Effrosyni Moschoudi

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Saint Spyridon, patron saint of Corfu: his life and miracles

Today, December 12, The Greek Orthodox Church commemorates and honors St Spyridon. In Corfu, it is a special day of joyous celebration, seeing that St Spyridon is the patron saint of the island. As you may know, Greeks don’t just have birthdays; they also celebrate their name days with parties, offering sweets and receiving gifts. If I tell you that every Corfiot family has at least one member called Spyridon (Spyros) or Spyridoula (Loula), you can imagine how much partying goes on around the island on December 12!

My family always had my granddad, Spyros Vassilakis, to honor on this day, and so, it’s always been a special day for me, and even more so now that Granddad has passed away. I thought I’d blog about St Spyridon this year and share a few facts and legends surrounding his name…

Who is St Spyridon?

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St Spyridon was born circa 270 A.C. in Askeia, Cyprus. He was a pious man and a shepherd. When his wife died, he entered a monastery and, later in life, became Bishop of Trimythous. He died peacefully of old age in 348 A.C. It doesn’t sound like much, I know, but what if I tell you about the miracles performed by this legendary  man, both when he was alive and centuries after his death? In his life, he performed many miracles and even brought people back from the dead with the fervor of his prayers!

St Spyridon was present in the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325 A.C.) where he took an active role. It is said that he converted a pagan philosopher into a Christian there and, according to legend, he performed a miracle in the process. While talking with this man, he took hold of a potshard to make a point that one thing can be three things at the same time (like The Holy Trinity can be Father, Son and the Holy Ghost). As he held the potshard, it is said that it burst into a flame, water dripping down his hand. It is said that all that was left from the shard of pottery in his hand was dust (while others say he held a brick). It is because of the specific account that St Spyridon is regarded the patron saint of potters (as well as Corfu).

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This story is just one of many that testify for this pious man’s sanctity; some of them date from when the saint was still alive and others began whole centuries after his death.

For example, when the Arabs took Cyprus (648 A.C.), St Spyridon’s remains were disinterred with the purpose of taking the sacred bones to Constantinople. However, to their surprise, the Cypriots saw that the relic was intact, and a scent of basil emanated from the grave. They took this as a sign of St Spyridon’s sanctity. The relic was taken to Constantinople and when the Turks took the city in 1453, a Corfiot monk called Kaloheraitis took the relic to Corfu and that is where it is still held today, in St Spyridon church.

The Corfiots adore their saint, and that is no surprise, seeing that he has saved their island and its people many times. For example, when a plague swept through the village of Marathias in the 1600s, it is believed that St Spyridon was sighted there and performed a miracle to drive out the plague. There is a big mark like a cross on the ancient walls of the Old Venetian Fortress and, legend has it, that the plague made this mark out of spite for being made to leave the island. The locals know where this mark is and point it out to tourists, although nowadays it’s not as clearly visible.

Another legend related to the plague has it that St Spyridon was sighted in the air dressed as a monk. He was chasing the plague that looked like a cross between a lion and a monkey with bat-like wings. The saint chased her away while beating her with a cross. When they reached the Old Fortress (Capo Sidero), St Spyridon made the plague scratch the sign of the cross on the wall and swear she’d never return.

The Old Venetian Fortress in Corfu Town that is said to carry the mark the plague made on its way out of the island…

This miracle is commemorated on Palm Sunday. The church procession stops in Corfu Town on high ground, faces the south towards Marathias and sends a blessing as a thank you to the saint.

This is the side of the fortress that bears the plague’s mark…

 

I asked Gran Antigoni about it the other day; she said the mark is visible on the wall under the cross from the Mouragia side (Mouragia is the picturesque coastal way lined with ancient Venetian buildings that leads to the old port). The other interesting bit Gran said is that the plague killed all but one man in the village of Marathias. In time, he had children with many different women, spreading his name across the village over the generations. She couldn’t recall the name but says many people in Marathias still carry this man’s surname today.

More annually celebrated miracles of St Spyridon:

During the second siege of Corfu by the Turkish fleet in July 1716, the Turks managed to take over a couple of forts on the island, including the ones in Mandouki and Garitsa. At the time, the island was under Venetian rule and fights between the rulers and the invaders went on for a month while the Corfiots prayed to their saint to save them from the Ottomans. On August 9, a terrible storm (highly unlikely in the Greek midsummer!) destroyed a great part of the Turkish fleet while several Muslims reported that they saw St Spyridon in the form of a monk rush out of his church, a torch in hand, threatening them. This sighting, along with the freak storm in midsummer and the damage to the fleet, caused panic among the Turks. It spread up the ranks and finally resulted in them leaving the island two days later.

This miracle is commemorated annually on August the 11th. A grand procession takes place in Corfu town and at night brass bands play music in Spianada square by Liston. All over the island, several varkarola (boat processions) take place too, with fireworks and singing, while the locals treat the visitors to fried sardines in many cases. Paleokastritsa and Petriti are two of the places that annually organize a varkarola.

On another occasion, St Spyridon is said to have saved the island from famine. How? He created a storm that caused three Italian boats filled to the brim with a cargo of wheat to change course and come to Corfu to save themselves. The precious cargo saved the people of Corfu from starvation and everyone knew it was a miracle because the men on board reported they saw a monk in a vision speaking in a booming voice, urging them to drop anchor at Corfu. This miracle is commemorated annually, again around Easter, this one on Holy Saturday – perhaps the  most greatly sought after day for a Corfu holiday because of the pot-breaking custom that follows the procession.

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And this is where the legends about St Spyridon end.

The following are actual events that happened without a doubt, some in my lifetime, and which were relayed to me. They are well-known all over the island:

The steeple of St Spyridon Church in Corfu town

  • A man was working on the top of the steeple of St Spyridon church once… He lost his balance and fell to the ground but stood back up, unscathed. I’ve heard this so many times that every time I look at the steeple I can almost see that poor man fall and I cringe 😀
  • Corfu airport is situated very near the sea. As the planes approach to land, if you look out the window, it almost feels like you’re about to land on water – it’s that near to the runway. Back in the 80s, this was out in the papers: a plane was having a hard time landing on Corfu airport (weather or technical trouble, cannot remember) and it was so scary and such a near miss that when the passengers landed safely they headed straight to St Spyridon church to light a candle and thank the saint for saving them. It was also reported that when they next opened his casket in the church, they found seaweed inside…
stspyridoncasket

This is the private place in the church where people are periodically allowed to come in and pay their respects to the saint. Most of the time you leave a kiss on the casket, but I’ve actually kissed his velvet slippers many times too – a rare occasion where the priests actually open the casket and let you get that close to the saint!

 

  • A little girl who couldn’t walk was taken to St Spyridon’s church to attend Mass. Her parents had brought her from afar, hoping for a miracle. All of a sudden, the girl stood in a trance and began to walk. Her parents were overjoyed and after their excitement had subsided they asked their girl what had happened. She said a monk had come to her in the church and asked her to stand up and walk…
  • Back in the 40s, Corfu town was bombarded numerous times by German planes. My grandmother Antigoni was a teenager then, and she and her loved ones ran to St Spyridon church for protection one fateful morning. It was daytime. Gran said to me the Germans used to drop bombs in the day and fire at night… That morning, as the bombs dropped, the church was full. The people were huddled together, terrified, their eyes pinned to the ceiling as they listened to the bombs dropping and exploding. All at once, they saw the ceiling open up, down its whole length. They saw the blue sky for split seconds and then… just like that… the ceiling was restored. The locals still talk about it in Corfu town. My grandmother, at 91, still remembers it vividly as if it were yesterday.

The Corfiots think of St Spyridon as a living being who walks among them, listening to their troubles, protecting them, providing for them. This is why many jump at the chance to own a tiny piece of his velvet slippers… Periodically, the church replaces the slippers placed at the saint’s feet and the fabric of the old ones is fragmented and offered to the people as a ‘fylakto’ – i.e. a protective charm, if you like. It’s the tiniest bit of red velvet inside a paper envelope with a drawing of St Spyridon on it.

The remains of St Spyridon are carried out of the church and taken around town during many religious processions throughout the year. The most famous perhaps is the one on Holy Saturday just before The First Resurrection (of Christ) at midday – a joyful pot-breaking celebration all over Corfu town.

I hope some of you will leave this page feeling a little enchanted today. If this is so, then my work is done. I feel lucky to have experienced this kind of magic all my life and still can’t get enough of it. I love St Spyridon with all my heart, and like every Corfiot, I speak his name every day. “Agie Spyridona!” is something I tend to say when surprised, annoyed, amused, but especially when needing comfort.

To any of you who have a Spyros or a Spyridoula in your lives, Chronia Polla! I’ll be lighting a candle for my beloved granddad today.

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Gran Antigoni and Granddad Spyros Vassilakis photographed in Mandouki (a picturesque area of Corfu Town near the new port) back in the late 80s

 

For me, it’s no surprise I wrote about St Spyridon and his miracles via my character Mrs Sofia, in my debut novel, The Necklace of Goddess Athena. Below, you will find a short, exclusive excerpt from the book that was originally included when the book was first published but was edited out in the second edition. I thought it was apt to publish it here today for posterity.

