About Me
A writer, a poet, a translator.
With a keen eye for photography.
I am multicultural and multilingual, having lived in different countries, writing from multiple perspectives.
I have authored hundreds of articles in Japan on travel, food, and culture (web, print, guides etc.) From deep culture and history dives, to interviews with locals, writing engaging travel stories is my preferred voice.
A translator and a literature major, my poetry and books have been published around the globe and translated in several languages. Same goes for my travel writing, which has been translated and reprinted internationally.
Work Experience
2017 - today
Travel Writer and Travel Consultant
Working in Japan as a travel writer, travel consultant, editor, social media manager, digital marketer etc.
Media: Tokyo Weekender, Metropolis, Matcha, Japan Info (Fuji TV Labo), Japan Objects, Tokyo Savvy, Tokyo Survival Channel, WAttention, Tokyo Night Owl, Guidable, NHK, etc.
Clients: Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau, TOBU Railways, LAWSON, JR East, Kikkoman, Hoshino Resorts, Nohga Hotel, The Gate by HULIC hotel, Shoryukan Ryokan, ANA Intercontinental, NISSEI Corporation, Foodie Adventure tour company, Arigato Japan tour company, Design Festa Gallery, Showcase Tours, and others.
- hired for travel consulting by local governments in Japan and tourists agencies
- doing social media posts for clients like LAWSON, JR East Railways and others
- landing page and branding for Kikkoman
January 2021 - present
Editorial assistant and writer at Tokyo Weekender magazine, Engawa Global
May 2019 - July 2020
Editor and staff writer for JAPAN INFO, at FUJI TV Labo
February 2018 - March 2019
- editorial assistant and staff writer at WAttention (print and web media, and content provider for other clients)
- also in charge of social media and video scriptwriting
2008 - today
Freelance Translator
- worked as a translator for various publishing houses, the Ministry of Culture, cable TV & cinema, South Korean Embassy in the Republic of Bulgaria, etc.
- volunteered for BIG ISSUE (UK), a network of street newspapers aiming to help socially vulnerable people make a living from the sales of the newspaper.
2011 – 2016
Editor in chief of the Literature Magazine SH and
member of the editorial board of IZLEZ Student Magazine
Worked closely with our Art Director and designers, and invited established writers to guest-edit sections of the magazine. Managed a team of professionals: writers, proofreaders, copyeditors etc. Managed funds and was in direct contact with the sponsors.
2009 - 2016
University Graduate teaching assistant
University Graduate teaching assistant of English Language, Academic Writing, Translation and related subjects, at the Faculty of Philology, Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University Skopje, Macedonia, Europe.
Education
2016 - 2018
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (東京外国語大学)
Recipient of a MEXT government scholarship for a Research Fellowship at Tokyo University of Foreign studies, Department of Literature and Culture. Received education in Japanese language as part of the program. Took courses on: literature, culture studies, film, religion, anthropology etc.
2014 / May
Faculty of Philology, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
Earned an MA in English Literature from the Faculty of Philology, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje.
Specialized in literary translation. Title of the MA thesis: "The Lexical Defamiliarizations in Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess".
2010
Faculty of Philology, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
Graduated with honours from the Faculty of Philology, Department of English Language and Literature, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje.
PRESS interviews and media appearances:
1. Interview for Nova Makedonija (both digital and appearing in print) - Macedonian - https://www.novamakedonija.com.mk/prilozi/lik/%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%B2-%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE-%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B5j%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D0%B8-j/
2. A group interview for Tenshokudo Japan - https://tenshokudo.com/switching-jobs-in-japan/
3. Interviewed by CrnoBelo, Macedonia - https://www.crnobelo.com/zivot/intervju/62829-zoria-petkoska-za-zivotot-vo-tokio-mnogu-japonski-studenti-si-spijat-na-chasovite (Macedonian only)
4. Interviewed by Fashionel, Macedonia - https://fashionel.mk/intervju/tokio-nema-kraj
5. On my visual poetry exhibition Distilled Emotion, Brave New World literature blog - https://bnw-mag.blogspot.com/2018/10/zoria-april-distilled-emotion.html
6. On my book of poetry, Reper Magazine, Macedonia - http://www.reper.net.mk/2015/07/15/slikovnata-mokj-na-poetskoto-pismo/ (Macedonian only)
7. In Nova Makedonija magazine, interviewed with a group of young writers - http://bit.ly/3ax8w2O
8. On my photo exhibition, in Okno magazine,Macedonia - https://okno.mk/node/47016 (Macedonian only)
9.On my award at the Young European Writers conference - https://puls24.mk/nagrada-za-zorica-petkoska-vo-azerbejdan/ (Macedonian only)
10. On my PEN centre best new poetry book nomination - https://kanal5.com.mk/articles/233086/-vetrogon-od-zorica-petkoska-kje-bide-nominiran-za-megjunarodnata-nagrada-novi-glasovi (Macedonian only)
11. On my book launch - http://www.radiomof.mk/promocija-na-zborigami/ (Macedonian only)
12. On winning the EU info centre Young Translator Award -
- http://www.idividi.com.mk/vesti/makedonija/1024128/index.html
- https://www.radiomof.mk/dodeleni-nagradite-vavilon-za-najdobar-mlad-preveduvach/