greek author news

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A trip to Arachova, aka Mykonos of the Winter

 

The view from the clock tower is fabulous from all sides

I recently had the pleasure to visit Arachova, a cosmopolitan town up in the mountains that the Greeks have nicknamed Mykonos of the Winter.

The same VIPs that flood Mykonos all summer do the same all winter in Arachova. It heaves with tourists from all walks of life, every hotel bed occupied on all the bank holiday or festive weekends during the winter season.

Having said that, it’s not like Mykonos at all when it comes to the ridiculously high prices. Thank goodness. Nor did I see any nudists walking around he he

We were lucky to visit Arachova on a dry and partly sunny day. Although there were many tourists around, it was comfortable to walk about and to find a table in its restaurants and cafes.

We were tipped off by someone in the know that we’d better try to eat our lunch quickly at the restaurant lest the waiter would start to give us dirty looks as the crowds are usually so big they’re used to serving fast to clear the tables for the next customers.

Yet, somehow, we found this perfect, reasonably priced restaurant with the most exquisite food where we had the chance to eat at our leisure. What’s more, our table was by the window, allowing us to enjoy a partial view to a church and the valley. It was just perfect.

Others in our coach group confessed they were less fortunate, winding up in an upmarket restaurant that served gourmet food rather than traditional Greek food (we always go for the latter – the genuine local experience) and they wound up paying way more than they were prepared to part with.

So, word of caution: If you visit Arachova do check the prices before you sit somewhere for food or drink. It’s not as bad as Mykonos as I stated earlier, but some places ARE pricey. Check the menu before entering and you’ll be fine 🙂

For what it’s worth, the restaurant we picked is called To Agnandio and you can see it in two of the photographs I posted on Facebook. On the back side, the building is flanked by a beautiful church. In the photo where the facade is showing (the wall is beautiful, decked with stonework), you can see the church behind it.

The town’s folklore museum is right next to it, and from within its yard, you’ll also find the short upward path that leads up to the Clock (Roloi), an important landmark that you must visit, if only for the panoramic views of the town, the valley, and the mountain of Parnassus.

A view to the clock tower of Arachova

We had ample time in Arachova to walk along it’s main street back and forth a couple times. This street is a rather narrow space for such a busy town, the pavements so tiny they might as well not be there at all. They provide a false sense of safety, in my opinion, and you can never take away your eyes from the traffic. It can be dangerous if you don’t, and extra care must be taken if you are visiting with children or elderly people.

The highlights for us were the short ascend up to the clock tower summit as well as the visit to the folklore museum (free admission).

Among the interesting artifacts on display in the museum, we were pleasantly surprised to find a few robotic structures that we learned were made and donated by a local pensioner. Having worked all his life for the Greek telephone company (OTE), he had a lot of old telephone equipment in his possession and had put it all in good use recycling it in this ingenious artistic manner (see the photos on Facebook).

The exhibits also included old pictures, and handiwork from traditional looms. It was an interesting glimpse into this town’s distant past, that was harrowing too, as it included references to the Nazi massacre of the Greek locals at the nearby town of Distomo during WWII.

Last but not least, Andy and I were pleasantly surprised to find among the beautiful shops one dedicated to tea! I was enamoured by the small decorative teapots and have regretted never buying one of them now that I see them in the photos. I did buy a bag of loose jasmine tea, though, that I enjoy in the afternoons as a special treat.

All in all, it was an unforgettable fun day. Arachova is very close to the major archeological site of Delphi. So, if you’re visiting Athens, do enquire at the travel agents offering daily trips. Chances are that if the destination of a coach excursion is Delphi you’ll have a stopover at Arachova for lunch. Both are must places to see. Highly recommended for a day out by coach or car!

Go HERE to see all the photos I took in Arachova. Enjoy!

