Munca sub lupa is now available to order

My new nonfiction book (written in Romanian) is available to order starting today.

If you've often felt that you're too sensitive, perhaps the problem isn't you, but your work environment.

You can click here to order it.

Diversity

Some people’s perspective shifts when they realize they want to be flattered—that, in fact, they’ve wanted this their whole lives.

Others’ perspective shifts when they realize they no longer want to be flattered and would prefer to have the truth told to their faces.

Meanwhile, others realize they want neither one nor the other.

What a variety!

The Letter F

 

Defect

There are books about which it’s hard to say much, for fear of diminishing their charm, because piling words upon words to highlight the artistry of other words can actually do a disservice to the latter.

I’ll say this much—this is a book worth reading.

And I’ll keep this line from the book with me: “Because, before we find justice, we must find peace.”

My Books on Citesc si Calatoresc

In a recent video, Dana explains that it took her some time to change her mind about the writing of Romanian authors, which she had found uninteresting because of the required reading assignments in school.

I was happy to find out which Romanian writers Dana has on her bookshelf—in both the “read” and “unread” sections—and to discover that some of my own books were listed in both sections.

Silver Foxes

I’ve always believed that mothers have a special intuition—the ability to see beyond words and behaviors and understand exactly what’s going on. So, I always called my mom a fox. No matter how well I tried to come up with explanations, she already knew. What’s more, I knew she knew, but I didn’t have the courage to come clean with the truth. Maybe my little trick sharpened her senses—who knows?!

But for a while now, I’ve realized that Dad has these abilities too. It’s just that I hadn’t paid attention to him, convinced as I was that only Mom could be a fox. But looking back, I realized that Dad hadn't missed a few things either. This leads me to believe that Dad is a fox too—only that he's a silver one.

And you don’t have to take my word for it. Take a moment and look around at your loved ones. Be careful, though—foxes are very discreet, and you might not see them unless you look back to catch a glimpse of their footsteps. It’s still something, I tell you!

Attire

A mother and daughter walk past a formal dress shop, and the window display features nothing but sequined dresses.

'Look, Mom, this is where I’m going to get my prom dress!'

'Yeah, sure. What prom?'

'The eighth-grade one.'

'Aha! I'm sure you’re only going to get your godmother’s dress from here!'

Coming soon!

How many times have you been assigned a task with a deadline of “yesterday,” received an email as long as a Dostoevsky novella, or gotten a cryptic WhatsApp message from a “telepathic” coworker who expects you to read their mind through a crystal ball?

Cassius Books Publishing House has done me the honor of agreeing to publish my new nonfiction book about office life. 'Work Under the Microscope' aims to make you harder to manipulate and provide you with communication strategies.

Because a healthy work environment isn’t built with fruit in the office or wellness classes, but with clear rules, mutual respect, and the courage to call a spade a spade.

Saying

People don't laugh at you because you're stupid; they laugh at you because you can't handle things.

Inexorable. Until not.

A woman is talking on the phone in the park.

“And they were saying on TV that these guys are going to ban us from going to church. Yeah, that we won’t be able to go to service anymore—I mean, whenever we want. Yeah, you hear me?! Yeah, it’s going to be a disaster. What’s he saying? Oh, he’s hungry! Give him some fruit or something—it’s not good to eat dinner on an empty stomach. Yeah, so that’s what they were saying—that it’s going to be a disaster.”

Pause.

“So you went on a trip? Did you like it? Never mind, it’s fine—at least you got something for yourself. Because these sequins are in style at parties, weddings, or whatever. Never mind, you did the right thing!”

Come on!

Two sisters nudge each other. One says to the other, “You ask!”.

“Daddy, are you making pancakes for us tonight?”

“No.”

“Taraaaa!”, the little girl says, turning to her sister.

Surprises at the antique store

 

A Quantum Drunkenness – Goran Mrakić

A few years ago, I gave my nephew a calendar that featured a joke a day. This book reminded me of that calendar. And not because it treats everything as a joke; even if we wanted to, life makes sure to laugh at us first.

Told with humor, tenderness, and a love for traditions—for things that have vanished and that young people will never be able to understand simply because they lack the experience (my nephew doesn’t understand how we could have lived without a phone, especially since we didn’t even have a landline)— the stories for each day are a delight for any reader.

 

“Tales for a Bizarre World”— the subtitle reads—I’d say they’re more like tales in defense against a bizarre world, one that’s constantly expanding and for which I often can no longer find understanding.

