most recent, Norwegian Jazz (2025).