 

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YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY… SHARING IS CARING! Tweet this to spread some love:

A trip to Arachova, a cosmopolitan mountain town of Greece #traveler #writer #Greece Share on X

 

Get Effrosyni’s FREE books with your signup to her bimonthly newsletter! Fun news from her life in Greece and a load of FREE kindle books in every issue! http://bit.ly/2yA74No

NEW! A historical paranormal romance box set. This is the timeless love story that will stay with you forever. Set in Moraitika, Corfu and Brighton, England. Visit Amazon: https://bit.ly/3HEvMPG
Clean romance short read, FREE with Kindle Unlimited. It’ll transport you straight to Corfu to experience summer in an idyllic Greek seaside village. Visit Amazon: https://bit.ly/3pAP3rf

 

Kelly ran a marathon and wound up running a house. With a ghost in it! Both humorous and moving, with delightful sweet romance, it’s just the ticket to lose yourself reading! Read more on Amazon
Summer love and a mysterious haunting in Corfu! Effrosyni’s debut romance, The Ebb, has received an award from Amazon! Check it out here

Beach fun and sweet romance mixed with magic spells and bird shifters… The Raven Witch of Corfu is an original story that will rivet you with its unrelenting suspense. The final twist will blow your mind!
Available in paperback , box set or 4 kindle episodes!
 
Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to south Corfu!

 

For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

 

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A post about my father, may he R.I.P.

SEE THE PHOTOS HERE

It is with great sadness that I am announcing today that my father passed away earlier this month, at the age of 81.

In the end, there was nothing I could do, no matter how hard I tried at home to make my father strong again with the help of two highly experienced and attentive nurses. His three long stays at the hospital since June while taking endless courses of strong antibiotics to fight the many infections caused irreversible damage to his organs.

He tried so hard and he was so brave, and now he is finally rested… I am comforted to think of him in heaven now, reunited with my dear mother. The fact he didn’t feel the slightest twinge of pain in his last days is also a great comfort for me, and a good indication that your collective prayers did a miracle to make his passing as easy as possible. And, for that, I will always be grateful to you all.

My father had a great affinity for horses, having been raised on the island of Limnos with various farm animals, including horses, thanks to his father’s job–he was a merchant of livestock. In the army, my father was put in charge of the horses, and he loved that. He was a bit of a horse whisperer too, in the sense that he could tame even the most wild ones – at one time surprising even his father with this skill when he was still very young.

Dad has always been super strong, despite being thin, thanks to his Greco-Roman wrestling training that he did as a youngster. In the army, he used to lift his friends up into the air while posing for photographs. I am sharing these pictures today with you all, as I find them very comforting.

I prefer to think of my father like this, rather than the way he looked on those dreadful last days, trapped in a skeletal, broken body. He is clothed in the glory of God right now, anyway, surely looking in heaven exactly as he does in these pictures: Forever young and able-bodied, eyes sparkling, face beaming.

To all those of you who have lost a loved one, I hope you are joining me in remembering that our separation from them is only temporary. Death is only for the body, after all, as the soul is eternal. Also, let us be comforted with the fact that the sadness is only for us, who are left behind, and never for those who leave us. The kind souls who move on beyond the veil have only bliss and only joy to look forward to. Love and blessings to all, till next time.

Hey, before you go! In my latest newsletter, I am sharing a plethora of FREE kindle books!

Check it out here!

 

OOPPAAA! SIGN UP TO MY BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER AND GET 3 BOOKS FROM ME AS A WELCOME GIFT! SEE BELOW FOR THIS OFFER!

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY… SHARING IS CARING! Tweet this to spread some love:

The latest news from a Greek author and FREE books for all#ian1 #freebiefriday #Greece Share on X

 

Get Effrosyni’s FREE books with your signup to her bimonthly newsletter! Fun news from her life in Greece and a load of FREE kindle books in every issue! http://bit.ly/2yA74No

NEW! A historical paranormal romance box set. This is the timeless love story that will stay with you forever. Set in Moraitika, Corfu and Brighton, England. Visit Amazon: https://bit.ly/3HEvMPG
Clean romance short read, FREE with Kindle Unlimited. It’ll transport you straight to Corfu to experience summer in an idyllic Greek seaside village. Visit Amazon: https://bit.ly/3pAP3rf

 

Kelly ran a marathon and wound up running a house. With a ghost in it! Both humorous and moving, with delightful sweet romance, it’s just the ticket to lose yourself reading! Read more on Amazon
Summer love and a mysterious haunting in Corfu! Effrosyni’s debut romance, The Ebb, has received an award from Amazon! Check it out here

Beach fun and sweet romance mixed with magic spells and bird shifters… The Raven Witch of Corfu is an original story that will rivet you with its unrelenting suspense. The final twist will blow your mind!
Available in paperback , box set or 4 kindle episodes!
 
Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to south Corfu!

 

For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

 

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A day out on the Greek island of Poros and some tough days that followed

My husband and I had the most wonderful day in Poros earlier this month, travelling by coach with the local travel agent. We drove to Galatas and Palaia Epidavros too. We stayed in Poros for about 5 hours, and meeting painter and author Pamela Jane Rogers made it even more special for us. She gave us a private tour around town which was more than we could have ever hoped for.

What an honour for us and what an awesome lady she is. Pamela is a permanent resident of Poros for over 30 years now. You can see her artwork HERE. She took us inside so many of the little shops as we walked around the lanes, chatting to the locals.

One of the shop owners turned out to be Magda, a friend of mine! She used to have a shop in my town of Nea Peramos! Couldn’t believe it. Magda and her family are very talented, by the way. She, her husband and their children make various crafts to sell them in the shop. Organic soaps, knitted bags, woodwork and a lot more. Their brand is called Olive Lab and you can shop for their products online. Highly recommended, folks. Everything is top quality and perfectly natural!

SEE MY PHOTOGRAPHS FROM POROS

 

This is the cutest thing I’ve seen all month. I came across these kittens while walking around the lanes of Poros. Such a precious finding! I guess I saw them in the nook where they lay because I was looking for them, if that makes sense. My husband, Andy, and our friend, Pamela, were walking beside me and they’d have missed the kitties had I not shown them. It would have been such a shame. It was cuteness overload and we all need a dose of that daily, don’t we?

I do the same all the time now, looking for cuteness and beauty, whenever I walk around the seafront in my town. I make stops to take pictures of the sea foaming as it reaches the sand, of seagulls perched on the top of the fishing boats, and of the dramatic colours of the sky at sunset. Sometimes, I don’t even bother with the camera. I’ve come to find that the most precious ‘snapshots’ are those I take with my mind…

And I need these ‘snapshots’ more than ever before right now. They help my soul stay afloat, it seems.

Life has got too complicated for me since my father, Fotios, fell ill with depression last Fall. Even more so than when he was undergoing cancer treatment earlier last year, believe me. I had no idea, and neither did he, what it entails to have depression. It is not just a disease – it feels more like a monster, an entity, seeking to take your life, to destroy you. And it has an energy that affects those around you too.

This energy has permeated my being too by now, and it’s only recently that I realized. I am not saying I’ve got depression, no. Just that it’s got to me so badly that my innate propensity to feel and express joy has waned to unprecedented levels by now. This energy is dark and sticky…

If you’re spiritual like me and have a strong connection with your own ‘inside world’ and your own energy, you may understand when I say I can feel it. It seeks to weaken me from the inside, I can tell now, but I am holding strong.

Twice in the past two months, I’ve fallen ill with infection, and I never used to get sick for years on end. Bugs or viruses – no problem. My immune system kept them all at bay. Including covid. Throughout the scary period of 2020-22 I didn’t get as much as the sniffles. But upset and stress weakened my immune system to the point that, right now, I am wide open to it all, it seems.

As I write this, my voice is completely gone with laryngitis, a first in my adult life! It’s been 5 days now that I cannot speak, but I see a silver lining in this too, the way I try to find one in all negative things.

Not speaking out loud for days eventually shuts down your internal voice too. I just realized today and found it to be quite a blessing. It is so relaxing to tidy up a room or brush your teeth or wash the dishes and actually think of nothing! Mindful washing? LOL! Yes, it’s a thing. And I love it.

So I use these days of aphonia to reap a benefit. I do soul-searching. I ask questions. And I’ve found new guidance for my life, having also had some new insights about what I am doing that’s wrong and how I can change tack.

For starters, I know I will never let depression claim my father’s life or let its dark energies get to me again enough to make me ill repeatedly.

Prayers welcome, if you believe in a higher power. We are visiting a third psychiatrist next week. So far, two doctors couldn’t help my father, Fotios, increase his appetite to a level that can actually help him gain weight or even have a hearty lunch on any given day. I pray with all I got that this time we will find the right protocol.

If you have someone in your life with depression, or an elderly person who lives alone, know that the simplest thing you can do to help is say a few positive words to them. Loneliness is painful, really painful. Consider giving them five minutes of your time for a quick chat on the phone if you can’t drop by. It’ll make their day.

