Love, loss, memory, and the irresistible pull of the sea come together in "Under Water" - the debut novel by writer and Professor of English Literature Tara Menon. Arriving in Sofia to introduce the book to Bulgarian readers, Tara is staying at DOT Sofia. We talk about books, travel, and the places that continue to shape who we are.

So, how are you, Tara?

I'm very well, thank you.

What is a professor of English literature doing in Sofia?

I published a novel earlier this year that has just come out here, so I'm here for the book fair and I'm doing some promotional events for the book.

How was your time in Sofia? Did the city inspire you in any unexpected way?

I've really loved it. I've loved being here, and I've walked more than 20,000 steps every day. So I've walked for like three to four hours every day, and I've loved the city. I've gone to the Women's Market every day to buy food. Yeah, it's very interesting and very delicious. So I've eaten everything possible, I think, on the Women's Market.

How did you find us?

Actually, through Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the website, which is what I basically use to book all my hotels. It's never disappointed me.

How would you describe DOT Sofia in three words or more?

You know, I've been traveling a lot for my book for the past three weeks, and it is, like, by far the nicest place that I have stayed in. The apartment is so beautiful. I'm staying in the studio, which has, like, the sunroof, and it's so minimalist but also has everything that I could possibly need. So I was actually supposed to move to a different hotel after two days because my publishing company had booked a different hotel and I had booked it here. Then I asked them, "Can I please stay here for another four days?" So I've extended my stay. I've almost stayed here a week.

Is it true that certain places can change the way we think, feel, or even dream?

I think, for me, the pleasure of being in a place like this is that it's so kind of clean, I would say. And I don't mean that literally, like dirty and clean, but that the space is so clean that I feel I can be in that room. In some ways, the minimalism means that I have this space to think about everything. And I'm trying to write my next book now, so it's the first place I've been in during the past three weeks where I feel like, "Oh, I can just sit at that table and do some writing."

What kind of conversation do spaces like DOT Sofia open room for?

I think, you know, I had this very interesting television interview that was hosted here yesterday, and I met the novelist Renee Karabash. I mean, her book is incredible. So I had the great privilege of meeting her here, and we talked about our life as writers. We went to the penthouse and the rooftop and spoke there, and yeah, it was very nice. 

Lydia Buranova – Manager of DOT Sofia, Tara Menon, and Renée Karabash

You've lived in many different places around the world. Perhaps we move through the world because the place we are born never entirely coincides with the place we imagine ourselves becoming? And speaking of water in your book, do we spend our lives searching for Atlantis?
 
That's such a deep and profound question. I mean, I was born in India. I moved to Singapore, then I moved to New York, and now I live in a different part of America. I feel that, for me, no place has ever felt like home. I feel like I've never really belonged to one specific place. This might sound like a sad thing, but for me, it's a real gift because it means that I can feel at home in different places. So I would never say I'm searching for something, but I think I'm able to feel comfortable in many places, which is why being in a city like Sofia makes me feel immediately like, "Oh, I can relate. I can be here."

I was just in Bucharest, which also felt very familiar to me in a way. Before that, I was in Riga, Latvia, and before that I was in Helsinki. Tomorrow I go to Milan. So I feel like it's easy, in some ways, to be comfortable in many places when you feel like you're not from any one place.

What helps you feel connected to yourself and find balance in your daily life?

For me, it's exercise, like very intense exercise, if I can, or long walks like this. I think I need some time every day: one, to myself, with no people, and two, without technology. Time when I'm just walking and thinking.