I hope you will enjoy it.

Mrs. Sofia’s face brightened. “Spyros? Your christian name is Spyridon? Oh, psyche mou, what a beautiful name you have!” She was ecstatic to hear the boy was named after her protector saint. It was a name that had followed her all her life, like every other inhabitant of Corfu.

Everyone on the island has a bunch of family members called Spyridon or the female equivalent, Spyridoula. As baby names in Greece are carried from grandparents to grandchildren, they’re always reminiscent of precious members of one’s family, some of them—as in the case of Mrs. Sofia—no longer living. In Athens, the name is not as common, so it was a special treat for her to hear it, and to be able to savor its sound again, so far away from home. She didn’t let the chance go wasted. She loved to talk about her beloved saint, and when she offered the boy information about him, both he and his mother stood eagerly to listen. Soon, she was telling them about the two miracles he’s mostly revered for on the island: the one where he saved the city from the plague, and the other where he turned his cane into a snake. She told them he still appeared through apparitions to cripples and other patients who prayed to him, curing them beyond any logical explanation. She looked into their eyes, saw wonder, and so she carried on, telling them this time about the miracles she’d witnessed herself in the town of Corfu.

She relayed the story of the worker who’d lost his balance while on the steeple of St Spyridon’s church. He fell to the ground and stood again, unharmed. Then, she recounted the story of that terrible day during the bombarding of the city by enemy planes in the 40’s. She and many others had rushed to St Spyridon’s church for refuge, praying to him to save their lives, their eyes pinned to the ceiling, brimming over with terror. For one terrible moment, they all saw the roof of the church blow up. They saw the sky, and then, miraculously, the roof closed in again within split seconds. Shocked, they asked each other and, to their amazement, they’d all seen the same thing.

The little boy’s mouth was now gaping open, and his mother seemed equally fascinated, her eyes huge and glazed over. Mrs. Sofia had a melodic voice and the unique talent of storytelling. It charmed her listeners and her two new guests couldn’t have been an exception.

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Interview with Effie Kammenou

Today, I am thrilled to welcome a Greek-American author from New York, Effie Kammenou. Effie’s debut novel is Evanthia’s Gift, a dramatic family saga that’s responsible for my recent bouts of insomnia… I’m finding it impossible to put it down. The more I read, the more I am intrigued about what happens next. I will be reviewing it when I’ve finished, but for now, here is the stunning cover before my chat with Effie begins!

 

final coverIn the year 1956, Anastacia Fotopoulos finds herself pregnant and betrayed, fleeing from a bad marriage. With the love and support of her dear friends Stavros and Soula Papadakis, Ana is able to face the challenges of single motherhood. Left with emotional wounds, she resists her growing affection for Alexandros Giannakos, an old acquaintance. But his persistence and unconditional love for Ana and her child is eventually rewarded and his love is returned. In a misguided, but well-intentioned effort to protect the ones they love, both Ana and Alex keep secrets – ones that could threaten the delicate balance of their family.

The story continues in the 1970’s as Dean and Demi Papadakis, and Sophia Giannakos attempt to negotiate between two cultures. Now Greek-American teenagers, Sophia and Dean, who have shared a special connection since childhood, become lovers. Sophia is shattered when Dean rebels against the pressure his father places on him to uphold his Greek heritage and hides his feelings for her. When he pulls away from his family, culture and ultimately his love for her, Sophia is left with no choice but to find a life different from the one she’d hoped for.

EVANTHIA’S GIFT is a multi-generational love story spanning fifty years and crossing two continents, chronicling the lives that unify two families.

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Hello Effie and welcome to my blog!

Hi Fros! It’s great to be here!

Tell me, is Effie short for Effrosyni by any chance?

No, actually, my name is Efthemia!

Oh, a lovely Greek name! What has inspired you to write your book?

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The inspiration to write Evanthia’s Gift came from a couple of sources, but it was my mother’s passing that put me on the path to writing. In 2012 my mother passed away after battling pancreatic cancer for two and a half years. I was trying to be the strong older sister, a compassionate mother and aunt, and a supportive daughter to my grieving father. I never allowed myself to fully express my emotions. One night I sat at the computer and just started writing. It was my way of working through my grief.

I’d heard stories all my life of my mother’s childhood in Athens, and her experiences during WWII as a child. My father had his own stories growing up in NYC, his tales of how his family came to America and for what reason, and his own experiences as a flyer in WWII. I took all those stories and gave life to several characters.

I knew there was a lot of truth in this book! It’s palpable as I read; I believe the best books are those that contain honest feelings and true experiences from their authors… Yours embodies both. Do you see yourself in any of your characters, or do any of them have traits you wish you had?

I see myself, or parts of myself in several of the characters. As an author, when you develop a character, their voice comes from within you. Sophia lives in my timeline and has had some of the same experiences that I had. Her emotions come from me, although her traits and talents are modeled after one of my daughters. Anastacia is my mother, and the inspiration of the story. However, I do see parts of myself in her as well. Most of the characters, even some of the men, have a tiny piece of me—a trait, a point of view, or an experience.

Which are your favorite authors, and what do you love about them?

I have a background in theatre and studied all the classic playwrights from ancient Greece to modern day, but Shakespeare still holds my heart. As for fiction, I love the classics there as well. Jane Austen and John Steinbeck are my two favorite classic authors. I enjoy women’s fiction and contemporary romances. Nora Roberts, Jude Deveraux, Sophie Kinsella, Adriana Trigiani, and Sylvia Day are among the novelists I read most often. But the one contemporary author who has captured my attention more than any other is Sylvain Reynard who wrote the Gabriel series. His beautiful use of language is breathtaking, and he keeps me intrigued with his knowledge of literature, religion, art, history, and culture.

You mentioned a couple of my favorites, Effie. And thanks for the tip about Sylvain Reynard! Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

I continue to take all the advice my fellow authors are willing to share with me. But I will say this: I have never met a community of professionals so willing to help each other. Every author I’ve reached out to has responded, and was more than willing to help and steer me in the right direction. My advice? Reach out to authors. They will help you. But the most important piece of advice I can give anyone looking to publish or self-publish, is not to rush. Take your time and do everything as it should be done. Make sure your manuscript is ready for publication. It took me almost three years to write EVANTHIA’S GIFT. It’s a long book – 548 pages. Get a critique partner and beta readers. Their suggestions will improve your work. When you think you are done and you think you have tightened your manuscript as much as you can on your own, get a professional editor. And don’t skimp on the cover. Get a professional designer whose work you admire.

I couldn’t agree more with all the points you made! 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.

This is an amusing question for me because where I work we spend much of our free time casting the movie version of the characters in the books we are reading. It’s a little more difficult with my own work since I have visions in my head that are not inspired by movie stars. The other issue here is that the book spans fifty years. So, do you use two different actors for each character, or simply age them?

For the adult Anastacia I could possible see Melina Kanakaredes. I see both of them as elegant, beautiful women. For the teenage Sophia I see Mia Sara as she was as a teenager. She is actually exactly what I had in mind. Dean is harder for me. Maybe Zach Efron or Stephen McQueen (Steve McQueen’s grandson). I would rather the reader have their own vision and not be influenced by the appearance of stars, unless of course the book was made into a movie.

Zach Efron as Dean sounds ideal, so thanks for that, I’ll remember when I resume reading tonight, LOL! Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?

I do not have an author blog or website at this time. I do write a food blog where I not only share recipes, but also traditions and stories that reflect the food. Between some of the chapters of Evanthia’s Gift, I’ve added recipes, ones that will enhance the Greek experience for the non-Greek reader. Since publishing the novel, I have been posting these recipes on my blog with an excerpt from the story that refers to the food.

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Well done, Effie! I also find that recipes work well to promote fiction. People love to try new tastes so you get a lot of interaction from readers on the blog and on the social media. Next question: If you could have one superpower what would it be?

I would like to have the power to speak every language. The idea of being able to communicate fluently in every country would be not only useful, but also enlightening. How wonderful would it be to fully immerse yourself in a culture?

What a wonderful answer, I love it! What were your most and least favorite subjects in school?

Without a doubt, Drama and English were my favorite subjects in school. In my last year of high school, an Independent Creative Arts Program was piloted. It was a wonderful experience. The theatre group within this program performed children’s plays for the district, improv theatre and classic plays—all of which were produced, directed and acted by the students. In college, I was a theatre major and I enjoyed the literature classes as well as the acting classes.

The subject I liked the least was science. It was my weakest subject, which is ironic since my dad was a chemist. This was also the reason I did not do well. I would ask him a simple high school level question and get a PhD-worthy answer. His answers were way over my head, and it wasn’t until I stopped asking him questions that I started to do marginally better.

If you could choose another profession, what would that be?

Without a doubt, I would be an actress. It was what I went to school for, and had always hoped to be. I think I needed a lot more nerve and a thicker skin at the time, and I never pursued this dream properly.

I can see you’ve come with lots of photos! How delightful! Can we have a look?

Sure!

Oh! This one looks intriguing! Is there a story behind it?