GO HERE TO CHECK OUT TODAY’S NEWSLETTER. IT’S PACKED WITH FREE BOOKS FOR ALL! ENJOY!

 

OOPPAAA! SIGN UP TO MY BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER AND GET 3 BOOKS FROM ME AS A WELCOME GIFT! SEE BELOW FOR THIS OFFER!

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY… SHARING IS CARING! Tweet this to spread some love:

Fun news from a Greek author and FREE books for all! #ian1 #freebiefriday #Greece Share on X

 

Get Effrosyni’s FREE books with your signup to her bimonthly newsletter! Fun news from her life in Greece and a load of FREE kindle books in every issue! http://bit.ly/2yA74No

NEW! A historical paranormal romance box set. This is the timeless love story that will stay with you forever. Set in Moraitika, Corfu and Brighton, England. Visit Amazon: https://bit.ly/3HEvMPG
Clean romance short read, FREE with Kindle Unlimited. It’ll transport you straight to Corfu to experience summer in an idyllic Greek seaside village. Visit Amazon: https://bit.ly/3pAP3rf

 

Kelly ran a marathon and wound up running a house. With a ghost in it! Both humorous and moving, with delightful sweet romance, it’s just the ticket to lose yourself reading! Read more on Amazon
Summer love and a mysterious haunting in Corfu! Effrosyni’s debut romance, The Ebb, has received an award from Amazon! Check it out here

Beach fun and sweet romance mixed with magic spells and bird shifters… The Raven Witch of Corfu is an original story that will rivet you with its unrelenting suspense. The final twist will blow your mind!
Available in paperback , box set or 4 kindle episodes!
 
Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to south Corfu!

 

For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

 

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Spanakorizo recipe – Greek spinach and rice with lemon

Hello, All. Thrilled to share a family recipe with you all today. ‘Spanakorizo’ is a Greek meal made with spinach and rice. It’s aromatic, thanks to the dill, and the lemony tang will make your palate sing!

GET THE RECIPE

Thought I’d also share the link to my latest newsletter here. You’ll find in it a plethora of free kindle (and PDF) books, as well as a bunch of photos from the local seafront of my little town. The only swimmer I found sunbathing there last time wasn’t like the usual ones, I’ll tell you that!

CHECK OUT THE NEWSLETTER TO FIND OUT MORE AND ENJOY ALL THE FREEBIES!

OOPPAAA! SIGN UP TO MY BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER AND GET 3 BOOKS FROM ME AS A WELCOME GIFT! SEE BELOW FOR THIS OFFER!

 

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY… SHARING IS CARING! Tweet this to spread some love:

This Greek spinach dish tastes yummy! Check it out and get FREE books too! #books #freebies #recipe Share on X

 

Get Effrosyni’s FREE books with your signup to her bimonthly newsletter! Fun news from her life in Greece and a load of FREE kindle books in every issue! http://bit.ly/2yA74No

 

Clean romance short read, FREE with Kindle Unlimited. It’ll transport you straight to Corfu to experience summer in an idyllic Greek seaside village. Visit Amazon: https://bit.ly/3pAP3rf

 

Kelly ran a marathon and wound up running a house. With a ghost in it! Both humorous and moving, with delightful sweet romance, it’s just the ticket to lose yourself reading! Read more on Amazon
Summer love and a mysterious haunting in Corfu! Effrosyni’s debut romance, The Ebb, has received an award from Amazon! Check it out here

Beach fun and sweet romance mixed with magic spells and bird shifters… The Raven Witch of Corfu is an original story that will rivet you with its unrelenting suspense. The final twist will blow your mind!
Available in paperback , box set or 4 kindle episodes!
 
Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to south Corfu!

 

For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

 

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FREE books, sunny Greek photos, and jellyfish

Hello! Today, I am sharing my latest newsletter that’s chockful with FREE kindle books again! I’m also sharing the latest that’s fun from my life in Greece. It’s all bound to put a smile on your face! But first, to share a FREE short read I’ve uploaded on Story Origin. You’re welcome to grab it! 

Available in kindle, pdf or epub

Joanna boards a flight to visit the Greek island of Sifnos again after twenty years. All this time, despite the distance and her life’s circumstances, she’s been holding on to precious memories from an old summer love. Now, she’s determined to meet again the man she once left behind, hoping for a chance to prove she never forgot their old promise…

GRAB THE FREEBIE!

