Bio note

Yana Ellis is a translator from Bulgarian and German into English, editor and modern foreign languages teacher. She holds an MA in Translation from the University of Bristol. Yana is drawn to narratives that explore issues of identity, immigration, and the representation of the ‘other’.

In 2022, she was chosen as one of the American Literary Translators' Association (ALTA) Virtual Travel Fellows and was shortlisted for the John Dryden Translation Competition, also in 2022. Her work has appeared in 'The Trinity journal of Literary translation', 'No man's Land', and 'The Common' literary magazines. Her prose pamphlet proposal for the translation of Yordanka Beleva’s short story collection 'Hedgehogs Come Out at Night' is shortlisted for publication with 'The Emma Press'. Yana also writes book reviews for 'Northwest Review'.

Residency goals

During her residency at the Sofia Literature and Translation House, Yana will be working on the English translation of Zdravka Evtimova’s 'The Wolves of Staro Selo' that will be published in the UK by Héloïse Press in 2025 and on Yordanka Beleva's short story collection 'Hedgehogs come out at night'. She will also use her time in Sofia to deepen her knowledge of the Bulgarian publishing industry, familiarise herself with current literature trends, connect with contemporary Bulgarian authors and colleagues.

The residency is supported by the Culture Moves Europe programme and the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria.