Johannesburg, South Africa – What if a memoir went beyond words—told not just through writing, but through music (32 original songs), lyric readings, video, design, food, and drink too?

Author and creator Karina Marais is doing exactly that. Upstairs Downstairs, is not just a book—it’s a multi-sensory experience that redefines what a memoir can be.

The pre-launch of this multi-sensory memoir took place on 20 November 2025 at the new Dare2Dream Dome restaurant at Forum Homini in the Cradle of Humankind. This concept restaurant, designed and built for the memoir,  offers an eleven-course fun-dining and wine-pairing experience inspired by the food brought to life in her book. 

Her story comes alive through all the senses — sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch — with special evenings at the hotel where guests can experience the food and music in a fairy-tale setting. Contact Forum Homini:  +27 11 668 7000

“Knock-knock, anybody home?” 

For 20 years, Karina Marais and her partner have lived apart together in a shared residence—his bachelor pad upstairs, her retreat downstairs—connected by a staircase that links their spaces while preserving their independence. No unannounced visits, no dull routines, just passion, freedom, and a love story shaped on their terms. 

In Upstairs Downstairs, Marais shows how they successfully manage a Living Apart Together (LAT) relationship where love, ambition, and independence coexist. But her memoir isn’t just about love; it’s also about passion and daring to dream. Some of her dreams took flight, others fell short, but she didn’t want to leave this world without chasing them. That drive makes her jump out of bed every morning, a trait many aspiring entrepreneurs share. 

Through multisensory storytelling with words, lyric readings, music, and videos, she brings to life the emotions behind love, loss, and the pursuit of dreams.