I was born in Bulgaria—a squat little country west of the Black Sea and north of Greece—in a big Orthodox family that cherishes tradition and togetherness above all else. Sitting around a food-laden table with twenty other people for hours on end is a skill I acquired early on.

My fascination with words and the magic they create began in preschool. I was eight when my first literary work—an ode to a baby—found its way onto the page. My first novel was handwritten and was a gift for my best friend.

By the time I realized one could never make a career out of writing in a poor post-communist country like Bulgaria, it was already too late – the dream had put down roots. I wanted to be a novelist.

Acting grown-up and sensible, I graduated in international business, then threw in an MBA for good measure. For a few businesslike years, I worked at a PR agency and my family’s construction business. All the while, in the predawn hours of workdays and during hermit-like weekends, I worked on my first realnovel.

I currently live in Düsseldorf with my husband and daughter, where I can be found waiting in line for ice cream and writing on the 6 am express.