In my latest newsletter, I am sharing a load of free books! At the very end, you’ll find sunny photos, a jelly fish map, and an unexpected gift that wasn’t even meant for me from the start!? Enjoy, and hope it all makes you smile!

 

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY… SHARING IS CARING! Tweet this to spread some love:

FREE books, and fun news from a Greek author #writerlife #freebiesfriday #Greece Share on X

 

Get Effrosyni’s FREE books with your signup to her bimonthly newsletter! Fun news from her life in Greece and a load of FREE kindle books in every issue! http://bit.ly/2yA74No

 

Clean romance short read, FREE with Kindle Unlimited. It’ll transport you straight to Corfu to experience summer in an idyllic Greek seaside village. Visit Amazon: https://bit.ly/3pAP3rf

 

Kelly ran a marathon and wound up running a house. With a ghost in it! Both humorous and moving, with delightful sweet romance, it’s just the ticket to lose yourself reading! Read more on Amazon
Summer love and a mysterious haunting in Corfu! Effrosyni’s debut romance, The Ebb, has received an award from Amazon! Check it out here

Beach fun and sweet romance mixed with magic spells and bird shifters… The Raven Witch of Corfu is an original story that will rivet you with its unrelenting suspense. The final twist will blow your mind!
Available in paperback , box set or 4 kindle episodes!
 
Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to south Corfu!

 

For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

 

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FREE books, a cool sea breeze, and yummy tzatziki sauce

Hi All! Today, I am pleased to share the latest fun news from my life in Greece! Scroll all the way down for the link! You’re going to love my homemade tzatziki dip recipe! But first, to share my current best offer. My new book is FREE on Amazon till Monday!

“The author really paints a wonderful, vivid picture of Corfu. I felt as though I was there, could feel the sun and the atmosphere of this stunning Greek village.” ~Novelkicks.co.uk

“Through her characters, the author shows her love of Greece and her respect for traditions and family. It makes me want to visit Greece.” ~MMC, Amazon US reviewer

“Effrosyni has a style of writing that just leads you onwards, so you want to carry on reading, no matter what the time of night.” ~Ade G., Amazon UK reviewer

“Another great read from Effrosyni, it takes you straight to Greece. Such an enthralling read that I couldn’t put down until the finish, which I find with each if her books.” ~Lesley Willsher, Amazon UK reviewer

GRAB THE FREEBIE ON AMAZON!

 

CHECK OUT MY LATEST NEWSLETTER FOR A LOAD OF FREE KINDLE BOOKS AND FUN NEWS FROM MY LIFE IN GREECE! IT’LL ALL MAKE YOU SMILE FASTER THAN YOU CAN SAY ‘SPANAKOPITTA ME TIRI!’ OR SHOULD I SAY ‘TZATZIKI’? YUM! MY RECIPE IS UNMISSABLE! GO HERE AND ENJOY!

 

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY… SHARING IS CARING! Tweet this to spread some love:

FREE books, and fun news from a Greek author #summertime #freebies #mustread Share on X

 

Get Effrosyni’s FREE books with your signup to her bimonthly newsletter! Fun news from her life in Greece and a load of FREE kindle books in every issue! http://bit.ly/2yA74No

 

Clean romance short read, FREE with Kindle Unlimited. It’ll transport you straight to Corfu to experience summer in an idyllic Greek seaside village. Visit Amazon: https://bit.ly/3pAP3rf

 

Kelly ran a marathon and wound up running a house. With a ghost in it! Both humorous and moving, with delightful sweet romance, it’s just the ticket to lose yourself reading! Read more on Amazon
Summer love and a mysterious haunting in Corfu! Effrosyni’s debut romance, The Ebb, has received an award from Amazon! Check it out here

Beach fun and sweet romance mixed with magic spells and bird shifters… The Raven Witch of Corfu is an original story that will rivet you with its unrelenting suspense. The final twist will blow your mind!
Available in paperback , box set or 4 kindle episodes!
Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to south Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

 

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My springtime processes involve flowers, books, and marvellous sea views

Hello, All! Today, I am sharing about the processes I follow every spring! Interested? Curious,even? Read on, I hope it will give you some ideas to follow 😉

Springtime, for me, is a time for renewal. It’s the time to shake away the chill of the winter, and not just from my bones – from my heart and soul too, as I find winter depressing and dreary. Not my favourite time of year at all, so the spring has always been for me a time when I take conscious action to renew myself and to ‘come alive’.