 

I wouldn’t rule out keeping this book close at hand, to serve as a sort of calendar, as you mentioned above. 

Notti maghice

Through arguments

I walk past a barbershop. There’s a commotion.

“Can’t you see you’re just talking nonsense?” a woman yells.

“What? What did I say?!”

“Just keep your thoughts to yourself.”

 

I go on my way and come back five minutes later. The commotion continues.

“I get it. But what are you telling us?! Like we can do anything about it!” the same woman yells, seemingly even louder.

Nichita Stănescu – Breaths

Page by page, this book has shown me just how important poets are in opening our eyes to things, to beings we pass by. And, in fact, we don’t just pass by—we float. Both we and they. Until the poet makes us aware of their existence.

More than ever, I can’t write about what I’ve read, because I felt it more than anything. Yet feelings are so hard to put into words—perhaps even impossible. So I’ll stop here, I’ve used too many words already. But I’ll share below the few that carried me far, all the way up, and even now I don’t know if I’m writing from there or from here.

 

“The angel came and said to me: ‘I’ve been watching over you for so very long, hoping you’d become a scientist, and yet you haven’t invented a single thing!’

‘Of course I have; I have invented something—it’s just that the science I’ve created is so subtle that it’s sometimes mistaken for the natural order of things. It’s called hemography—that is, writing with yourself.’ ”

 

About the 1977 Earthquake

“My lifelong friend, the poet Grigore Hagiu, told me: ‘I had gone out barefoot onto the ground and held onto a tree. The tree was holding onto me, and I was holding onto it. We were both scared.’”

 

The Great Survival

“The realization of one’s own nothingness produces fear. Fear is the most powerful emotion. Fear is the only living emotion. Fear, in its primitive forms, is encased in an eggshell. Real fear transforms into words.”

 

“Like the eye, the word perceives light, but, unlike the eye, the word retains it within itself.”

Corporation in Cluj-Napoca

Given how many books are written and published these days, I can’t help but feel honored that, after more than two years, ‘TheCorporation: Typologies and a Survival Guide’ is still available in some bookstores in Cluj-Napoca.

Librarium Book Corner, Cluj

Humanitas, Cluj

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Humanitas and Librarium bookstores. 

And for you, the readers, I’ve signed some copies that wait for you there.

911

 

Traffic Updates

I was really impressed to see this message. 

I was so used to seeing cars with notes on the dashboard containing phone numbers, apologies, and assurances that the owner would come right away to move the car. Or notes with threats because the car had been parked in a private parking space.

I’m reading it, I like it, and I recommend it

For the past few weeks, I’ve been enjoying one of the books written by Ms. Mariana Badea.

We should all care about speaking our native language correctly, and I like that this book helps me correct my mistakes or remember grammar rules.

In addition to explanations—accompanied by examples—regarding the common and not-so-common mistakes we make in everyday speech, each short chapter includes a “Bonus” section.

Here’s the most delightful one of all (in Romanian).

I’m impressed

We don’t tell people often enough that they impress us—with who they are and what they do.

Instead, we spend too much time on those who let us down—especially those we never would have expected, against whom we had no defense, believing they’d always be on our side (B.U.G. Mafia puts it most clearly: “and how some people turn into such b... you won’t even believe it”).

I really, really want to fix this. I’m coming your way!

Reasons to be proud

Nothing makes me happier than seeing someone who’s equipped to handle manipulation. Being on your guard and realizing that some people want to steer you toward a situation that benefits them far more than it does you is no small thing.

Let's take informed decisions!

Amble

 

May Everyone Live, And May Us Never Die

 

This Town

 

The Little Pleasures of Death - Goran Mrakić

I had a wonderful time reading this book. It took me back in time, reminding me of similar experiences I’ve had or heard about from others, but what I enjoyed most were the author’s subtle comparisons and insights regarding the stories in the book.

Humor, whether dark or not, is present throughout these pages and plays an important role, serving as a guide for those willing to make the effort to understand the past and the underlying implications of the conclusions that some people so readily throw around (starting with “things were better back then…”).

And a few excerpts:

‘…

You will always be of much greater use to this world if you make bread, cheese, and polenta than if you drop bombs on people’s homes.

