What a whirlwind June 2026 was! The launch of Madam Barbunya in Istanbul meant three wonderful book signings, two on the European side and one on the Asian side. The first one turned into an unexpected and very emotional journey down memory lane. Friends from primary school all the way to university, my parents’ friends, my brother’s friends, ex-colleagues … people from so many different chapters of my life, all suddenly in the same bookstore. It was quite wonderful! The celebrations continued with a memorable culinary tasting experience, where I had the pleasure of being invited as a special guest with my book to Yayamızın Sofrası, hosted by Lian Penso, podcaster and author…

💙 A dream come true A dream I have carried in my heart for so long has finally come true… I wrote a book! Madam Barbunya was published on May 1, 2026, by Alfa Yayınları in Turkey. Even now, I sometimes pick up the book, look at its cover and smile to myself. I suppose you never quite get used to seeing a dream you’ve carried inside you for years finally become a real book. So, how did Madam Barbunya come about? Well, it all began with my childhood. I grew up in Istanbul, in a big family, surrounded by love and tables that were always full. Looking back today, my childhood feels almost like…