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Yes! The girl in the grad. cap is my niece, Athena, who had always struggled in school, but my mother encouraged her to go to college. When she was fighting through her pancreatic cancer, my mother spent time with each grandchild. She told Athena not to quit, no matter how long it took to finish. She made Athena promise to graduate. If it wasn’t for her yiayia she would have given up. She put that message on her hat because she thought she would see it from above and be at her graduation in spirit.

Oh that’s so sweet… and what about those two stunning young ladies at Paramount Studios?

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They are my daughters. Eleni, 29, is a 6th grade teacher, ballet teacher and tennis instructor. She is currently doing her PhD in administration. Alexa, 25, is a graphic designer and video art director for Real Simple Magazine. She has aspirations to someday work at Paramount or Disney studios.

I hope she succeeds. Best of luck! And this one’s in the States too?

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Yes, that’s me, my sister, Athena, and Alexa at EPCOT food and wine festival. The other photos are various ones with my husband, friends and family.

Love them! Thank you for sharing these and for this wonderful chat, Effie!

Thank you for this opportunity, Fros, to talk about my work.

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Effie Kammenou is a first generation Greek-American who lives on Long Island with her husband and two daughters. When she’s not writing, or posting recipes on her food blog, cheffieskitchen.wordpress.com, you can find her cooking for her family and friends.

Her debut novel, EVANTHIA’S GIFT, is a women’s fiction multi-generational love story and family saga, influenced by her Greek heritage, and the many real life accounts that have been passed down. She continues to pick her father’s brain for stories of his family’s life in Lesvos, Greece, and their journey to America. Her recent interview with him was published in a nationally circulated magazine.

As an avid cook and baker, a skill she learned from watching her Athenian mother, Effie incorporated traditional Greek family recipes throughout the book.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater Arts from Hofstra University.

Visit Effie’s Amazon page  US   UK

Visit Effie’s food blog

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/EffieKammenou

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26069535-evanthia-s-gift

cropped-Website-header-necklace1.jpgHave you enjoyed this post? Follow the blog (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! Sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter to keep up to date with her news and special offers (very sparse emails). Interested to read more? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find her earlier interviews, book reviews, author tips, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

 

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Interview with Inderjit Kaur

Today I’m pleased to welcome the lovely Inderjit Kaur from India. Inderjit writes inspiring, spiritual non-fiction that uses positive language to help people face life’s difficulties and to adopt a new outlook on life that will guide them to a happier, more fullfilling existence. As you will see in our interview below, Inderjit speaks from experience. Having reached rock bottom after a painful divorce, she had an epiphany that brought her closer to her faith and, as a result, restored peace and joy in her life. Eventually, she wound up writing to inspire others in the same way.

 

elementsoflife

The four elements of life, Air, Water, Earth, Fire are the only truth which can render the whole meaning of being as a human. Are we authentic? Are we living in courage? Are we kind and in patience? Are we grateful? How we face life and respond to life is all that matters.

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meaningfullife

The author highlights all the probabilities of life that we deal with and how we can simplify, how we can add more meaning to our lives, which is the gift from the divine supreme, by just understanding the different aspects of our problems, searching broader avenues, encouraging our inner souls to seek good, think good, render good, and ultimately feel good and happy.

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Hello Inderjit and welcome to my blog!

Hello Fros, thank you for inviting me.

Which are your favorite authors, and what do you love about them?

I read a lot of authors and some favorites are: Paulo Coelho, Dr. Abdul Kalam, Khaled Hosseini, Richard Carlson and Robert Schuller.

The books of these authors have been a light of hope in my gloomy days, like the period in my life where I had to face a painful divorce. The book, Leaning into God When Life is Pushing you Away by Robert Schuller has been a huge inspiration.

Sounds like a great book, Inderjit. Thanks for the tip! Being an author involves a lot of sitting around. What do you do for exercise?

I do morning walks five days a week, and I also practice Yoga and Meditation.

Oh my goodness, if that’s the kind of place you go to for a walk, I envy you! If you could have one superpower what would it be?

I don’t know if that’s a superpower, but I’d love to be able to relive my childhood so I can spend time again with my father.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned so far in life the hard way?

That you should never give up when facing the hardships of life. We all feel tempted to give up at times, but when we give up we miss the opportunity to learn. Some people prefer to dwell in self-pity or blame the entire world for their failures. But when playing the victim we run away from responsibility. Every person’s life is the outcome of their choices in life. It’s the power of choice that makes us ordinary or extraordinary.

I believe people should face life’s challenges by finding strength inside. Strength lies in our thoughts. Positive thoughts does wonders in creating positive results in people’s lives.

As a firm believer in The Law of Attraction I can only agree with you, Inderjit! Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Work on your craft, write from your heart, read a lot, and polish your manuscript the best you can. Last, with all the above, exercise patience!

Great advice! I also think patience is key, as well as perseverance. If you could choose another profession, what would that be?

I would have loved to be a college teacher. I love to teach. Back in school I loved Zoology and Chemistry… I gave up my plans to get a degree in Chemistry due to marriage.

How would you like to be remembered?

I don’t know how I’m going to end up in life, but I’d love it if, someday, an author wrote my memoir and finished the book with the words, “And she never gave up.”

I love that! Would you tell us a little about that place you love visiting for a walk? And do you have more pictures to show us? It’s magical!

 

 

(*laughs*) Yes, it’s a place on the hills not too far from where I live. It’s caled Matheran. I don’t visit it every day, but I try to go as often as I can.

Such an enchanting place! Have you brought any other photos to show us?

 

Two more… My bookshelf and my workstation at home.

Thank you for sharing these images from your home, Inderjit. They are lovely, and equally serene, as one would expect of you. It’s been a pleasure having you here today. Thank you for your time!

Thank you very much, Fros. I appreciate this opportunity.

 

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Inderjit Kaur is an author and inspirational guide with a powerful voice, who spreads positive quotes through her tweets. Following a life-changing epiphany from a poet at the young age of nine, she marked the page as an editor of her college magazine during her post-graduation in Science at Mumbai University.

Writing, being a passion, made her perceptions change forever. After a series of adversities she launched her debut book, Living a More Meaningful Life, which is now available globally.

Considered as a positive, peace messenger through her tag line “keep smiling, keep shining”, she has inspired thousands to make positive choices that impact not only their lives but also those of others. Her blog, “A Living Series”, brims over with positive quotes that her readers can draw inspiration from.

A domestic violence survivor, single parent, full time writer, author, blogger, book reviewer, Injerjit Kaur resides in Mumbai.

Visit Inderjit’s Amazon page  US    UK

Visit Inderjit’s blog, “A living series”: https://inderjitlmml.wordpress.com/

You Tube channel: http://youtu.be/wArIlTl5CIw

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/inderjitkaur

Twitter: https://twitter.com/inderjitlmml

 

 

cropped-Website-header-necklace1.jpgHave you enjoyed this post? Follow the blog (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! Sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter to keep up to date with her news and special offers (very sparse emails). Interested to read more? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find her earlier interviews, book reviews, author tips, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

 

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Book Review: Sewing Can Be Dangerous by Sarah Mallery

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Sewing Can Be Dangerous was an utter delight to read because it felt like an exhilarating time travel journey. Each short story takes us to a different place and time in history. The element of sewing is always present, sometimes it’s someone’s work, other times a hobby, or a matter of life and death – a means to save a life. Mallery’s storytelling is compelling and often haunting, the unexpected twists in the end delightful. I highly recommend this book to readers who love short stories, especially to those who enjoy delving into worlds long forgotten in the mists of time. The first short story was my favorite. It haunted me for a few days after reading it; it felt incredibly real.

 

My rating:

5 stars

A compelling journey around the world and through history!

 

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Do you enjoy short stories? How about historical fiction? Check out this gem now!

Amazon  US   UK

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Would you like to meet the artist behind the book? Check out my interview with Sarah Mallery and marvel at her various artistic skills!

 

cropped-Website-header-necklace1.jpgHave you enjoyed this post? Follow the blog (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! Sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter to keep up to date with her news and special offers (very sparse emails). Interested to read more? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find her earlier interviews, book reviews, author tips, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

 

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Interview with author Daphne Kapsali

Good morning peeps! Today I’m pleased to welcome Daphne Kapsali, a Greek from London who fell in love with the forlorn landscape of the Cycladic island of Sifnos. Leaving the mad bustle of London behind, she moved to Sifnos to live there on her own for 100 days writing a memoir. Now, people who seek solitude like this feel like kindred spirits to me so I made sure to connect with her only to appreciate her even more. An eager supporter of indie authors, Daphne is here with us today to tell us all about her writing journey!

 

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How far do you need to go to find yourself? What do you have to give up?
Daphne didn’t go very far. After too many years of living as a writer who didn’t write, she gave up her life in London to spend 100 days of solitude on the remote Greek island of Sifnos, off season, and find out, once and for all, who she really was. Her challenge: to write every day.
One hundred days and one hundred entries later, her question had been answered in more ways than she could have imagined, and the things she’d given up never mattered in the first place. This book is her story, as personal as it is universal, of the most obvious and most fundamental quest of all: to be happy; to do what you love.
Part memoir, part fiction, part philosophy and part travel writing, 100 days of solitude is a collection of one hundred stories, all of them connected and each one self-contained. One hundred essays on choosing uncertainty over security, change over convenience, seeing things for what they truly are, and being surprised by yourself; on love, loss, death and donkeys; on reaching for your dreams, finding enlightenment on a rural road, peeing in public, and locking yourself out of the house; on dangerous herbs, friendly farmers, flying Bentleys and existential cats; and on what it feels like to live in a small, isolated island community through the autumn and winter, to live as a writer who actually writes, and to live as your true, authentic self, no matter who that turns out to be. And to write your own story, the way you want it told; to find your voice, and the courage to let it be heard.