 

…

We know these times will pass. We know that one day we’ll rejoice, we’ll cheer, we’ll be overcome with joy. We know we’ll burn their photos, we’ll give them the finger, we’ll spit in their wake, and we’ll carry on with our lives. Fools that we are, we believe in a better world. But we also feel… that our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—if we ever have them—will, in turn, live life at a snail’s pace, while others watch them laughing from windows high above.

…

‘

Hard by the forest – Leo Vardiashvili

There are books that lift you out of the mundane routine of everyday life and show you why literature is perhaps the most important proof that we live in a fantastic world.

Following in the footsteps of his brother and father, Saba takes us through the terrifying depths of human pettiness and the horrors of war. Yet at the same time, we are shown that humans are kind, selfless, loyal, and loving.

This book is a masterpiece, and I believe in every comforting word in it!

 

‘…

“Why is everything written in English?”

“We're pretending to be Americans, man.”

“Why?”

Nodar shrugged.

“All I know is that just because you stick feathers up your butt doesn't mean you're a chicken.”

 

…

 

Fairytales must be read until the very end.

 

… ‘

Vlad Musatescu

Today, Vlad would have been 104 years old.

My love for his books and the hope that others will get curious and read them are still going strong.

Thank you, Master!

Music

 

Di chi sono nuestro giorni?

 

Seasons

Don't be surprised by the facts. Learn to enjoy it and that's that!

When I’ll Be Grand

I was reading the first pages of ‘The Most Secret Memory of Men’ by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr when I remembered why I wrote ‘Laura Rise – Detained’.

With the publication of my latest book, I found myself in all sorts of discussions that piqued my interest or encouraged me to think even more about what it means to be a writer today.

Writers just starting out have written to me asking if I have any valuable advice that might bring them closer to being published.

With seven books already published (eight, if I count the bilingual edition of ‘Adventures of tourists’), you might consider me an experienced writer. But I don’t see myself that way. Or at least, not yet. I still have a lot to learn, and when you’re not a big name (or even a medium-sized one), you sometimes have to make sure you climb in through the window when the door is slammed in your face.

These days, a writer doesn’t just write (perhaps only those who are well-known and make a living from their writing, since they already have a team handling their PR, social media pages, blogs, and so on). Thus, now, a writer has to do marketing, PR, copywriting, and much more. All of this takes up a lot of time and drains your energy (a heads-up for introverts).

When I make it big (as a writer), I’d like to just worry about choosing the cover and making the edits suggested by the editors. To know that I just have to write and I’ll be published, no matter what, without having to spend time convincing publishers that my work is worth publishing. I don’t lack inspiration for writing, so I’m determined to make it big. Until then, I promise to hold on tight and stay balanced on this carousel I call the writer’s life.

My carousel looks something like this, but that doesn’t mean it’s identical to other writers’—no one fully understands another’s experiences. I’ll break it down into noteworthy elements and, here or there, I’ll try to offer some advice.

