Today we talk about Profession T.I.R. Driver or Saga for Five Hundred Horses and One Donkey, a book by Hristo Andonov published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Hristo Andonov to get to know him better, what was the moment that brought him to the writing of his book Profession T.I.R. Driver or Saga for Five Hundred Horses and One Donkey, as well as the authors of the present and/or the past he takes as a model.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- What is the moment that brought you to the writing of your book?
We ordinary people are surrounded by information. The most persistent of it usually comes from the media. To my great disappointment, a typical news broadcast often looks more like a crime report than real journalism. And in that stream, there’s always one phrase that hits me like a punch in the solar plexus: “Today (place, date, hour), a truck hit and killed…” or “A truck crushed…” During my years behind the wheel, I’ve probably seen more accidents and blood than some soldiers in local conflicts. My brothers and sisters — the truck drivers — we’re not saints. We’re people, and sometimes we make mistakes. But most of the time, our professionalism saves lives. Out of a thousand accidents involving trucks, only three or four are actually caused by the professional driver. And yet, society often looks at us with prejudice. After I finished writing my book, I was involved in a road incident — a lady hit the back of my trailer, and the first thing she said was, “You’re a killer.” According to the law, the one behind must keep distance and prevent collisions — a simple rule, often ignored when it comes to heavy vehicles. Then the police officer arrived and said, “You’re a professional. You should’ve done something…” Something? What — fly? That’s how the ‘black chronicle’ works — it twists reality. Situations like this one inspired me to write the book — to tell the truth no one hears.
- What are the crucial themes of your book?
Main themes? Can life even have a “main theme”? I don’t think so. Every day is different — on the road and off it. The book isn’t a manual or a dry log; it’s a journey through my years behind the wheel — through the sad, funny, dangerous, and sometimes downright strange moments you experience when you live more on the road than at home. It has everything: loneliness, friendship, humor, fear, stubbornness, love and betrayal, humanity, and a bit of philosophy that comes with time. I write not only about the trucks and the roads but mainly about the people — colleagues, random companions, those who come and go but always leave a mark. It’s a book about the road, but also about the person behind the wheel — about that inner engine that keeps us moving, even when everything feels heavier than the load on the trailer. That’s what I wanted to show in this book — the truck driver is a human being, not a cheap extension of the machine.
- What is the message you want to communicate to your readers?
A huge part of the world’s population gets behind the wheel almost every day. People, please — don’t rush. Think before you make a maneuver, especially when you see a heavy truck nearby. Don’t forget — it weighs forty tons or more. It accelerates slowly, needs more space, and most importantly — it stops for a much longer distance than your two-ton popcorn car. Very often that truck carries dangerous or explosive cargo. Or your food. Or something expensive and fragile. So I beg you — show respect for us, the truck drivers, who work day and night for you. Help us protect your life, your food, and everything else that contributes to your comfort. Don’t be afraid — it doesn’t hurt. On the contrary, it might even feel good. A grateful smile and a small wave are often worth more than the few minutes you think you’re saving.
- Which authors of the present and/or the past do you take as a model?
I love books and the messages they carry. Without bragging, I think I’ve read around ten thousand of them. I have many favorite authors — James Clavell, Branislav Nušić, Arthur Hailey, Dimitar Dimov… The list is long. I hope authors like Agatha Christie or George Martin will forgive me, but I find their style too slow. Three hundred pages circling around a button — the hero finally picks it up and says, “Ah, buttonnn…” You get what I mean. Much of my own style has been influenced by the late Mickey Spillane — dynamic, direct, a bit rough, but honest. Respect to his memory. To me, he was a great man. I believe writing should be like life itself — without pretense. It should smell of sweat, diesel, vodka, and love.
- Are you working on a new writing project you can tell us about?
Yes, I already have a finished novel, tentatively titled “The Butcher from the Shop Next Door.” The idea came quite by accident — one day I was standing in line at a butcher’s shop. Behind the counter was a woman in her forties, and it was like watching a circus performance. Knives and cleavers flew around her with precision, and the customers stared, mesmerized. Then I thought to myself: “Hmm… why not tell people about an ordinary person?” The story includes real events involving my friends and acquaintances — and some moments from my own life. I hope they forgive me if they recognize themselves, but I just can’t keep something so funny or so sad inside. I’m currently translating the novel into English, hoping it will soon reach a wider audience. My wife has already read the finished draft — and I’ll admit, it was a real pleasure watching her laugh while reading. That’s the greatest reward for any writers.
Europe Books thanks the author Hristo Andonov once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book Profession T.I.R. Driver or Saga for Five Hundred Horses and One Donkey. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my dear reader, may this book give you pause for reflection regarding the times we live in today, where our society dictates speed on many levels. Protect your life and everything that is a source of well-being for you. Don’t hold back on generosity and kindness; it’s always worth taking the time for..
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your Editor!