VISIT AMAZON  US   UK

 

 

 

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There are certain things that time cannot touch. Very few. Metal it turns to rust and bones to dust and the souls of those we’ve loved into ghosts and memories. Ancient temples fall to ruin and gods fall from grace, and people fall out of love and forget. Very few things can withstand the passage of time, its ruthless continuity, always moving on, always leaving moments behind, but in Anna’s short lifetime there was one thing that did.

Was it hubris to wrench apart what destiny had conspired to unite? Could there be atonement for such a thing?

This story begins at the end of a thing that hasn’t ended, and travels in orbit in the space between then and not yet, circling questions unanswered and unasked, alternative endings and futures that never came to pass, looking for a place to land. It is the story of Anna and Jack and it’s a love story, because all stories are, essentially, about love and the inexplicable things we do in its name and in its absence, in its pursuit and in its wake.

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FREE!

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I’m all for spiritual development. I’m all for awareness and mindfulness and loving kindness. Looking after yourself, mind, body and spirit. It would be lovely if we all spoke a little softer, if we took a little longer to think before we act. If we were all a little enlightened. The world would be a better place. Like the tote bag I carry on my shoulder proclaims: Yoga will save the world.

But who will be there to remind us, gently, that we’re taking it a bit too far? When our facebook feeds are inundated by inspirational quotes and we’ve lost the ability to say things in our own words. When gluten is the devil and eating cake is tantamount to suicide. When we boast, daily, of our dietary restrictions and post snapshots of ourselves in the course of a practice that was designed to be personal. When every yoga class is an opportunity to open our hearts, to acknowledge the pain, the frustration, the sadness within, to welcome it, to go with it. When we consult spiritual healers and gurus and medicine men and forget to talk to our friends. When we ostensibly strive for balance, and fail to notice the irony of seeking it in extremes.

I cannot be the only one who’s getting a bit tired of this.

FREE!  VISIT AMAZON  US   UK

(Double check it’s FREE before your purchase)

 

 

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Hello Daphne and welcome to my blog!

Hi Fros, very thrilled to be here!

So, tell us about 100 Days of Solitude. How did this book come about?

100 days of solitude is a strange book, in that it was never meant to be a book at all. It began about 18 months ago, when I quit my job in London and moved to Sifnos, a small Greek island, to spend a few months living alone and writing. The idea was to produce a novel, but I didn’t know how to start or how to keep myself motivated to write ever day, so I set up a blog – which I named 100 days of solitude – to give myself a sense of accountability. I wrote one post every day, for 100 consecutive days, just recording thoughts and experiences that came up through this process of rediscovering myself, and this blog that basically began as an exercise in self-discipline ended up being the book I wrote.

Sounds like a genius method to write a book! What other writing have you done? Anything else published?

Actually, I did manage to also write a novel while playing the reclusive author on my little island. It’s called you can’t name an unfinished thing, and it was published this summer.

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What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

What I’m mostly spending my time on at the moment is promoting my published books, and trying to navigate my way through the world of social media marketing and do the best I can to get myself and my work out there, without losing touch with who I am and why I’m doing this. It’s tough, and it’s exhausting, but it’s also very interesting and I’m learning a lot. I don’t do anywhere near as much writing as I’d like, but I have a few projects going round and round in my head, and I manage to produce a little piece every now and again, and that keeps me going. This is a phase, and I’ve come to accept it’s almost as big a part of being an author as the writing itself. Not quite as rewarding, but just as important, if you want your books to be read.

Well said! Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Be yourself. Be genuine. Be a little bit crazy. It’s a crazy thing that we’re trying to do, so do it fully and joyfully and with as much confidence and obstinacy as you can muster. Have fun with it, no matter what the outcome.

Excellent advice! What do you enjoy the most as an indie author that you imagine you wouldn’t if you were traditionally published? If you had a choice would you still go indie?

I’ve really enjoyed being involved in every single part of the process, from the writing itself, to editing, typesetting, cover design and publishing, and all the way through to marketing and promotion. Though it’s a lot for one person to take on, and it really does take over your life, there’s something very rewarding in knowing that you’ve made this thing yourself, all of it; that it’s 100% you and that, for all of its flaws, you can stand by it proudly, because you’ve put the best of yourself into it. As for whether I’d choose to go indie over a traditional publisher: I don’t know. Yes, for all the reasons above. No, because perhaps a traditional publisher could help my books reach more readers than I can, and that’s ultimately what a writer wants: for their work to be read.

Being an author involves a lot of sitting around. What do you do for exercise?

In theory, yoga. In practice, I am a self-confessed reluctant yogi, which means that even though I love yoga and I know it’s unequivocally good for me, physically, mentally and spiritually, I am sometimes very reluctant to actually do it. But I’m still a big believer in yoga, and I think there’s something about it that’s very complementary to writing. Another thing I do, when the crazy in me builds up to dangerous levels, is play really loud music and dance like an idiot. Again, it’s an excellent physical and mental exercise for writers: all that pent up energy we collect needs to be released somehow, and it’s amazing how quickly moving your body in that way gets it all out.

LOL, I know what you mean, Daphne. I do both yoga and ‘crazy dancing’ at home! What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned so far in life the hard way?

That you can do anything you want; that you can choose to be happy. That it really is as simple as that, and everything else is just fears and excuses in various disguises. But I have to confess: it wasn’t hard. Taking my life apart in order to write full-time was terrifying to begin with, and a hard decision to make, but once you start doing what’s right for you, it’s easy. Everything works out, somehow.

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How right you are. Again, I agree 100%. Fear, and the ego making excuses are the only obstacles in one’s way. What are the things in your life that you’re most grateful for?

People. All the incredibly kind, generous and supportive people I am lucky enough to have in my life. And also for the fact that I’m able to see all the possibilities that are available to me, and recognise, every day, how much there is to be grateful for.

An exceptional answer, Daphne, love it. How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who made a few people’s lives a little bit happier. If people think of me after I’m gone, I’d like them to smile. Or laugh. That’s all.

I love your answers. Actually, I’d love to keep you in my pocket and carry you around with me! I’d never have another frown on my face, that’s for sure. Who is your favorite poet? Quote a couple of lines from your favorite poem.

That’s a very tough question, but I’m going to say Philip Larkin. And the final lines from The Mower: “we should be careful of each other. We should be kind, while there is still time.”

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Daphne, I’m so pleased you could be here with us today! Thank you!

Thank you too, Fros, it’s been a pleasure.

FELLOW AUTHORS: Daphne Kapsali supports indies on INDIE BOOKS ROCK.

Head over there and submit your books! All she asks in return is a share on the social media and to spread the word a little. Everybody wins!

 

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Daphne Kapsali is a writer, reluctant yogi, pathological optimist and probably one of the luckiest people alive. In May 2014, she gave up her life in London to spend the autumn and winter writing on a remote Greek island; the result is a book entitled 100 days of solitude – 100 separate and interconnected stories on claiming the time and space to live as your true self and do what you love – published in March 2015. She has since published another two books: a novel entitled you can’t name an unfinished thing, also produced during her stint as a reclusive author, and This Reluctant Yogi: everyday adventures in the yoga world. All three are available on Amazon.

Daphne is a big fan of the law of attraction, the universe, and all things positive, and hopes her story will keep inspiring others to overcome their fears and limiting beliefs, and live the life they want.

Visit Daphne’s Amazon page  US   UK

Visit Daphne’s website

Visit Daphne’s blog

Social media links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daphnewrites

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dafiniduck

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13837460.Daphne_Kapsali

 

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Book review: Girl Gone Greek by Rebecca Hall

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I loved this book! Rachel felt so real to me and I empathized as I read about all the quirky Greeks she encountered. Among all the locals mentioned, the young students seemed the most likable. Rachel’s girlfriend ranges from incredibly rude to just loopy and although I howled to read her antics I didn’t manage to warm up to her at all. The owner of the Greek school was one tough cookie but Rachel handled her wonderfully, I thought. By the end of the book, I found myself admiring Rachel, not only for managing to live alone in a tiny, basic flat while co-existing with a series of awkward foreigners and showing incredible stoicism, but also for the way she bloomed through the experience, finding strength in herself enough to stand up to her horrid, judgmental sister back home. Well done Rachel! I highly recommend this delightful book for its insights into the Greek way of life from a foreigner’s perspective, especially as it contains very interesting facts on modern Greek history. I look forward to the next book in the series.

 

My rating:

5 stars

A delightful story!

 

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Are you interested to gain insights on the Greeks and their way of life? Do you enjoy stories of young expats living an adventure abroad? Try this book, I think you’re going to love it!

