Biography
Novelist, playwright and screenwriter. He lives and works in Sofia.
One of Bulgaria’s leading contemporary storytellers, working across fiction, theatre and screen.
His books include the novels The Last Dolphin Hunter, Wound, The Tail, Havra, and 18% Gray, as well as novellas, short stories and essays. He has received Bulgaria’s highest literary honours, including four Novel of the Year awards, the Elias Canetti Award, the Helikon Award, the Hristo G. Danov Award, and numerous other national distinctions.
His work has been translated and published in the United States, France, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Egypt, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, and other territories. His fiction has also appeared in the American anthology Best European Fiction 2018.
Karabashliev is also an acclaimed playwright and screenwriter. His plays have received the Askeer Award, Bulgaria’s highest theatre distinction, and continue to be staged by leading theatres. His screen credits include the feature film adaptation of his novel 18% Gray, as well as other projects. He is also co-screenwriter of the forthcoming six-part television adaptation of his novel Havra.
Alongside his creative work, Karabashliev serves as Editor-in-Chief of Ciela, Bulgaria’s leading publishing house. He is also the founder and creative director of the VarnaLit International Literary Festival.
Across novels, theatre and film, his work explores memory, freedom, identity, and the ways personal lives intersect with larger political and historical forces.
He lives and works in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Timeline
Awards
Academic and cultural leadership
Book signings & appearances
From independent bookstores and literary festivals to universities and cultural institutions, Zachary Karabashliev engages audiences through conversations that bridge literature and human experience.
Whether signing books, delivering keynote addresses, or participating in public dialogues, his presence is marked by authenticity, insight, and a deep respect for the power of storytelling.
