Today, I’m pleased to welcome Stephanie Wood, British author of the Aegean Sun series. Stick around to see her old photos from Kos and catch a glimpse of the sights and experiences that inspired the books. A couple of the books are currently discounted to 99c (and 99p in the UK). Grab your copies while this limited time offer lasts!
This fast paced contemporary story takes place at the Aegean Sun Hotel in Greece over the summer season. Focusing on the various visitors who stay in room 101 on a weekly basis, it interweaves with the stories of the hotel staff and holiday reps based there over a six month period. The karaoke nights, bar crawls, barbeques and boat cruises are enjoyed by some more than others, but they all have a tale to tell. Several characters are open and honest whilst others keep secrets from their fellow holidaymakers, reps and even their own partners…
Follow the escapades of some of the holidaymakers who stayed in Room 101 at the Aegean Sun Hotel to find out what happens when they leave the freedom of their holiday and return to the routine of their lives back home. Discover the after effects of a Greek holiday on characters who are seeking a better work/life balance, those who are navigating a more serious relationship, and those preparing for an unexpected addition to the family which is not wholly desired by both parties…
Meet the office girls: Janet, Carla and Melissa. It’s another hot Greek summer season and they have many issues to deal with, both in their workplace and in their private lives, but just how much does one affect the other? Janet is settling into a serious relationship, until outside influences start pushing her towards a future she may not be ready for. Carla embarks on a new romance, oblivious to the secret anguish this arouses in her close friend. Melissa is searching for Mr Right, although Mr Rich would be more preferable…
Hello Stephanie and welcome to my blog!
Hello Fros! Thank you for inviting me!
How did the AEGEAN SUN series come about? Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind it?
When I worked as a holiday rep in Greece I had a lot of interesting experiences which were always a good topic of conversation among my friends, and they often said I should write a book about some of the more amusing incidents. I promised myself that I really should do it one day…
Years later, I was on holiday in a budget hotel where the bathroom light flickered annoyingly and I was regularly woken at dawn by the maids chattering loudly as they removed their equipment from the storage cupboard on the other side of the wall. I began to wonder who else had stayed in that room and how they had reacted to the same problem. I had enough experience working with the general public to realise that although many would have stayed quiet (as I did), others would have caused a scene and the rep would’ve had to handle things diplomatically if they wanted to stay on speaking terms with the maids! Suddenly, lots of scenarios came to mind and I started jotting them down, giving the viewpoint of both the rep and the holidaymaker and the first book quickly took shape.
At the time, I was staying at the Aegean Sun Hotel and I was in Room 101, so it seemed perfectly fitting to use that as the title, plus it’s an easy number for people to remember.
I wrote the book from the viewpoint of what happened in that one particular room, but it was clear that the characters’ stories didn’t finish there and a sequel quickly followed to show how the after effects of that holiday unfolded. The rest of the books have been a natural progression of getting to know some of the regular characters better whilst still keeping the excitement and surprise of new visitors in unexpected situations.
Sounds delightful! I used to clean rooms in Moraitika, Corfu in the 80s at a family guesthouse and know what you mean about amusing incidents… Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?
I love reading, of course, but I can’t read as much as I used to now that I’m constantly writing or promoting the books. Usually, I set aside an hour or so before bed to unwind and lose myself in some fictional landscape without any other distractions. If I can find an hour or two in the afternoon sometimes it’s a real treat!
I also like to watch some sports on TV. I used to be fitter when I was younger, but two decades of back problems mean that it’s safer to watch these days! I enjoy golf, Twenty20 cricket, cycling and tennis. I was lucky enough to see the Becker v Edberg final at Wimbledon in 1988 and I’d love to go again. In the winter I love watching bobsleigh and ski jumping, although I wouldn’t go to watch those in person as I can’t stand the cold and much prefer warm, sunny skies!
What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).
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- Eleftherias Square in Kos
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- A bridge in Kos
The Aegean Sun series is an ongoing project, so I usually have one book being edited at the same time as I am writing the next – not to mention all the scribbled notes which will form the basis of the one after that! Luckily I am up to speed with these books, which now gives me time to work on my new seasonal series of quick reads: Christmas on The Close.
Last November I released the first in the series – aptly titled The First Christmas – but I was not ready to publish any of the others as I wasn’t satisfied with a few scenes here and there. Also I wanted to organize my covers so that they would be recognized as a series and hadn’t found the right person to assist with that side of things. This year I am preparing the next three books for Christmas publication with appropriate covers for the genre, which have just been finalized.
By the way, the characters in the books frequently refer to where they live as ‘The Close’ as though it’s a person’s name, which is why I have capitalized it in the series title… it’s not a misprint!