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Check out my interview with Rebecca Hall on this blog!

 

cropped-Website-header-necklace1.jpgHave you enjoyed this post? Follow the blog (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! Sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter to keep up to date with her news and special offers (very sparse emails). Interested to read more? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find her earlier interviews, book reviews, author tips, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

 

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A great giveaway and a FREE gift from me

Hello peeps! Big day for me today so this is short – I am touring with eNovel Authors at Work and this is part of a month-long tour of eNovel in association with Choosy Bookworm. Choosy is playing Santa for all bookworms out there throughout November!

There’s a rafflecopter on their site where you can enter to win 2 x $250 paypal cash! Below that rafflecopter, there’s a second one that changes every couple of days, featuring a set of three eNovel authors at a time. What doesn’t change is the opportunity to win fabulous books! As I mentioned earlier, it’s my turn to tour today so if you visit the site of Choosy Bookworm now you can enter the eNovel rafflecopter for my tour (as well as Choosy’s main one, of course!)

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I’m touring with terrific authors Julie Frayn and A.J. Lape – they’re both offering books via the rafflecopter so make sure to enter! Also, you’ll be pleased to know that all three of us have our featured books on FREE right now! Make sure to grab them all!

 

VISIT CHOOSY BOOKWORM TO ENTER THE TWO RAFFLECOPTERS. GOOD LUCK!

 

Keep this link handy so you can follow the tour and see all the FREE/99c offers that eNovel authors do this month. Also, the more rafflecopters you enter, the better your chances that you’ll have fabulous books to read this Christmas!

 

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As I stated earlier, today I’m pleased to give everyone a FREE gift! My time travel fantasy, The Necklace of Goddess Athena, will be free for five days starting today! Make sure to grab your copy now, especially if you enjoy mystery interwoven with sweet romance. If so, this is definitely your cup of tea!

FIND THE BOOK ON AMAZON HERE.

GRAB YOUR FREE COPY & MAKE SURE TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS! HAPPY READING!

 

cropped-Website-header-necklace1.jpgHave you enjoyed this post? Follow the blog (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! Sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter to keep up to date with her news and special offers (very sparse emails). Interested to read more? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find her earlier interviews, book reviews, author tips, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

 

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Interview with Aurora Springer

Hello! It’s Monday again and I’m pleased to welcome another fabulous member of eNovel Authors at Work for today’s interview.  Aurora Springer was born in the UK and has been writing science fiction and fantasy stories since childhood. Grand Master’s Pawn (Book 1 in the Grand Master’s Trilogy) is FREE today! Check it out below with a couple of Aurora’s other books.

 

The Grand Master’s Pawn is FREE on these dates in November: 16, 17, 28, 29 and will be 99c on all other dates until the end of the month. Double check the price before you place your Amazon order!

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One young woman challenges the super psychics ruling the galaxy, and finds an impossible love. Science fiction adventure melded with fantasy and romance.

Young empath, Violet Hunter, travels through the galaxy on missions for her mysterious Grand Master. Life-threatening cracks appear in the vast web of portals and Violet agrees to investigate the disruptions. When she discovers the perpetrator comes from within the ranks of the Twelve Grand Masters, she must penetrate their curtain of secrecy to fulfill her task. Her challenges escalate when she meets the enigmatic man behind the griffin avatar. Armed with only her erratic powers and a mishmash of allies, she must challenge the most powerful beings in the galaxy.

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Psychically linked lovers fight the powerful Grand Masters dominating the galaxy.

In the wake of the Red Queen’s destruction of his castle, the rebellious Grand Master, Athanor Griffin, devises a risky plan to defeat his nemesis and solve the life-threatening portal crisis. He is joined by his loyal pawn and lover, empath Violet Hunter. They spin across the galaxy in pursuit of his strategy, contending with portal failures, hostile aliens and Grand Masters. Success will depend on Violet. But, she wrestles with erratic psychic talents and her doubts about their unequal partnership. She must surmount her insecurities and recruit allies to survive the inevitable battle with their enemies. Their worst nightmares lie ahead.

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Fight for freedom. Fight to survive – For refugees from an overcrowded Earth, dreams of a better life on an alien planet transform into a terrifying battle for survival.

Nothing will stand in the way of Tiger Lily’s dream of escaping the subterranean slums of Terra and visiting the stars. She enters the fierce competition for a place in the scout team on the next spaceship to the remote planet of Delta, where an earlier colony disappeared. Before the ship departs, the arrival of a mysterious message from Delta suggests that the descendants of the first colonists may have survived.

A dangerous mission to seek the lost colony exposes the team to unexpected dangers, and they encounter a grim warrior in the isolated valley. Has Tiger Lily met her match in the tortured man? Where is he leading them? And who are the real rulers of this strange world?

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Hello Aurora and welcome to my blog!

Hi Fros, thank you!

What has inspired you to write the Grand Master’s Trilogy ?

My inspiration arose from Alice Though the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll due to my idea of combining several short stories. The pawn is a young woman, Violet, who travels on missions to different planets under the command of a mysterious Grand Master. Once I set the main characters in motion, the story expanded into a trilogy.

Two of my short stories and skimpy notes about a dragon morphed into Violet’s first three missions. Following the chess analogy, each mission is a move in a game of chess. Assuming Violet makes the first move, after four missions she reaches the seventh square of the chess board and can be promoted to queen in her next move. At that point in book 1, Violet enters the secret world of the Grand Masters, although she is not fully promoted until the end of the trilogy.

Sounds very intriguing! What other writing have you done? Anything else published?

As an indie author, I have published five novels, two novellas and two short stories since 2014. I am a university professor in my “day job” and have published more than two hundred research papers in science journals. The majority of these papers are co-authored with one or more students and researchers, sometimes from other countries.

You’re so prolific – I’m impressed! Do you see yourself in any of your characters, or do any of them have traits you wish you had?

Of course, I recognize hints of myself and many other real people in the characters I create. Most of my stories are told from the point of view of a female character, and she is usually more athletic than I will ever be. Many of my characters share my determination, curiosity, optimism and sense of humor.

What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

Currently, I am concentrating on finishing the third book in my Grand Master’s Trilogy. This trilogy could be described as the adventures of psychics in space and mixes science fiction with supernatural powers. The protagonist(s) travel through several planets, often with exotic environments and alien inhabitants. The twelve Grand Masters include humans and aliens, such as an amoeboid and two plants. I thread in mythological references, often humorous. The Master Smith has his forge in a volcano. The Chair of the Council of Grand Masters calls himself the Lord of Lightning, although his juniors may refer to him as a pompous fool.

I have several other works at different stages: the start of a couple of science fiction stories and a novella with superheroes and their animal companions. Can you tell that I love animals, plants and nature in general?

Of course! I trust you have pets?

Yes – I have a dog, Augustus, and two cats. I’ve brought pictures to show you and your readers…

Oh, thank you for sharing! They look lovely! But I see only one cat here?

Yes, that’s Ollie. My other cat is too shy. As she is black, we often just see two eyes staring from under the furniture!

LOL! Which are your favorite authors, and what do you love about them?

I draw inspiration from the novels of Jane Austen and Andre Norton. I enjoy Jane Austen’s insight into real people and her ability to describe characters in a few words. Andre Norton wrote imaginative science fiction and fantasy stories where loners struggle through perils and find a home. My ambition as an author is to combine the creative world building of Andre Norton with the caustic humor and romance of Jane Austen.

What genres do you read mostly, and what are you reading now?

My personal preference is science fiction and fantasy, although I also enjoy mysteries. I like to read adventures in strange places with a happy ending for the protagonists.

Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Don’t expect your first draft to be the final one. Writing a good story takes hard work and there are many other aspects involved in publishing and marketing a novel. Join a group of authors and learn from their experiences.

Good advice! Oh, if I had a dollar for every time I edited my books… LOL! Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?

My website/blog has information on my books such as excerpts and background as well as the buy links. Often I host other authors for guest posts about their new releases. On the weekends, I post snippets of my work in two writers’ groups: Weekend Writing Warriors and Science Fiction and Fantasy Saturday.

What do you enjoy the most as an indie author that you imagine you wouldn’t if you were traditionally published? If you had a choice would you still go indie?

I enjoy being in control of the whole process and having the ability to make changes, for example update the book cover or blurb. On the other hand, I have not ruled out the possibility of publishing more traditionally, since it might be an advantage for marketing.

Well said! Being an author involves a lot of sitting around. What do you do for exercise?

My regular exercises are walking the dog for one or two miles almost every day, and climbing five flights of stairs to my office at work. Occasionally I do yoga to improve flexibility. When we visit my family in the UK, we generally hike several miles a day, sometimes in the Welsh mountains.

It all sounds like great exercise, good for you! Before the end of our chat, I must ask: I hear you make extraordinary quilts, like my recent guest, the lovely Sarah Mallery. Is this true? And are there any other artistic talents you may have?

Lol! Yes, I do make quilts, although I used to do this a lot more in the past. I’ve also done a bit of acrylic painting.

Hey! Fantastic! You’re one talented lady, I knew it!