At the first signs of spring, I get to work, opening windows wide and letting the sun soak every nook and every cranny of my home, while I go through it with a fine comb, so to speak, to renew it from the inside out.

Starting from the inside, other than the much-needed spring cleaning, I always make sure to go through my wardrobe, giving away what is not needed. Next, I go through the books in my heaving bookcases. Thank goodness for the local library and the eager friends, who take the unwanted ones from my hands!

I believe in the Universal Law of Recycling, which says that if you create a vacuum in any physical space, the Universe will rush to fill it with something new. More often than not, people come with offerings shorty after I’ve given things away. Always makes me chuckle!

Other than cleaning the house and giving away what I don’t need, I also tidy up all living spaces from the clutter that tends to accumulate in the winter months. I find this helps to calm and clarify my overloaded mind, which tends to get worse when I see disarray and overstuffed corners, especially when it comes to paperwork in my study.

Tidying up and getting rid of unnecessary old papers do wonders for my sense of well-being and mental clarity.

All the above are indispensable procedures I follow religiously every spring.

But that’s not the fun part. The fun starts when I venture out to my balcony and garden… where my two fur babies daily offer me laughter and affection in abundance.


Meet Loulou (left) and her daughter, Sissi. They are both gentle souls, and the only cats I’ve ever had who’ve never clawed at me. I feel so lucky to have them, as they bring me untold joy, though I may occasionally feel otherwise – that is, whenever they bring up to the balcony birds of all kinds and sizes, mice, roaches, or lizards. I tend to like them a little less, just for a little while, as I clear up the carnage LOL.

Loulou and Sissi take great interest in my activities on the balcony and around the garden – when I replant pots or pick weeds or vegetables, for example. They tend to follow me around when I water too, making me laugh with their excited manner and meows.

Every spring, especially, there is lots of that, because I tend to plant colourful flowers to place on the balcony. By miracle, Sissi, who is quite naughty, has never destroyed a single one of them, even though she tends to attack everything else!


Working from home, especially in the spring, has wonderful benefits. One of them is that I will occasionally take a small foldable table outside to sit with my laptop and work in the fresh air, sweet birdsong in my ears. Having beautiful blooms around certainly brightens my day even further.


I live in a small seaside town near Athens, which means I get to enjoy wonderful sea views during my walks along the seafront. There are beaches and a large marina with a string of cafes and eateries, and it’s all pretty idyllic.

This is one of my favorite spots for sitting to look out to sea (and the island of Salamina that’s opposite at a very short distance). Sitting on this bench, I love to empty my mind, and other times to plot my stories, or even to pray or meditate when I feel stuck mentally or emotionally. Sitting on this bench has often proved a lifesaver, my mind clearing and my heart lifting within a few minutes as if I’d been touched by a magic hand. In the spring, of course, this idle pastime serves to plan my summer vacations, too, or simply to dream endlessly about them!

Living near the sea is a huge blessing that adds fun and beauty to my days all year round. Enjoying swims daily is easy throughout the summer since the beach is only a five-minute drive away from home. My husband and I love to sit under a pine tree and enjoy a packed lunch (or a bought souvlaki!) sometimes after our swims with the cricket song in our ears. During the spring, picnics on the beach are just as precious and help to bring the summer a little closer. Personally, I start daydreaming about the summer at the first sign of spring, and it tends to offer new inspiration for new stories to write too. Blessings all around!

 

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY… SHARING IS CARING! Tweet this to spread some love:

Springtime processes from a Greek author #spring #springtime #Greece Share on X

 

Get Effrosyni’s FREE books with your signup to her bimonthly newsletter! Fun news from her life in Greece and a load of FREE kindle books in every issue! http://bit.ly/2yA74No

 

NEW BOOK! Clean romance novella.  Spyri never forgot that old summer in Corfu when she met Markos. Visit Amazon: https://bit.ly/3pAP3rf

Kelly ran a marathon and wound up running a house. With a ghost in it! Both humorous and moving, with delightful sweet romance, it’s just the ticket to lose yourself reading! Read more on Amazon
Summer love and a mysterious haunting in Corfu! Effrosyni’s debut romance, The Ebb, has received an award from Amazon! Check it out here

Beach fun and sweet romance mixed with magic spells and bird shifters… The Raven Witch of Corfu is an original story that will rivet you with its unrelenting suspense. The final twist will blow your mind!
Available in paperback , box set or 4 kindle episodes!
Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to south Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

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FREE books, Easter eggs, cheeky cats, and Greek memorial food!

