What inspired you to transition from entrepreneurship to writing books?
I actually wrote the first book because of my children.
It's just that young people are more interested in social networks and less in reading books. I wrote 27 short stories about the problems people have in their daily lives. These stories can teach us in almost every moment of our lives how to make a decision and move forward. By making the right sense of the story, of course for the given situation.
How did your experience in the military influence your writing and entrepreneurial endeavors?
I have had organizational skills since school. My two years in the army made me disciplined and responsible. The years when communism collapsed. It's probably one of the most defining moments of my life. In the coming years, I plan to write an autobiography. I guess this part with the stay in the army will be one of the most interesting. Certainly, the habits you acquire there help later in life.
Can you share some insights or lessons learned from your journey in the café, real estate, and construction businesses?
Sure. The coffee aperitif I opened gave me not only lessons but many insights. I learned how to treat people there. If you greet a customer with a smile, they will smile back. Basically, we like to greet people by their clothes and send them away by their minds. That's where I learned to respect everyone, regardless of the issues. At the end of the day, they would come and leave their money with me. Thanks to them, I earned my bread. The most important thing I learned was not to betray people's trust. There were always customers who came and told me their problems and secrets. I didn't study to be a psychologist, but I must have practiced it involuntarily in those days. With the real estate business, it was very difficult in the beginning. But when you gained people's trust and were able to offer them prices and preferences, you could sense the joy on their faces. When I handed over the keys to a family, I could always not only see them happy but feel them happy. You get the satisfaction of a job well done. After all, the family's home is listed in Maslow's pyramid as one of the key factors for people. Subsequently, the construction company was set up to be able to do home renovations according to their views and understandings. You learn to manage more people. You understand that man is not a robot, and his work cannot be at the same pace every day. You learn compromise and patience. You learn to solve problems on the fly. In short, you can take responsibility; that's what sets you apart from the crowd.
How do your Turkish roots and experiences living in Germany influence your writing?
I don't think my Turkish roots have influenced my writing. It all depends on a person's upbringing. The first 10 years are important for the development of the individual, and it is very important what habits he acquires and how he sees the world through his eyes and thoughts. My life had passed in Bulgaria from communism to capitalism. Actually, in Germany there is developed capitalism with rules. If you follow them, you can achieve anything. You have the freedom to speak freely. Not only in Bulgaria but also in the former socialist republics, there is still censorship and propaganda. In Germany, not only human life is valued, but also the climate. It is possible that the way of life in Germany influenced my writing.
Your books often delve into themes of self-improvement and historical narratives. What drives your interest in these subjects?
The first two are really written in such a way that they take place in the past. They are practically a story, not directly, about how to improve a person with instructions. Just the idea is for easy perception. The human psyche more easily accepts lessons from someone's experience than guidance. If someone comes or goes and you tell them to do so and so to succeed. He will answer you; give me money; I know how to do it. Especially now in the digital world. But if he hears or reads, after several unsuccessful attempts, he can remember the experience of another and go on this path. It will not sound modest, but my life has always been about helping other known and unknown people. Regardless, directly or indirectly.
Can you describe your writing process? Do you follow a strict routine or write whenever inspiration strikes?
If I know what I want to write, it's no problem to do it. For example, if I want to write a romance novel or a crime novel. I can sit down and draw the heads and then fill them in. But I don't want to write that, at least for now. I have no idea, if I think something is worth telling in the form of a story, I would write.
What was the most challenging part of writing your first book, "Manners in the Great Kingdom"?
Like any challenge, you have to take the first step first. To start doing what you want. For this book in particular, I found it challenging to title the stories. From there on, knowing the topic and the direction, you know what to do. This also applies to the other books. I have a favorite story title. God gives, but we must make an effort to take.
How did the process of writing your second, third, and fourth books differ from your first experience?