• Create social media accounts—Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc.—so potential readers and publishers can find you more easily (some publishers value you having these accounts).
• If you’ve published at least one book, create an author account on Goodreads—readers can rate your work, recommend your book to friends, and you can connect with reader groups, read books that inspire you, and reach other readers and authors.
• Do you have a manuscript? Send it. But before you do, make sure your work fits the publisher’s portfolio; otherwise, you’ll be wasting your time and theirs. Pay close attention to the submission guidelines—some publishers want the full manuscript, while others prefer just a few pages and a synopsis.
• Author’s CV – While not all publishers require a writer’s CV, it’s a good idea to include one. Start with your most recently published book, or if you’ve published in magazines, blogs, etc.
• Pitch – A pitch is a kind of presentation of your work, except that this presentation needs to sell—that is, to convince the editor.
• Timing – This factor is just as important as the ones above. If you send your proposal on days when they’re off (weekends, public holidays), chances are your email will get lost in the spam folder. So remember not to send the email on weekends, public holidays, or two weeks before and after book fairs, when publishing house staff are working intensely or recovering from events.
• Email addresses – publishers usually have a dedicated email address for submitting manuscripts. If you can find the email addresses of the editors who handle your literary genre, your chances improve (at least that your manuscript will reach the right person).
• When should you follow up? Publishers usually have a standard policy: if you don’t hear back within X months, your manuscript has been tacitly rejected. Make a note of the date you submitted your manuscript, and if the publisher doesn’t follow this standard policy, follow up with an email.
• Can you resubmit the manuscript? Sure, but in my opinion, only if you’ve made relevant changes.
• Reread it! Nothing is perfect, and that includes your manuscript. Make sure to take another look at it after taking a break of at least two months. I guarantee you’ll find things to correct!
• Ask for help! It’s hard to ask for help, I know. It means putting yourself in a vulnerable position. If you have friends who write, ask for their opinion. Take a creative writing class. Reach out to a writer whose work you admire (there are plenty of wonderful writers who can help you—the kindness I’ve received from a few of them still amazes me today)—but please keep in mind that they’re people too, with plans and projects of their own, and you can’t expect them to give you an immediate response.
• Build your shield! Being a writer (or any kind of artist) means facing moments of disappointment—when your work is rejected or criticized (harshly or not), when you finally publish and expect to sell thousands of books, but you only managed to sell two copies (both bought by your mom), when you hold book launches and only three people show up, and you imagined a whole stadium. Taking the idea a step further as a joke, there’s a lot of truth in this saying—the life of an artist is like this: one day happy, one day sad!
• Be reasonable! Yes, you can’t be objective about your own writing (which is why it’s recommended to ask friends—and even strangers—to give you as objective an opinion as possible about your writing), but don’t go thinking you’re the next .................... (fill in the name of your favorite and/or well-known writer).
• Take a breath. Take it one step at a time, and don’t forget that as soon as you finish a manuscript (whether it’s your first or your tenth), you start the merry-go-round from scratch in search of a publisher to publish it (now do you understand why I want to be grand?!)
• Get better! To be a good writer, you need to read a lot (not necessarily books in the same genre as what you write) and write a lot. This combination is the most important exercise. You can’t do one without the other. It’s like having two dumbbells but deciding to use only one for one hand only. The difference will be noticeable in your arms.

 

That’s about it. Take everything above as guidelines, not certainties. In closing, I can only wish you lots of patience, self-compassion, and resilience.

What’s been helping me lately? Remembering the movie Mr. Aznavour and the singer's reaction to those who harshly criticized him, dismissing his talent or his chance to be known—“From today on, I’ll write a song every day, I’ll work harder and harder, and I’ll prove that I’m good!”

Reasons to be proud

We are constantly told that we need to grow, both personally and professionally. And to measure how much, we can use all kinds of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).

Today, I registered an extraordinary growth. I received a text message from my sister. It was in Italian. 

KPIs are now exceeded!

The bell rings

The bell rings to announce... geometrical shapes.

A small note forgotten by Nephew becomes a sweet discovery. My Nephew is grand!

Dead Smoke - Nebojša Jevrić

The short stories included in 'Dead Smoke' are perhaps not the easiest to read, and the reader will go through various stages of despair in the face of the horrors of human existence. But this does not make them any less valuable or necessary, for as you read them, little gems of kindness, boldness, diligence, and stoicism shine through indulgently.

But perhaps the most valuable thing that any reader gains from reading these stories is the conviction that the past is not lost if we ignore it, but must be analyzed, discussed, and dissected, not necessarily to facilitate understanding, but to avoid repetition. Also remarkable is the way in which Jevrić captures the essence of each story, without too many detours or actions that fragment the reader's attention, who is immediately exposed to the core of the story, like a chasm yawning directly at their feet, leaving them no escape or chance to distract themselves.

 

A few excerpts:

‘...

The dead Serbs are being moved from the Serbian part of Sarajevo.

One man had enough money to take his dead father with him, but left his living mother at home.

 

…

The old man held a piece of paper with the message: "When I didn't have warm clothes, I had the strength to fight the cold. I was used to it; but when you promised to help me, I started to believe in promises. I gave up the fight. I believed you."

 

...’

Childish perspective

A large puddle on the park path. I walk in single file with other adults, finding a spot on the side where we can walk without getting too wet.

We walk slowly, careful not to step on each other. To our left, a little boy walks directly through the puddle and shows us what we may have already forgotten—walk straight ahead and you'll get there faster.

I smile and am glad I haven't forgotten that sometimes children can have bolder solutions than adults.

Splash, splash, let's go!

Risks

I was sitting and laughing with Nephew, remembering a Christmas funny moment. And, suddenly, Nephew says:

'I don't know why, but in ten years I expect to find this mentioned in one of your books.'

 

I was silent, amused, and then I concluded that it's not at all out of the question.

I think they say this about writers – be careful what you tell them, it could be the subject of their next book.

