In this podcast interview, Petya discusses reading as an antidote to scrolling, her childhood in Bulgaria, launching her Substack, & how she’s reprioritizing creative pursuits.
Thank you for your insightful questions and for being such a warm and generous host. I loved every minute of this conversation, even (especially!!!) the crying parts.
Just read the written part of conversation haven’t had a chance to listen to full podcast and looking forward to that too! “Home” has been on my mind inordinately recently: I’m half Croatian (Dalmatian) on my Dad’s side- still want to say “former Yugoslavia”! Italian on my Mother’s. And immigrant/emigrant experience multiple times over-born in France after parents met in states- and yes of course my Dad trained as an engineer- and wanted all his daughters to do the same! And now, after decades in the US I’m back in France (since April) with my American born husband and kids to get out of the crazy cruelty of the US. The other part that complicates the feeling of being “an outsider” is that I always thought it was from being literally an outsider/foreigner- and more recently I realized that part of that may be actually from being autistic (audhd)- an outsider in an additional way, though “covered” as being a foreigner. Thank goodness for books and stories through all of this- I can always find home in a book. 📖 📕💗
that’s such a beautiful way to share our so complex story - i’m bulgarian myself ( just a little older -48 now, left to study in 96) and living in Belgium now… I can only recognise our generation- we are tough cookies and we went to achieve so much despite all odds. So happy to hear and to read you both!
Thank you both for sharing you stories. It felt so relatable, so close to home.
When in Bulgaria things started to crack, I was 21, recently graduated from high school, and utterly confused about which path to take. I played with the idea of studying history of art or of religions. I imagined myself working in a museum or doing research on forgotten belief systems. My whole life up to that point, I had been told, and thoroughly prepared, to “build together [with my fellow Bulgarians] a bright communist future .” And then suddenly, in 1989, the message turned into: “Hold on, everyone… change of plans. That bright communist future? We are no longer building it. See what you can do on your own.”
For me Ann Patchett sums it up perfectly in this paragraph from The Dutch House by (2019):
“There are a few times in life when you leap up and the past that you’d been standing on falls away behind you, and the future you mean to land on is not yet in place, and for a moment you’re suspended, knowing nothing and no one, not even yourself.”
We felt lost. We improvised. We somewhat made it.
Good luck both with your work and wonderful writing. I really enjoy it.
Thank you for your insightful questions and for being such a warm and generous host. I loved every minute of this conversation, even (especially!!!) the crying parts.
Petya! I had so much fun talking with you! Thank you for such a soulful exchange and for giving me a chance to gush about being a Balkan girlie 💛
Just my kind of substack and conversation!
🌻🌻 Beth! Thank you so much
Heart! Wisdom! Humor! The best of Petya here— as a fellow “project person” I really enjoyed this interview and the connection between the two of you.
What a thoughtful note! Thank you for tuning in, Abra ☀️
Just read the written part of conversation haven’t had a chance to listen to full podcast and looking forward to that too! “Home” has been on my mind inordinately recently: I’m half Croatian (Dalmatian) on my Dad’s side- still want to say “former Yugoslavia”! Italian on my Mother’s. And immigrant/emigrant experience multiple times over-born in France after parents met in states- and yes of course my Dad trained as an engineer- and wanted all his daughters to do the same! And now, after decades in the US I’m back in France (since April) with my American born husband and kids to get out of the crazy cruelty of the US. The other part that complicates the feeling of being “an outsider” is that I always thought it was from being literally an outsider/foreigner- and more recently I realized that part of that may be actually from being autistic (audhd)- an outsider in an additional way, though “covered” as being a foreigner. Thank goodness for books and stories through all of this- I can always find home in a book. 📖 📕💗
Loved this talk!!! I love family/personal lore. Petya, your accent is beeeeyoutiful. I love hearing it.
What a beautiful interview Petya and Jana!
Thanks for this insightful article 🙏📚💎📚🙏
What a wonderful interview! I feel so hopeful and encouraged after listening to this!
Christine! Your note made my day — thank you so much! ☀️ The effect you described is exactly why I love having these conversations
that’s such a beautiful way to share our so complex story - i’m bulgarian myself ( just a little older -48 now, left to study in 96) and living in Belgium now… I can only recognise our generation- we are tough cookies and we went to achieve so much despite all odds. So happy to hear and to read you both!
Thanks for being here, Lina! 💛
Thank you both for sharing you stories. It felt so relatable, so close to home.
When in Bulgaria things started to crack, I was 21, recently graduated from high school, and utterly confused about which path to take. I played with the idea of studying history of art or of religions. I imagined myself working in a museum or doing research on forgotten belief systems. My whole life up to that point, I had been told, and thoroughly prepared, to “build together [with my fellow Bulgarians] a bright communist future .” And then suddenly, in 1989, the message turned into: “Hold on, everyone… change of plans. That bright communist future? We are no longer building it. See what you can do on your own.”
For me Ann Patchett sums it up perfectly in this paragraph from The Dutch House by (2019):
“There are a few times in life when you leap up and the past that you’d been standing on falls away behind you, and the future you mean to land on is not yet in place, and for a moment you’re suspended, knowing nothing and no one, not even yourself.”
We felt lost. We improvised. We somewhat made it.
Good luck both with your work and wonderful writing. I really enjoy it.
LOVE this passage from Ann Patchett! And it’s so true, too — thank you for bringing it into our orbit & for sharing some of your own story with us 🌻