Thank you Fros. I’ve brought two more photos…

Oh my goodness, such a pleasure to have an author so eager to share photos. I normally have to pester you guys. Thank you, these are wonderful. Would you tell us a little about them?

Yes, of  course. This is me with a griffin statue at Bletchley Park in the UK. You can also see the Cliffs of the Isle of Angelsey, again in the UK. The last photo is of an America Lotus flower.

Delightful images, Aurora! Thank you so much for being here with us today. It’s been a blast.

Thank you very much, Fros. I really enjoyed our chat!

 

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Aurora Springer is a scientist morphing into a novelist. She has a PhD in molecular biophysics and discovers science facts in her day job. For as long as she can remember, Aurora has imagined adventures in weird worlds. In 2014, Aurora achieved her life-long ambition to publish her stories. She writes character-driven action stories in fantastic places, science fiction and fantasy with romance and a sprinkle of humor. Some of the stories were composed decades years ago. Aurora was born in the UK and lives in Atlanta with her husband, a dog and two cats to sit on the keyboard. Her hobbies, besides reading and writing, include outdoor activities like gardening, watching wildlife, hiking and canoeing.

Visit Aurora’s Amazon page  US   UK

Visit Aurora’s website: http://AuroraSpringer.blogspot.com

Social media links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aurora-Springer/885945434752937

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AuroraSpringer

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/101087717415198221200/posts

 

cropped-Website-header-necklace1.jpgHave you enjoyed this post? Follow the blog (see right sidebar) and miss no more posts! Sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter to keep up to date with her news and special offers (very sparse emails). Interested to read more? Head over to Effrosyni’s Blog, where you’ll find her earlier interviews, book reviews, author tips, travel articles and even Greek recipes!

 

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A Lifetime of Corfu Summers

The other day, I was browsing photographs from Corfu on Facebook experiencing the familiar melting feeling inside. Nothing else causes that; over the years, despite having traveled extensively around my beautiful country, no other place can make me ache with such nostalgia. And then, I started to wonder: what is it that makes one so passionate about a certain place? Often, I hear my fellow Greeks talk about their beloved village where they were born or brought up and sometimes these places are nothing but a cluster of houses on a mountain top with a plane tree in the middle of a small square. As a visitor, you’d take half an hour tops to go around and see everything and chances are when you leave it behind, you’ll never think of it again. And yet, to the people who hail from it, it has the quaintness of Mykonos and the allure of Santorini; every square foot of soil or concrete a treasure in their eyes. So what is it that makes it so special?

The obvious answer is, it’s their love inside – the memories they hold.

And so, it is with me. From Corfu, and especially the villages of Moraitika and Messonghi, I have a multitude of memories that often flood my mind as I walk past a lane or sit on the beach or saunter along the Messonghi river – some dating back from 40 years, some involving people who are now gone, being sadly missed.

So, here I am today, a bunch of old, yellow photographs in hand, blogging about a few of those memories. To the readers of my trilogy, some may be interesting for the real-life facts behind The Ebb, and for the rest of you, perhaps they will still be of interest, simply for being a glimpse of a bygone world.

So come, walk with me down this memory lane as I unfold my passion for Corfu…

 

During my childhood, I was forever in Corfu town for a long holiday, staying in Garitsa with my aunt Stephanie (my mother’s sister) and her family or with my grandparents in a rented house. In the early 70s photograph below I’m having a bit of trouble going down the steps of St Spyridon’s church – Gran is holding my hand. Gran was always around when I was little. It’s no surprise I used to call her ‘mama’ back then. I simply refused to fall asleep unless she was holding my hand and it was difficult for her as the moment she’d withdraw her hand I’d snap my eyes open, which meant she had to do this all over again. A few years ago in Moraitika, in my presence, a local lady called Angelina, impressed by the kind way Gran always spoke of me asked her: ‘Oh Antigoni, you love your Frosso, don’t you?’ (Frosso is what people call me in Greek). Gran turned to her, smiled an angelic smile I’ll never forget and said, “Angelina mou, if you were to open my chest and look inside, you’d find a picture of my Frosso there”. My heart swells just thinking about it. Gran’s love for me has always been a blessing and a compass.

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Early 70s, St Spyridon’s Church, Corfu town

I still remember my very first visit to Moraitika where I met many of my great-aunts and uncles for the first time. I couldn’t have been older than ten or eleven and that’s when the love of a lifetime began. This is when my grandparents converted the old storeroom of the original Vassilakis house (the part of it Granddad inherited from his father) into a little home for themselves.

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This is a photo of me from the early 80s on the beach in Moraitika. I was about fourteen. This is when the tourism in the village began to take off. Back in the late 70s the sea was so pure that if you dipped your hand in the wet sand near the water you’d get tiny clam babies. I remember looking for them for fun after my swims around the age of 11-12, then putting them back in the sand.

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Here I am pictured second from right. Great-Uncle Stamatis holds a hedgehog that happened to pass by. Granny is tittering from the front step.

 

In the early 80s, summers were a blast. Other than my grandparents and sister, I was in the company of aunts, uncles, great aunts, great uncles, a bunch of cousins and local children. The lane you can see in the picture above was always hectic! I am the girl in the blue top. My sister is second from the left, the other girls are cousins. Great Uncle Stamatis is holding up a hedgehog that happened to pass by (of course, we let it go shortly later!). Gran Antigoni is having a chuckle sitting on the step outside my great-grandfather’s house that was divided among his children (now owned by his great-grandchildren).

My great-grandfather’s name was Stefanos Vassilakis. He used to be the teacher and the priest of the village at the turn of the 20th century. His, is the only grave remaining today in the old cemetery by the church on the hill (in the old quarter of Moraitika).

If you’re interested in the two churches on the top of the hill, you may also like to check out this blog post, too!  

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The 80s where paradise on earth for me as then I’d spend three-month summer holidays in Moraitika nearly every summer. There was fun to be had all day and well into the night. Swimming in the morning, long walks in the afternoon with my cousins and, often, my grandparents would take us out for a meal and dancing in one of the many restaurants who had a dance floor back then. Dancing the Syrtaki was a big thing and I loved it. Everyone had trouble getting me off the dance floor. When I was little especially, big British and German family men would sweep me up off the floor and dance with me in their arms, then buy me ice cream. It was great fun and I still remember it fondly – the ice cream especially!

People were very light-hearted back then, very open. The tourists loved to dance the Syrtaki and there was lots of cheering, lots of laughing going on. A great night out.

 

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My beloved Great Aunt Rini Tsatsani from Messonghi, holding her first granddaughter, my cousin Rini, who was named after her as per the Greek tradition.

As a little girl, I’d often stay in Messonghi as well. This is my late Great Aunt, Rini Tsatsani. She made a cracking good bourtheto, I’ll tell you that! It burned like hell but it was so good I couldn’t stop myself. Bless her soul, she was an angel. Her son Thanassis used to run a corner coffee shop in Messonghi on the main road to Lefkimmi. Their house was just off the seafront by the river mouth. Me and my sister used to stay at Aunt Rini’s house often to spend time with our cousins Rini and Sofi. We used to go to the restaurant across from their house and dance with the tourists every night – often barefoot. The song ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon’ was very popular back then (it was the mid-late 70s) and everyone danced to it. I remember a young British girl holding me by both hands and dancing to this with me one night. I loved this song and used to run from Aunt Rini’s yard to the restaurant to dance to this whenever the song played – which was a lot. The restaurant owner used to shoo me away but I kept coming back for more. Back then I didn’t speak a word of English, of course. When, later in life, I got to learn the language and was able to decipher the beautiful words to this song, it was like reuniting with an old friend… its nostalgia so relevant to mine for those long-lost carefree days of my childhood on the beach at Messonghi.

Back in Moraitika, the best places for Syrtaki dancing in the 80s were the Paizanos restaurant on the main road (now a petrol station), the Romantica restaurant where Lefteris used to bring out a donkey on the dance floor every night and a pizzeria where the roundabout on the way to Messonghi now is – can’t recall its name but its pizza was exquisite. Often, we’d get a takeaway from there for our annual ‘pizza night on the beach’ under the August full moon – a memory so precious it found its way into the Ebb.

Speaking of fond memories that found their way into the Ebb, here are some more facts for my readers:

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This aluminum fork with dented prongs has been indispensable on the table over the years. Often, it would be somewhere else than the drawer when you needed it to set the table. Gran and I would go looking for it. It was unimaginable for me to have a meal without it. Whenever I came to Moraitika for a holiday, Gran would hand it to me with a wide grin at lunch time.

In the other photo you can see Gran’s little kitchen. She used to make meals to die for in there.

As for the last photo above, it’s a blurry glimpse of me being the real Sofia – including the blue swimsuit and straw hat mentioned in The Ebb. The hat was a gift I was given back in 1987 by a departing British tourist, who looked and acted very much like Danny in the book. In the trilogy, love triumphs, but in real life my young heart crashed and burned, LOL

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Other people that inspired characters in the Ebb include my sister, Antigoni, who inspired Loula, as well as my cousins Olga and Spyridoula, who inspired Dora and Nana respectively. Olga passed away too early and too suddenly which was a loss to the world because she was an angel on earth, sharing laughter as much as she could and protecting her own like a lioness. Her kind, giving heart inspired me to create Dora in The Ebb, and Olga in The Necklace of Goddess Athena to honor her memory.