Which are your favorite authors, and what do you love about them?
I have recently finished reading the latest Jodi Picoult book so, having read them all so far, I’m eagerly awaiting her next publication. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her books as, even though some are better than others, they all tell quite different stories with important messages buried within the characters or storylines. She does a lot of research into the subjects she writes about but it doesn’t often impede the narrative; it generally enriches it so that you can understand why some of her characters take opposing viewpoints.
I also love reading Paulo Coelho. Again, not all his books have hit the spot with me, but most of them have awakened an understanding of a different way of thinking. He describes a person’s character, or a beautiful location, or a scene of devastation with such poetic language that it has an almost ethereal quality. He creates a world where you are happy for him to push the boundaries of comfort so you can discover where that journey will take you personally. I would say it can be a challenging, but still an enriching experience.
Yes, “ethereal” is a great way to describe Coelho’s writing… Choose a male and a female character from your book and tell us which actor and actress you’d cast to play them in a film adaptation.
Ooh, that would be exciting… However, I think the books would work better as a TV mini-series, so I’d be thinking of small screen rather than Hollywood actors!
The first one that comes to mind is Zoe who has a vulnerable side, but can be quite feisty and isn’t one to give up – I think that would have to be Michelle Keegan (ex Corrie).
As for Michalis; he hides his real feelings behind a mask of arrogant bravado, but underneath he is passionate, devoted and a bit of a sweetie! I would love to see Luke Pasqualino (The Musketeers) play him as he actually looks very similar to the guy I based the character on…
Being an author involves a lot of sitting around. What do you do for exercise?
As I have recurring back problems, I attend regular physio sessions where I’ve picked up quite a few exercises that are easy to do around the house. Obviously they are more like what you would do in a pilates or yoga class, rather than anything too energetic, but I did a lot of ballet at school and I still like to dance a little now and then.
I sympathize about the back problems… From my own experience, yoga is a great way to keep the spine pain-free. Describe your workstation. Are there any favorite objects you have there for inspiration?
Actually, no. I like a very clear workspace, as you can see from the photo. I need to have no distractions, just my notebook and a good imagination. When I have to walk through a scene in my mind I gaze out of the window to the peaceful open space of the garden. It metaphorically turns the page onto a new location and it encourages the flow of new ideas while giving my eyes a temporary rest away from the screen.
Do you listen to music while you write and if so, what kind?
I absolutely love listening to music, anywhere and everywhere – except when I’m writing! I sometimes have relaxing classical music playing when I am going through my previous work or filing notes into a usable order, but once I start it has to go off! I did have a meditation CD I used to play at a low volume, but I would only notice it had finished a couple of hours later when I came to the end of my writing phase; it wasn’t distracting, but I didn’t notice it anyway so I stopped using it and now I love the silence. The music comes later when I’ve fulfilled my target for the day!
If you could have one superpower what would it be?
Speed-reading! I have so many books waiting to be read, I just can’t imagine when I’ll get through them all. Unfortunately, during some conversations I have let authors know that I have bought their book and I know they are waiting to find out what I thought about it, but I just haven’t had the chance to read them yet.
Who is your favorite poet? Quote a couple of lines from your favorite poem.
I used to read poetry quite a lot after studying Wilfred Owen’s verses for O level exams. There was so much despair, longing and obligation in his words that I was inspired to read anything I could get my hands on. After living through countless poets’ expressions of wonder, frustration, love and disenchantment I started writing some poetry of my own and realized that it was an extremely personal experience.
Now I find that different poets suit different moods and I’m often surprised by the poetry of song lyrics on the radio which waft over me, arouse an emotion and then pass by leaving a pleasant aftertaste. It’s refreshing and light-hearted, but when I need a bit of strength I find it in the final words of Invictus by William Ernest Henley:
“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
I love this, and it’s one of my favorite affirmations. Thank you for this delightful chat, Stephanie!
Thank you too, Fros, for introducing me to your readers.
Stephanie Wood was born in the North West of England and has returned there after working in Europe for several years as a holiday representative. She made the decision to change career after a wonderful holiday in Kos, accepting contracts in Spain, Malta, Cyprus, and a handful of Greek islands, but found she was happiest working in the place which had originally inspired her. Now, with regular visits to catch up with her Greek friends, she treats Kos as her second home and writes fictional stories about the kind of people who might go there to work or to spend time in its hotels and cafés.
So, if you visit Kos one summer and find yourself having a relaxing lunch in a beachside taverna, watch out for the woman in the corner, scribbling madly into her notebook with a satisfied grin on her face…
Visit Stephanie’s Amazon page US UK
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This is the inspiration behind the Aegean Sun Series by @stephaniewooduk #ASMSG #Greece Share on X
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