FOMITE

In this haunting, deeply human collection of short fiction, Zdravka Evtimova explores the frail boundaries between loneliness, survival, and unexpected grace. Set against the stark, rugged backdrop of provincial Bulgaria—where dusty railway stations, hard-scrabble villages, and iron-willed families define everyday life—these stories illuminate the quiet resilience of the human spirit.

From a young teacher who names her solitude to comfort her mother, to a musician whose bitter rivalry gives way to an undeniable song; from a father who teaches his daughter that the alphabet contains all the world’s healing fairytales, to ordinary women finding dignity amid disaster—Evtimova blends gritty realism with a gentle, poetic folklore.

Tender, fierce, and brimming with emotional truth, All You Can Eat and Other Stories is a testament to the power of storytelling: a collection about the burdens we carry, the sacrifices we make for those we love, and the enduring beauty found in the most unlikely places.

About the Author

Zdravka Evtimova is a Bulgarian writer born in 1959. Her short stories and novels have appeared in 31 countries in the world, including USA, UK, Canada, China, Australia, Germany, France, Japan, Italy, and Switzerland. In 2022, she won Romania's Mihai Eminescu Annual Award for Fiction.