Throughout the 80s and 90s, I swam with my family at or near the pier at Delfinia Hotel. It was very busy back then – offering paragliding and lots of other water rides and activities. It was that little pier that inspired The Lady of the pier series (my books, ‘The Ebb’ and ‘The Flow’ are both set in 1980s Moraitika).

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From the early 80s till the early 90s my family ran a small business of room rentals. Back then, tourism in the village had reached a zenith, bringing wealth and prosperity to everyone among the locals, who made sure to build all sorts of businesses on their land. Every summer I’d return to Moraitika to find new businesses had sprouted everywhere. In the old days, as you went down the main road towards Messonghi there was nothing but fields after Paizanos restaurant (now the petrol station) and Fontana supermarket. As of the mid 80s, slowly, the roadside on either side was filled with businesses all the way to the river.

Speaking of Paizanos, anyone who was around in the 1980s, remembers it from the fun dancing nights we all had there, dancing Syrtaki around the petrol pumps! Other Greek restaurants where I enjoyed dancing include Romantica (now, Leftis Romantica), Moraitis (now closed – it was across from the Coop supermarket) and also Olympia (now, Mr Gyros). At Olympia and Moraitis, I remember dancing as a child from as early as the 70s! Dancing was fun for all the family back then and we did that a lot! Almost every restaurant offered Syrtaki dancing and had a juke box!

The restaurant owners led the dancing themselves, and some did very impressive routines, like dancing with a full glass of wine on their heads, and twirling while lifting a table with their teeth at the same time. Another routine I recall is using clear spirit and a lighter to create a small circle of fire on the floor that lasted for a short while as they danced. I particularly remember the dancing routine of the owner at Jimmy’s taverna, performed by the man himself, and it is still the most impressive I’ve ever seen on the island. Still, for ingenuity, the routine of Leftis at Romantica always stood out as he was the only one who brought a donkey to the dance floor. The ladies among the tourists loved it, and took turns in riding the donkey to have their photos taken. Leftis also danced with a huge water jug on top of his head that belonged to his mother. It was all a ton of fun. My only regret is I don’t have any photos to show you!

If you’ve only been visiting the area in the recent decades, you may be intrigued to hear that the river bridge to Messonghi didn’t exist before the 90s. To get to Messonghi from Moraitika you’d have to turn right at the roundabout (towards Lefkimmi) all the way to Melissa (the location of the Council Office) where a narrow, cemented bridge would allow you to get to Messonghi (the bus from Corfu town could only just about cross that narrow bridge – that was always scary!). It was a long walk between the two villages that wasn’t easy to do – that’s why before the mid 80s people preferred to walk to Messonghi along the beach, then cross the river in the little row boats. Naturally, the building of the new bridge over the river brought a considerable decline to the business for these little boats at the river mouth.

Before I end this long-winded walk down memory lane, I’d like to show you a handful of photos by my Facebook friends and readers, Julie Reeves and Jayne Strange. They are just two of many lovely British friends I’ve made on Facebook over time, who’ve share with me their love and passion for Moraitika and Messonghi. I hope you’ll enjoy the photos they kindly sent me to enrich this post as I didn’t have any images to post from Messonghi in the old days. Thank you, ladies!

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These first two snapshots from the early 80s are by Julie Reeves. I love the first one! I can almost taste my Aunt Rini’s bourtheto just looking at it! Her house is just behind the one in the foreground. Also, I chuckled to notice there are no antennae on top of Chlomos mountain!

I remember the boat rides with nostalgia. I used to enjoy the walk along the beach from Moraitika on the way to Messonghi to visit Aunt Rini and her family before the bridge was made.

 

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These three photos are by Jayne Strange. She stayed in Messonghi Beach Hotel in the early 80s. You can see views of the river from the hotel and Jayne on the beach. It’s wonderful to catch in these a glimpse of the serenity of the river bank in the old days. Now, with the paved walkway alongside it and the bigger excursion boats moored there it seems like a different place all together.

Martaouna, the ‘pyramid-shaped mountain’ described in the Ebb.

Thankfully, some things don’t change over time. One of them is Martaouna, the lush, pyramid-shaped mountain beside Mount Chlomos. Today, it looks as endearing as in the old days – standing tall like a faithful sentinel of the serene Corfiot villages graced by its presence.

Thank you for taking the time to share these old fond memories from Corfu with me! Have you visited Corfu? What has been your experience? Are you a passionate holidaymaker in the villages of Moraitika or Messonghi? I’d love to hear anything you wish to share so please add a comment below! Also, you may want to check out my humorous post, My Corfiot Granny And a Bunch of Strange Tourists. If you’re planning a holiday in Corfu, make sure to visit my guide to Moraitika and Messonghi on this website!

 

Would you enjoy a book set in Moraitika and Messonghi? Check out The Lady of the Pier trilogy on Amazon!

Thank you for your visit!

 

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by

Interview with Pantelis Kodogiannis, leading actor of First Line

Hello peeps, and welcome to an interview with a difference! This time, I have a special guest from the magical world of cinema! I feel all starry-eyed with Pantelis Kodogiannis sitting across from me on the hot seat. Everyone who’s been following Effrosyni’s Blog, knows of my posts about the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles – a cause very close to my heart. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure to watch the movie First Line (Greek title: Promakhos) and was astounded by the passionate performance of Pantelis Kodogiannis. In the movie, he plays a lawyer who fights this great cause in court (an imaginary scenario, of course). As serendipity would have it, Pantelis read my articles about the Marbles and friended me on Facebook. I was so delighted to meet the real man behind the role that I had to invite him here for a chat. I hope you will enjoy meeting this passionate Greek living in L.A. as much as I have!

 

 

Hello Pantelis and welcome to my blog!

Hello Effrosyni! It’s great to be here!

Pantelis, I must say, the passion of your performance in Promakhos was remarkable. It moved me beyond words as I also share the same passion where it comes to the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles – a matter that remains indelible and particularly sensitive in the Greek psyche for the past 200 years. To me, your astounding performance felt like you played the part of that fully committed lawyer with original feelings of your own… am I right to think that?

The job of every actor is to perform with passion.  An actor’s passion for acting connects him to the passions of the character that he is portraying.  In Promakhos (The First Line), I had a lot of commonalities with Andreas, the lead character of the film.  Like Andreas, I am a Greek who deeply desires to see the Parthenon Marbles repatriated to Greece and the Greek people.  Additionally, like my character, I am an attorney (I was a practicing attorney in New York for a large law firm before becoming an actor).  Andreas exhibits his desire for the return of the Parthenon Marbles and approaches the law in a manner that is very different from me as he is overly confident and in some ways arrogant; nonetheless our commitment to this cause is impregnable, passionate and potent.

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Photography by Panos Golfis

The scenes of chaos in Athens with the fires and the riot police felt very realistic. I was very impressed your production team managed to film such scenes at the heart of the metropolis! How did it feel to act in the midst of such dramatic scenes? 

Shooting the riot scenes was quite a rush because we knew that what we were doing had not, to our knowledge at least, ever been done before (meaning shooting a film during a real riot).  The production team was outstanding in making certain that everyone was safe and secure; however, I would be lying if I said that it was not stressful as we did not know what was going to happen during the shoot. We did not know if authorities or rioters would stop us and safety was a huge concern. In one of the opening scenes of the film for instance while I am walking between the rioters and the line of policemen, a rioter throws a large piece of marble at the shielded policemen.  It came pretty close to hitting me instead.

What? Oh my goodness!

Ah yes… Additionally, some rioters in that same scene thought I was a politician. and our assistant director (Maria Lainas) overheard them plotting to throw something directly at me.  Luckily, she explained to them what we were doing.  Interestingly enough, they were so interested in the film, we invited them to take part in another scene in the film.  Appropriately, they “fought” head to head with riot policeman in the scene (and the only scene depicting a riot that was staged).  I enjoyed talking with them a lot and hearing their perspective, the frustration, disappointment that motivated them to participate in the riots in the first place.

I must admit that shooting scenes among the riots in Athens also caused me much pain.  Seeing rioters and police clash, the center of Athens being destroyed, historic buildings being burned and covered with graffiti, was disconcerting, Effrosyni.  All I kept wondering, is “How did we get here? How do we put an end to all of this frustration, pain, anguish, destruction, violence?”

Indeed, Pantelis. And it’s hard work these days, even to the biggest optimist to imagine an improvement on things any time soon. How do you feel about the crisis and the political situation in Greece? Do you see any light at the end of the tunnel? 

The crisis in Greece is gut-wrenching and heartbreaking.  Greece and her people have endured great hardship since the beginning of the crisis.  The most disappointing thing for me is that Greece and her people have so much untapped potential.  I lament the fact that this potential has not been seized upon, harnessed, nurtured, developed.

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Photography by Panos Golfis

You’re absolutely right there. I totally agree…

As for the political situation, I am not optimistic to be quite honest.  Too many elections, political upheaval/unrest and not enough action in my humble opinion.  I hope this will change.  Many Greeks I speak to tell me that politicians in Greece have destroyed Greece.  My answer to them is that politicians are a reflection of the electorate that votes for them.  This goes to one of the deeper messages of Promakhos (The First Line) in which we use the words Thucydides (Pericles’ Funeral Oration to be exact): “Make [Athena] your goddess and lover.”  To me, Thucydides (Pericles) is saying to the Athenians: Respect Athens (and by extension Greece, as Athens is the soul of Greece), act responsibly, civically and nobly, wipe out corruption, elect responsible and civically-minded politicians, hold elected officials accountable, etc…  When we as Greeks begin to live by these words and worship and love Athena, her land, her people, then we will begin to flourish again. Much like in the age of Thucydides, Greeks today need to live by these words.

Wise words… Do you feel that we could benefit from the crisis in some way as to build a better future? Learning from any past mistakes, for example?

I think the first step in solving any problem is to identify and recognize that there is a problem. Greece’s entry into the EU and the common currency brought considerable prosperity and security to the country and its citizens.  However, everyone, politicians and citizens alike, looked the other way and did not address systemic and endemic problems within Greece, i.e. corruption, tax-evasion, a bloated government sector, a corrupt and sluggish judiciary. While times were good, everyone turned a blind eye to these issues.  I am hoping the crisis will serve as a wake-up call to all Greeks.  Greeks must change, transform and rebuild.  Rather than looking at it as a negative I hope that Greeks rise to the challenge and see the great opportunity that lies before them to rise and rebuild.

I wonder, have you always wanted to be an actor?

Yes, since I was young.

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Photography by Panos Golfis

What other acting have you done? And are there any current or future projects you’re happy to talk about?

I have been in numerous plays in theaters in Los Angeles and have shot a few commercials, short and feature films.  Promakhos (The First Line) was my first major role in a feature film. Currently, I have several projects in pre-production.  In early spring of 2016, I will be on the Los Angeles stage again; filming for my next film is due to begin this summer.  As both projects have not been officially announced, I unfortunately cannot share more with you at this time.

I fully understand and good luck with everything! Tell us, Pantelis, how does it feel to be Greek but never having lived here full time? How Greek do you feel living in L.A.?

Being Greek is a state of mind in my opinion.  It does not matter where you live or happen to be.  I feel Greek wherever I am.  My soul is Greek.  I always think about  the words of Melina Mercouri who, when asked in an interview what her weakness was, simply responded “My country.”  I understand that sentiment entirely.  Perhaps because she was forced to leave Greece and live in exile.  When you are away from Greece, you always yearn for it.  Even if you are not in it, it is always inside of you.  Greece is my weakness too. My love. My everything.  I cannot imagine that ever changing.

Tell us a little about your part of the world. Is there a Greek community in L.A.? What do you do for fun when going out?

There is a sizable Greek community in Los Angeles.  As with other Greek communities around the world, it primarily centers around the Church.  Unlike many other Greek communities, the one in LA does not have a distinct neighborhood or area (such as Astoria in NYC or Bayswater in London).  Like LA itself, the Greek community is really spread out.  As such, Greek life centers around events held by the Church, the Greek consulate, friends, family, etc.  Sadly, there is no place where Greeks regularly congregate where you know you will definitely run into fellow Hellenes.  That being said, I see my Greek friends regularly and we make it a point of seeing each other quite often.

Do you have family in Greece and where, if I may ask?

Yes, my immediate family has repatriated to Greece and they live in Chios.  I have extended family in the US, Greece (Chios, of course, and Athens) and Australia.

Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?

I jog, swim, take acting classes when I am not doing theatre or film work.  I enjoy cooking.  I like to spend time with friends and go to the beach.  I am definitely a water person.

What types of movies do you enjoy mostly? Can you tell me three of your favorite movies and what you love about them?

As a cinephile, I like all kinds of movies.  That being said, I definitely prefer dramas.  It’s difficult to chose three but I will tell you that three of my favorite movies from the last ten years would be “A King’s Speech,” “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” and “Tinker, Tailer, Soldier, Spy.”

The performances by Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush in A King’s Speech were truly remarkable.  Their chemistry was just spot on.  I really like the message of the story – overcoming personal hardship and adversity through trust and friendship.  You see the this mutual appreciation and bond develop between theses two characters as the movie unfolds. Very inspiring.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was really eye-opening because it’s a story about a man that had everything a man could want in life: a brilliant career, fame, fortune, children, love, etc., that comes to an abrupt end.  It’s message about appreciation, not taking things for granted, enjoying the moment and living life to the fullest, these are all things that speak to me and I think about all the time.

I really enjoyed Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy because of the writing and character development.  Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch, etc. all delivered excellent performances.  I really enjoy movies that are dialogue and character-driven.  The Cold War/spy twist was intriguing. I enjoy watching the film several times to pick up on the clues weaved throughout the script that is supposed to aid the viewer in identifying who the spy is.  Sadly, I did not guess right the first time.

I’ve only watched A King’s Speech and loved it for the same reasons. Thanks for the recommendations of the other two. Will definitely seek them out. This is a book blog so I have to ask! Are you a reader and if so, do you have any favorite genres or authors?

I am most definitely a reader.  I like most genres and read a wide array of books.  For instance, this past summer I read Andre Agassi’s autobiography “Open.”  I am currently reading Hierocles’ Commentaries on the Golden Verses by Pythagoras.  As for favorite authors, I can tell you I have read several books by Milan Kundera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Nikos Kazantzakis.

I’m reading Christ Recrucified by Kazantzakis these days. Although the language is very hard going in Greek, I find it absolutely magical. It transports you right there at the center of the story. On to the next question; I expect an actor needs to be in a good physical condition, always ready for active, physical roles. Do you exercise and are you into healthy eating and all that?

I certainly do attempt to exercise and much as I can and tolerate (*laughs*) As I stated before, I jog/swim roughly 3-4 times a week.  I’m pretty vigilant with what I eat as well.  Thanks to my Greek upbringing, I enjoy eating a lot of legumes.  Moreover, I try to cook and avoid eating out as much as I can when I am home in Los Angeles.  It makes eating healthier much easier.

Other than any friends or family, what are the three things that you miss the most from Greece when in the States?

The light (particularly the Attic light), Chios, hearing my name being pronounced correctly without hesitation.

Love the last one. Believe me, being there, done that, bought the t-shirt that says ‘Rosa Moschaudi’! Many people called me that when I lived in England (*laughs*) Name your three most favorite delicacies in Greece. Mine is souvlaki in any form or combo. You?

As a proud Chian, first, and foremost, would be masticha (if that counts as a delicacy).  Pasticcio and kopanisti would round out the top three.  There are at least 20-30 more though, I must admit.  Souvlaki is definitely in the top 10.

I had masticha once in its raw form – as taken off the tree; it was delicious! Definitely counts for a delicacy (*smiles*) If you could have one superpower what would it be?

The ability to fly.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned so far in life the hard way?

That life is not a dress rehearsal.  Do everything you want to do, say everything you want to say, feel everything you want to feel.  I lost my father at a relatively young age and did not get the chance to spend enough time with him, ask him what I should have asked him, say to him half of the things that I wanted to say and should have said to him.

If you could choose another profession, what would that be?

I already have two professions – can I choose another Effrosyni?

Be my guest!

Definitely an architect.  I love architecture.

What are the things in your life that you’re most grateful for?

My parents, my sister, my nephews, my cousins, my friends, my thirst for knowledge.

Aw, lovely answer. How would you like to be remembered?

I would like to be remembered as a good father, husband, son, brother, uncle, friend.  A respectful, just, kind and beautiful soul.

I have the feeling you’ll get your wish, Pantelis. Have you brought any photos to show us? As you know I tend to pester my interviewees for photos of their own!

Yes, I have and it’s my pleasure (*smiles*)

Oh! I see lots of blue in the photos you’re holding…

Two of them are from Greece, of course. The first one is from a beach bar I enjoy going to in Chios, the other is a snapshot of the Aegean from the plane…

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Oh… marvelous! I bet you miss these views when away.

You don’t know! (*laughs*) And here’s one last photo…

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Love it – thank you so much for being here with us today, Pantelis. For a cinephile like me, it’s been a rare treat!

Thank you too, Effrosyni, I really enjoyed our chat!

 

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Pantelis Kodogiannis was born in Saratoga Springs, NY.  He studied Political Science and Latin at Vassar College and received his J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles.  He was a corporate lawyer on Wall Street for seven years before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and television.  Pantelis attended the Beverly Hills Playhouse under the direction of Milton Katselas.   He is a founding member of The Renegade Theatre and Film Group in Hollywood, California, led by his mentor Frances Vennera.  He has performed in several plays, films and commercials.  Most recently, he played the lead in the film, The First Line (Promakhos), where he portrays an attorney who sues the British Museum for the return of the Parthenon Marbles.

Like Pantelis’ Facebook fan page

See more production and behind the scenes stills from First Line here

Interested to find out more about the Parthenon Marbles?

Read these popular blogposts by Effrosyni:

Why is Lord Elgin an abomination to the Greeks?

What are the Parthenon Marbles to the Greeks?

 

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