Loredana recommends „Când ești mic, ești fantastíc” ('When you're little, you are fantastic)

In her latest video, Loredana Bookinista08 talks about my new children's book.

I was very happy to find out that she liked the stories with magical realism. The other day, Nepot (my nephew) confessed to me that he was so impressed by the story "The Laughter That Skipped a Couple of Haircuts" that he now looks more carefully at people when they laugh; he even caught himself waiting to meet his own Laughter. If you are curious to learn about your own Laughter, you can order the book here.


And if you want to listen to Loredana's entire review, please watch from minute 9:41 to 12:12.

Let’s remain fantastic!

Why?

Every action has a motivation behind it.

The motivation behind writing the book “What Shall We Do About Health (?/!)” is simple. I want people to make informed decisions, to ask for at least a second medical opinion, and to beware of jobber-doctors (money-grubbers) and lackadaisical-doctors (bland, uncaring).

Free ebook about unpleasant experiences at the doctor's

The Romanian society has reached a crossroads in terms of medical services. And contrary to what is being said, the problem is not only the large number of doctors who emigrate. There have been many jobber-doctors (money-grubbers) and lackadaisical-doctors (bland, uncaring). And this has a negative impact on the health of the population. With an increasingly aging population, we cannot allow the situation to degenerate.

 

Have you had unpleasant experiences at the doctor's? Me too. And others also. I've gathered them in a book, so we don't feel alone and stay alert when receiving recommendations about treatment plans.

 

Why did I write this book?

• to encourage people to at least ask for a second medical opinion when it comes to a treatment plan.

• to raise awareness regarding some doctors that do not have the best intentions when recommending certain treatment plans.

 

The book in PDF format is available for free starting today. In both Romanian and English.

 

The structure of the book is as follows:

1. global and European Union statistics on the medical specialties described in the book.

2. medical specialties – definitions and statistics from Romania, followed by case examples – of which I mention a few, dentistry, medical rehabilitation, obstetrics and gynecology, urology, endocrinology, ophthalmology, but also private clinics (subscription for employees).

3. bibliography – websites consulted.

 

Important!

This book does not provide medical advice for any of the specialties mentioned.

It is also not a treatment guide for similar health problems that readers may have.

 

Click below to download your free copy.

In English - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OlW8uFvcbh7LEGCHEJwWlyJla0OBzO8x/view?usp=sharing

In Romanian - https://drive.google.com/file/d/14pyKzVXNoBUyojqODcPaXzSrbQMJHZhe/view?usp=sharing

I hope you’ll find it useful!

Laughter

In season 4, episode 7, Brenda from the series ‘Young Sheldon’ talks about her son Billy’s first day at school - ‘every time the Spanish teacher said sí, Billy asked see what?.’

And to this she concluded – ‘I know, but if I don’t laugh about it, I’ll cry!’

 

And so it is, or so I discovered that things are. In life, plenty of things can go wrong or incredibly sideways. When you feel powerless or don’t know what to do, better to start laughing at the situation than cry about it. 

Anyway, we cannot control everything, but we can laugh. And laughter gives us strength to go on, to try once more, to not give up, to not give into despair or depression. I remember having read this somewhere about depression and I liked it:

‘How do you steer away from depression?’

‘I laugh. When depression wants to kick in and sees me laughing, it thinks I’m stupid, so it moves on to the next fellow.’

Time

A line I heard in the series Dark (2017-2020) keeps lingering on my mind.

‘Why do people say that? We still have time. How can one say one has time when it’s clear that the time has one?”

Prints In The Snow

People say nothing lasts forever. And maybe so it is, what do I know?!

But we can try. Exactly like someone tried to leave their handprint in the snow that covered the trunk of a tree. A futile attempt, for the snow would soon melt and nothing will remain of it. But this picture will. Surely not an eternity, but it can continue the handprint’s existence, even though under another shape.

Exactly like a memory my dad has just given me, and still under another shape than initially. My dad remembered that while I was 3 or 4 years old, all four of us (mom, dad, my sis and I) could fit on a wooden sleigh. Now, I will also be one of the keepers of this memory, although I don’t remember it at all, being too young. I stored it safely, next to another dear memory of us four – at the cinema, watching the Mrs. Doubtfire movie, that started my pure love for Robbin Williams.

Let’s leave prints!

 

P.S. Darling, thank you for this print.