Monday 8 September 2014

Linguistically Challenged Part Seven: Teodora Kostova





Bio:

Hi, my name is Teodora and I live in London with my husband Ted and my son Jason. I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it became my full time job in 2010 when I decided that everything else I've tried bores me to death and I have to do what I've always wanted to do, but never had to guts to fully embrace. I've been a journalist, an editor, a personal assistant and an interior designer among another things, but as soon as the novelty of the new, exciting job wears off, I always go back to writing. Being twitchy, impatient, loud and hasty are not qualities that help a writer, because I have to sit alone, preferably still, and write for most of the day, but I absolutely love it. It's the only time that I'm truly at peace and the only thing I can do for more than ten minutes at a time - my son has a bigger attention span than me.
When I'm procrastinating, I like to go to the gym, cook Italian meals (and eat them), read, listen to rock music, watch indie movies and True Blood re-runs. Or, in the worst case scenario, get beaten at every Wii game by a six year old.

Teodora can be found on:



The Questions:

-     What language do you speak most of the time?

It’s hard to say. I’m Bulgarian but I’ve lived in UK for almost 12 years now. I speak Bulgarian with my husband most of the time, or on the phone with my family. Other than that, I speak English. So it’s probably 50/50 for me.

-      What language do you think in?

It depends. When I talk in Bulgarian, I think in Bulgarian, but when I talk, read or write in English I think in English. The only exception is numbers – I always say numbers in my native language in my head. I don't know if that’s a thing, I’ve heard other bilingual people do it as well.

-      What language do you dream in?

I’ve had vivid dreams in both languages.

-      What language do you swear in after you’ve really hurt yourself?

Haha, I swear in all languages I can strings two words in. I’ve been known to say some nasty things in Italian, Spanish or Russian at different points of my life. Mostly it’s English though, unless I’m driving. I let out quite long swear rants in Bulgarian while I drive in London.

-      What language are you most comfortable in?

English. Even though Bulgarian is my mother’s tongue, I’ve been separated from an organic speaking environment for too long and sometimes words just escape me.

-      How easy or difficult is it for you to switch from one language to the other?

Pretty easy, I do it all the time. I speak with my child in English and my husband in Bulgarian so I have to switch back and forth all the time.

-      Does it affect you when you’re in a group where both languages are being spoken?

No, I’m used to it and pretty comfortable.

-      Do you ever speak the ‘wrong’ language to someone?

Oh, yes, all the time. I remember a couple of years ago I was in my Italian class and this Polish girl was sitting next to me, and I asked her a question in Bulgarian instead of English and she just stared at me. I didn't even realise I’d done it. Two languages I can handle, but three at the same time became a bit too much.

-      Would you translate yourself from one language into the other or ask someone else (professional) to do it?

No, I wouldn't. I’d definitely need a professional, even for Bulgarian translation. One issue is that I really don't have the time to do it, and another is that, like I said, I’ve lost the language in a way and I’m not at all certain I’ll do a good job at creative translation.

-      If size of (potential) market wasn’t an issue what language would you be writing in?

Still English. At the moment, this is the language I’m most comfortable with. Who knows what will happen in the future? I’d love to learn Italian on a level I’m able to write fiction.

Teodora’s latest release:



Jared Hartley is happy. He has a starring role in a popular West End musical, great friends, adoring fans and his own flat in Central London. A relationship is not something he has ever really wanted. Making big plans for the future is not in his nature – Jared is content with his single status and enjoying all the benefits of that lifestyle. 
He doesn’t even realise something is missing in his life. 
Until he meets Fenix. 

Fenix Bergman has a dream – to perform on Broadway. When he gets offered the lead role in Poison – a new musical based in London, he accepts, immediately recognising the huge potential of the show. 

Fenix thinks he has his life completely figured out – he will move to London, help Poison become the new West End hit and bide his time until Broadway comes knocking on his door. He has never wished for anything else but proving to himself and the world that he is a performer worthy of the biggest theatre stage. 
Until he meets Jared. 

Jared and Fenix’s lives collide and they fill each other’s missing pieces. Neither of them expects to feel so much, so fast for the other. 

Neither of them expects to need someone so badly when love hasn’t even been in their plans. 

But when Fenix’s star becomes too bright for London, will the dream he’s chased all his life ruin the dream he’s holding in his hands? 

Will he survive getting everything he’s ever wanted? 

Will Jared? 

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