Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I come from Bulgaria and for the last 19 years I’ve been working hard on my own, personal American dream. I live in the greater Boston area with my wife, daughter, and two dogs. My first book, The Excellence Habit, struck a nerve. Less than three months after launch, it made the Amazon best-seller list and was named the winner for best motivational book by Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Excellence Habit was inspired by my own need to read a book like that. What I was coming across instead was all kinds of wonderful books offering formulas for success. At one point I realized that I am not looking for a formula. Success can only come from Excellence and I needed to develop this idea. This is how The Excellence Habit was born.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think as a writer, I am just starting to evolve. The most important thing right now is to build a writing habit that works both creatively, and from productivity point of view. What works best for me is when I have long, uninterrupted intervals of time for days on end. Then I kind of get lost in the “zone” and miracles and magic start showing up on the white pages.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Steven Pressfield is, for me, the number one contemporary writer. Gates of Fire was the first book that woke me up to the fact that he has something special. In addition to his novels, The War of Art and Becoming Pro are fundamental to my understanding of creativity and the need to work and express what lies within. I will forever be grateful for his dedication to helping young writers – through his books and his blog at StevenPressfield.com.
A close partner of Pressfield is veteran editor Shawn Coyne, who has similar dedication to helping fledgeling authors. His book The Story Grid and the concepts he talks about on his blog – http://thestorygrid.com/ are my best writing education.
A major source of inspiration is also Elizabeth Gilbert. Her Big Magic is for me exactly as the title promises – Bg Magic.
What are you working on now?
A number of ideas. I am working on a few, while waiting for the right one to come forward, so we can work together.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I can’t say I have one best site. I started using a lot of Twitter, but it is hard to track sales from there. BookBub also worked quite well and I was lucky to be selected for one.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Finish that first draft. Nothing else matters until you do. It’s ok that it will suck. Writing is about re-writing. I suffered the bad habit of falling in love with my words and as a result being unable and unwilling to change, re-write, or cut from my work. Then I realized – if I want a good book – these are not my words. They need to owned by the reader and therefore – for the reader, I need to do what is necessary. Even if this means killing all my favorite parts.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Better done than perfect.
What are you reading now?
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My second book.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Gates of Fire, The War of Art, Big Magic, and The Excellence Habit. Oh, and a big blank notebook and a bunch of pencils. In case inspiration strikes.
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