Daniela Hristova arrived in the UK with an English vocabulary consisting of little more than “teabag” and a background as a multi-media journalist, actress, and singer who had spent years working in television, radio, newspaper, and stage in her home country. With a diverse professional journey that later ranged from wielding a mop to building a career in leadership and court security, she has navigated life’s twists with a steady faith, a sharp eye, and a wonderfully dry sense of humor. Channeling her unique experiences and cultural blunders into the written word, she has penned a witty tribute to the resilience it takes to start over. When she isn’t writing or tackling new adventures, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Dea. Fluent in Faux Pas is her debut memoir.
Author Q&A
What inspired you to write your first book?
Let’s be honest: I was a walking, talking sitcom waiting to happen.
Arriving in an English-speaking environment with a vocabulary no bigger than the words on a tea bag meant every attempt to overcome the language barrier felt like high-stakes acrobatics—and provided free, front-row entertainment for everyone watching.
That experience inspired me to write this book. I realised that instead of hiding my mistakes, I wanted to celebrate the absurdity, courage, and stubborn determination it takes to start over in a new language.
My goal was not only to make people laugh—although turning as red as a tomato happened often enough—but also to show how our biggest linguistic disasters can create unexpected connections. Sometimes the moments we are most embarrassed by become the stories that bring people together.
Ultimately, I wanted readers to step away from the grey of everyday life, share a smile, and remember that humour does more than make life lighter—it reminds us that we are all wonderfully imperfect human beings.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Beneath the humour, this book is really about hope. It is about that quiet frustration of knowing you are capable of more yet sometimes feeling frozen because you are afraid to take the next step. Or, let’s be honest, because you are terrified of making a fool of yourself in three languages at once!
Humour became my unexpected companion. It transformed embarrassing moments into lessons, failures into stories, and fear into confidence. It helped me survive the difficult moments, but I discovered that what truly sustains us is something deeper: faith, hope, and love.
There comes a point in life when our own strength reaches its limit. For me, that moment came when I learned to look beyond myself. My journey from being an atheist to becoming a Christian was something I never imagined possible, yet one sincere prayer changed everything.
My life is a reminder that where we reach our limits, God begins His work. Where we cannot, He can. And where there seems to be no way forward, He can create a way.
What books have most influenced your life?
Growing up in Eastern Europe, I was a passionate reader. While other children played outside, I often stayed indoors, disappearing into magical worlds and sometimes staying awake all night just to discover how a story would end.
Books shaped my imagination and taught me the extraordinary power of words. Because of that lifelong love of reading, it is almost impossible to name only one or two books that influenced me. Every story opened a new door, challenged my thinking, and helped shape the person I became.
However, if you ask which single book transformed my life, my answer would be the Bible. It is the most powerful book I have ever read.
Thousands of books have expanded my imagination, influenced my perspective, and deepened my appreciation for language. But the Bible transformed something even deeper—it transformed my heart.
To me, words are powerful. They can hurt or heal, divide or unite, discourage or inspire. They can make someone feel invisible—or make someone feel truly seen, understood, and loved.
Did you learn anything from writing this book?
Oh, absolutely. I learned that reading a book is a walk in the park, while writing one is more like signing up for a wonderfully painful adventure that you somehow choose willingly!
Writing requires complete honesty. You have to open yourself up, reveal your flaws, and share moments you once wanted to hide—all while a small voice in your head asks, “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
But you do it anyway.
You do it because you hope your words might bring someone a smile, brighten someone’s difficult day, or remind someone they are not alone.
Life already gives us enough heavy moments. If this book can offer even a few minutes of laughter, comfort, or hope, then every difficult moment of writing it was worth it.
Writing this book also taught me to choose my words more carefully—although it clearly did not cure my stubbornness—and gave me the courage to share my story honestly, without pretending to be perfect.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
My biggest piece of advice? Be as brave and stubborn as a mountain goat. Climb the mountain called writing—and trust me, the goats still have it easier than first-time authors!
Do not spend all your energy worrying about bestseller lists or trying to please every critic. Focus instead on whether your words reach someone’s heart.
If you pour your real, unfiltered self onto the page, readers will not just read your words—they will feel them.
Never stop trying, dreaming, and moving forward. Because when you finally complete a book, you do not simply finish a manuscript. You discover a stronger, wiser, and more courageous version of yourself.
Or at least… that is what I remind myself whenever I stare at a blank page!
Picture this: You feel uninspired and you’ve sat at the computer for an hour without writing a single word. How do you get your creativity flowing?
I accept defeat, close the document, and go argue with a blank wall for five minutes. If your brain is refusing to cooperate, the computer is not the problem!
Then I come back, lower my expectations dramatically, and write something terrible just to break the silence. Somewhere in that chaos, a good idea usually appears.
You can edit bad writing. You cannot edit a blank page.
What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?
People might be surprised to learn that before writing a comedy about everyday mistakes, I lived several very different lives. I worked as a journalist, a singer, and an actress before moving into court security.
Sometimes I joke that my CV looks as though several different people accidentally shared the same document!
Going from the stage and newsroom to security—and then to writing a book—has certainly been quite a genre crossover.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that I went from being a committed atheist to becoming a Christian. That journey changed me in ways I never expected, and readers will see glimpses of it beneath the humour.
My career path has never been predictable. Performing, reporting, keeping people safe, and now writing have all given me a front-row seat to the wonderfully strange, funny, and complicated nature of human beings.
And if life ever becomes too quiet, my English usually finds a way to create a little excitement!
Do you feel like you’d be a better writer if you wore sparkly socks during your writing sessions?
Scientifically speaking? If sparkly socks do not instantly transform ordinary writing into literary genius, then I may have been misled by the entire scientific community.
Let’s be honest—if you cannot laugh at yourself, writing a humorous book becomes a very dangerous career choice.
Besides, if your socks are not sparkling, how are you ever going to become a star?
After all, if my socks can sparkle, there is still hope for my first draft… and possibly for the next one too.
Who is the most supportive person in your life when it comes to your writing?
My family—my husband, my two sons, and my mother.
Having people who believe in you gives you the courage to move forward, but it also comes with a responsibility. Their faith in me reminds me to keep going, even when that little voice whispers, “What if you fail?”
They have supported me through every stage of this journey—from the doubts and difficult moments to the excitement of seeing a dream become a reality.
Their support reminds me that success is not only about reaching the finish line. Sometimes it is simply about having people beside you who say, “Keep going,” when you are tempted to stop.
How can I give up when the people I love are standing beside me?
Above all, I have learned one thing: when God walks with you, even the biggest obstacles can become part of a greater journey.
What would the logline be for your book?
One woman. Three languages. Thousands of mistakes. One extraordinary story of starting over, finding courage, and discovering laughter in the most unexpected places.
Fluent in Faux Pas is available for purchase on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Fluent-Faux-Pas-Accidentally-Everything-ebook/dp/B0HC3KSYT6
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