What: Reading and presentation by UNT Associate Professor of English Miroslav Penkov, a 2012-2013 IAA Faculty Fellow. He will be reading excerpts from his recently published novel "Stork Mountain" and provide images and commentary from his time in Bulgaria researching for the book.

When: May 5 (Thursday),

Presentation on research at 7 p.m., followed by the Reading at 7:30 p.m.

Where: UNT on the Square, 109 N. Elm St., Denton

Cost: Free

A young Bulgarian immigrant returns to the country of his birth in search of his grandfather. What he is drawn into is a maze of half-truths in a village filled with pagan mysteries. He finds love with an unobtainable girl, forgotten conflicts and shameful secrets. That is the basis of the just released book by University of North Texas English Associate Professor Miroslav Penkov.

"Stork Mountain" is the first novel by the Bulgarian born author, a novel inspired by a family trip he took as a child to the Black Sea. Penkov said this book would not exist in its present form without UNT's generous support.

"I'm deeply indebted to UNT's Institute Advancement of the Arts, which in 2013 funded a research trip of mine to Bulgaria," said Penkov. "With the gathered material I was able to complete my novel. I'm really pleased that now, three years later, I get the chance to return to the institute and read from this finished book."

The author will be reading from his novel starting at 7:30 p.m. on May 5 (Thursday) at UNT on the Square. 109 N. Elm, Denton. Prior to that reading, he will give a presentation on his time in Bulgaria researching his book.