Welcome to Mentatrix, where the mind is fed to reflect on its own games

I’m a Romanian living in the Black Forest in Germany, doing a full-time job in international higher education, but writing every morning (sometimes at lunch time, too. And in the afternoon. Occasionally in the evening. Whatever!)

My coming-of-age novel, Lili Comes to Herself, came out in December 2024. It got an amazing endorsement of a prestigious Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist, and it’s gathering great reviews. You can check it out on Amazon here.

I’m now working on a romance blending in a mix of Zen Buddhism, a playfully experimental story-telling technique, and a slice of life in Germany.

I commute between Romanian, English and German on a daily basis. Lucky me. As I write to you, my eyes sometimes wander off to the woods on the hill nearby. That’s where the ancient Black Forest starts, full of stories and legends.

My biography has taken me places: on the map of Europe, but mostly on that of my mind. I have freed myself from overthinking, perfectionism, existential fears, chronic loneliness and shadow chasing. I now live in a vibrant place, with a rich cultural heritage and a breathtaking landscape.

I started Mentatrix because I wanted to celebrate these journeys, as well as the home I’ve found. If you like character-driven fiction, honest personal stories with a message to chew over, or if you’re curious about this German spot of paradise, you might become so passionate about Mentatrix, that your Sundays won’t be the same without it :)

Mentatrix is all about reflection; it brings you fictional characters, personal stories of past experience, reflections on mindfulness, stories of the local culture, and even hiking trails and landscape — all twisted into reflection prompts. It’s through reflection and awareness that we move on from merely coping with life to grasping it, and steering it accordingly.

I post on Sundays. At the moment, I’m taking more time off Substack, focusing on my novel writing, so my posts can be somewhat irregular. For quick orientation on what I post on Mentatrix, you might wish to check out my Start here.

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