Greek Easter is next week (April 24), but I am aware Easter is this weekend for most of you out there! Have a great time with family and friends and enjoy those chocolate eggs and bunnies 🙂

I will be busy in the kitchen this coming week, making Easter cookies and also dying eggs with red onions and turmeric, the way I do every year, like our grannies used to. Some turn out very rustic-looking and totally imperfect, which gives me extra joy. If you’re anything like me, and wish to avoid the chemicals in the dye too, you can see here how I prepare them.

Today, I’m pleased to share the latest fun news from my life in Greece: Cute kiddies dressed up for Greek Independence Day and the latest cheekiness from my cats, Loulou and Sissi. I’m also sharing a Greek Orthodox tradition that is very special and is called ‘koliva’. It is Greek memorial food made with wheat berry. You’ll find all the above in my latest newsletter along with a load of FREE kindle books!

CHECK OUT MY NEWSLETTER

Enjoy, and Happy Easter, everyone!

 

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY… SHARING IS CARING! Tweet this to spread some love:

Rustic Easter eggs, Greek customs, cheeky cats and a load of FREE books! #freebooks #indiebooks #easterweekend Share on X

 

Limited time offer! Get the awarded novella, “The Boy on the Bridge” for FREE, along with the short story collection, “Facets of Love” with your sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter. Fun news from her life in Greece and a load of FREE kindle books in every issue! http://bit.ly/2yA74No
NEW BOOK! Clean romance novella.  Spyri never forgot that old summer in Corfu when she met Markos. Visit Amazon: https://bit.ly/3pAP3rf

Kelly ran a marathon and wound up running a house. With a ghost in it! Both humorous and moving, with delightful sweet romance, it’s just the ticket to lose yourself reading! Read more on Amazon
Summer love and a mysterious haunting in Corfu! Effrosyni’s debut romance, The Ebb, has received an award from Amazon! Check it out here

Beach fun and sweet romance mixed with magic spells and bird shifters… The Raven Witch of Corfu is an original story that will rivet you with its unrelenting suspense. The final twist will blow your mind!
Available in paperback , box set or 4 kindle episodes!
Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to south Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

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FREE books, Greek lentil soup and a charming little chapel

Eating heavy, meaty and fatty foods during the holidays can be taxing for the body. Once Christmas Day was over, I already knew it was time to go all vegetarian for a while. Until the New Year, at least. So I had the loveliest light meal on Boxing Day, which I thought I’d share with you. When my father sat at the table he dug straight into the raw onion squares which he enjoys enormously. He never has lentils of any kind without a side dish of raw onion and taught my British husband to ask this Greek wife to do the same in our home too. Not that I complain! The benefits of onion are well known and many.

Andy made sausage rolls for Christmas (he calls them ‘pigs in blankets’) and drizzled them with honey. You can see in the photo some of the leftovers. I didn’t care for them and it was interesting to see my family trying them. My father was like me and turned up his nose, but my sister and her family, being big meat eaters, honoured the side dish enormously. Still, Andy got to eat most of them. It’s a British thing, apparently. I wouldn’t know, LOL! Luckily, he won’t be making them again till next Christmas, phew! Not that I mind what he eats, but if he cooks those again and it’s just the two of us, he’ll be eating the lot on his own, LOL!

Back to the lentil meal – I added some rice in it (just a tablespoon) to add goodness. The combination of lentils and cereal of any kind gives the body complete protein, and is therefore great for providing the body with energy. Herbs and spices gave the meal plenty of aroma.

GET THE RECIPE HERE!