I had no idea at all about writing a second book. Subsequently, leisure circumstances for me and knowing people's problems. I just started, and as a continuation of the first, I wrote the second book. I don't see the process itself any different from writing the first book. For my third book, before I started, there were times where I started and then gave up. Until I decided that the events in the book should take place in the present. It was important for me to mention the climate as a factor in the books. The fourth book I now emphasizes self-cultivation guidance in the form of entertainment. I had to choose the best and most suitable activities for a young man. Then I started creating stories. Which would help him for personal growth without needing financial means. Because many people find justification that they do not have financial security and cannot send their children to prestigious universities. In reality, our whole life is a university. The process is the preparation itself.
Could you give us a sneak peek into your current project, "Unforgettable Personalities of History"?
I wanted to gather in one place people who really left their mark in the history of mankind. I had to gather information for this book for over a year. I myself thought that I knew everything. It turned out that I am not familiar with some personalities and their achievements. To try with the shortest possible information about them, to present them to the younger generation. On the Internet, you will find everyone quoting a proverb or saying from them. But if you ask them the question of who and what contributed to humanity, they know very little. If you ask people. Who created the first laws? The man who caused the emergence of the largest humanitarian organization like the Red Cross/Crescent. I'm sure ninety-nine percent don't know the answer. Out of 155 personalities in the book, only two are alive who found a place, in my opinion. One managed to create the first pocket phone, without which many people cannot part. The other is one of the creators of the Internet. I thank them for accepting my request to be included in this book. If a person knows the past, he can more easily arrange his future. It could be more like a history book.
What does being a gold author in the self-improvement category and winning the Golden Pencil Award mean to you?
After the book came out in Turkey, I had no expectations. I had received a call from the publishing house that I was invited to an author award ceremony. I didn't take it seriously. I didn't go. Later, I found out that I was really awarded, and I received the certificate at my address in Germany. I have definitely won awards as a student in competitive sports. I was happy inside. I am glad that the book was preferred. This means to me that I am on the right track.
Who are some of your favorite authors, and what genres do you enjoy reading the most?
Favorite authors. So much. But perhaps the ones I like the most are James Clavel, Karl May, John Grisham, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jules Verne, Alexandre Dumas, George Clason, and many, many others. I especially love folk tales. Every book is good; you just need to be able to extract the useful from it. I just don't like horror books.
How did you become interested in buying dividend stocks, and how do you balance this interest with your writing career?
Everyone should set aside white money for rainy days. Basically, I've always done my own business, and I've always thought that you should invest in what you do. But it is good to set aside money in another business as well. Why dividend stocks? I just think that these companies have respect for their investors and set aside a percentage of their profits for them. I bought my first shares in 1998. Dividends always come as a second income. Money in the bank or under the pillow does not cover inflation. If you have found your favorite companies and they reward you, you simply have more free time for everything, including writing books. You don't need to follow them and become a trader. You simply receive income as well as rent from a property.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start their writing journey?
Everyone has the right to say what they think, no matter in what form. If he plans to make a living from books, I would advise him to find a traditional publisher. But they work with a literary agent. They are more interested in commercial literature. So that they can profit from her sales. If he wants to say something he thinks needs to be said. It can self-publish the book on platforms that also make printed editions. History proves that most artists become popular after their deaths. If they want to become popular, they just need to allocate more financial resources. There is a company that makes your book a bestseller for 80-90,000 dollars. The first wave is good; after that, whether the readers will like it is another matter. Whether the pledged funds will be returned is another matter. If a writer has written a really quality book, he has not become a star now. You never know, in a hundred years, his book might just fall into the right hands. An example with the religious books as well as many other books. I would also like to wish them success.
What are your future goals as an author and entrepreneur? Do you have any new ventures or book ideas on the horizon?
A person who has health, faith, and hope sets goals for himself. I am aiming to sell some properties that are not part of my future plans. The fourth '369 hours of punishment' and my fifth book 'Unforgettable personalities of history' have not yet been released on the German and English markets. I guess when 2025 becomes a fact, I will think about exactly what I will write about. I have two ideas and haven't decided which one to go with.
How has been your experience working with AllAuthor?
I still don't think I've taken full advantage of the site's features and benefits, but I plan to in the future.
Overall, the website is well designed and easy to use. There are tools and options that would save a lot of time for authors. Accredited site with organic traffic rank. I would recommend it to any author.