This chapel is a lovely new addition to our beautiful seafront in my little town of Nea Peramos. It was sanctified by a priest shortly after its installation and its name is–what else?–St. Nicholas. What could be more apt than the name of the protector of seamen when the church is situated at a marina, right? It’s so charming and I’m looking forward to a chance to visit it inside. The only problem is it was placed at the worst spot ever, as you can see here, which showed the moment it rained heavily. I’ve seen the seafront’s many ducks gather right there to drink when it rains – LOL!

Earlier photo at the spot where the chapel was placed

But, hey! I hear the council is busy taking remedial action. Let’s hope! St Nicholas deserves to be visited by people with dry feet 😛 Go below to read my newsletter. You’ll find in there more photos from the seafront that I took that day. Enjoy 🙂

In my latest newsletter, I am sharing a bunch of FREE kindle books to suit various tastes and the latest that’s fun from my life in Greece. It’s all bound to put a smile on your face! Check it out here: https://madmimi.com/p/c780631/preview

 

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY… SHARING IS CARING! Tweet this to spread some love:

FREE books, and fun news from Greece! #funnews #freebiefriday #Greece Share on X

 

Limited time offer! Get The Boy on the Bridge for FREE, along with the short story collection, Facets of Love, with your sign up to Effrosyni’s newsletter. Fun news from her life in Greece and a load of FREE kindle books in every issue! http://bit.ly/2yA74No

Kelly ran a marathon and wound up running a house. With a ghost in it! Both humorous and moving, with delightful sweet romance, it’s just the ticket to lose yourself reading! Read more on Amazon
Summer love and a mysterious haunting in Corfu! Effrosyni’s debut romance, The Ebb, has received an award from Amazon! Check it out here

Beach fun and sweet romance mixed with magic spells and bird shifters… The Raven Witch of Corfu is an original story that will rivet you with its unrelenting suspense. The final twist will blow your mind!
Available in paperback , box set or 4 kindle episodes!
Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to south Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.

FREE books, an impromptu air show, an ancient temple and Lord Byron’s carving
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FREE books, an impromptu air show, an ancient temple and Lord Byron’s carving

Greece is having a summer for the books. After two devastating fires earlier this month in the Peloponnese and Evia that burnt thousands of acres of forest land, many homes, and even wiped out whole villages from the map, it was ‘our turn’ last week here in West Attica. A fire in the area of Villia blazed for five consecutive days, every day getting closer and closer to my seaside town near Athens, making everybody nervous. I do confess, I did pack, just in case. The only ray of sunshine we had last week was the swims at the local beach that daily came with a free air show! Both Erickson helicopters and Canadair planes kept coming over to refill. Even 6 Canadair planes at one time. And they all came and went perfectly synchronized. Everyone held their phones at the ready and I couldn’t help myself either.

GO HERE FOR A VIDEO OF TWO ERICKSON HELICOPTERS AND HERE FOR A VIDEO OF CANADAIR AIRPLANES FILLING UP FROM THE SEA TO FIGHT THE FIRE.

IN MY LATEST NEWSLETTER, YOU WILL SEE PHOTOS FROM MY RECENT SHORT BREAK IN THE ATHENS RIVIERA! THE SUNSET AT CAPE SOUNIO WAS FANTASTIC. SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT LORD BYRON’S CARVING OF HIS NAME AT THE BASE OF THE TEMPLE OF POSEIDON…

A PLETHORA OF FREE KINDLE BOOKS AWAIT YOU IN THE NEWSLETTER TOO!

IT’S ALL HERE AND IT’S ALL BOUND TO PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. ENJOY!

 

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY… SHARING IS CARING! Tweet this to spread some love:

FREE books, and Greek writer news from Greece! #funnews #freebiefriday #Greece Share on X

New book! A young man determined to protect his girl… A teenage boy offering prophecies… and a series of unexplained events. Check it out on Amazon: https://bit.ly/3ke2O9U

Kelly ran a marathon and wound up running a house. With a ghost in it! Both humorous and moving, with delightful sweet romance, it’s just the ticket to lose yourself reading! Read more on Amazon
Summer love and a mysterious haunting in Corfu! Check it out here

370 pages of Corfu summer bliss! This beach romance will make you fall in love… Available in paperback , box set or 4 kindle episodes!
To grab “Facets of Love” for FREE, go here! Planning to visit Greece? Check out our FREE guide to Corfu! For delicious Greek recipes, go here. Are you an author? Check out our FREE promo tips & resources here.