Finding Callidora

This week I have finally been able to turn my attention back to my own writing. It isn’t easy to get re-acquainted with my characters or their stories particularly after such a long absence.

Wonderful conversation event organized by my publisher @SigEditions on June 10, 2020

The one piece of advice I give about writing is: keep going, get it down and save revision for later. For me, editing is so much easier than creation.

I spent last weekend reading the printed pages of my new novel-in-progress. Interesting experience. And I mean that in the best possible way.

This quote captures for me the essence of the art of writing. As a writer, you enter a world you think you know. You’ve outlined, you have an idea of where your story is going and you think you have a pretty good grasp of your characters.

As a child, I was told my paternal grandfather’s roots were in the agriculturally rich village of Kyparissia in the Peloponnese.

Whenever we walked the seafront or streets of Kyparissia and we’d see an abandoned building or property, my husband would tease me. _There’s the Leventoyannis mansion._ I daydreamed of what I could do to these beyond-hope-fixer-uppers. I fantasized about returning to Greece to live. Permanently.

So I went looking for long-lost property in Greece, and found another arm of my family instead. I haven’t made sense of what I’ve discovered yet, but I’m trying.

I was recently interviewed by Crystal Mckenzie, managing editor of Calgary's own @FreeFallMag. I so enjoyed the conversation and how closely she read my latest novel, Finding Callidora.

“There were always feuds and misunderstandings in our family,” my father said this week out of the blue. I’ve heard similar words in the past."

My latest manuscript spans over 100 years of Greek history starting with the end of WWI, through to what the Greeks call _the catastrophe,

This week, I finished another section of my new novel. It’s not really a novel yet, but I’m working on it.

I’m not sure any part of that quote is true in my case, but I have always put my faith in revision.

How do you know a story really is inside you? I don’t.<br /> I think about a story I’m working on whether I’m out for a hike, working in the garden or sitting still. Okay, that last bit doesn’t happen very often.

I don’t understand how you can start with so much stuff and when you get to the middle, you can’t think of anything else.

We arrived in Athens a week ago and my time has been spent adjusting to the new time zone...

Yes, if only my mind was ready. I’m talking about writing. Again.<br />It’s been another slow week of it. I get up early enough. I usually have two hours before the rest of the household gets up. I sit at the laptop in the dark (my favourite time) and hope the words come. Sometimes they do. Other times? You know.

Upon the advice of friends I’ve taken a different tack this week in terms of my writing. I’m absorbing the culture, the vibe and the information that comes my way while I’m in Athens.

After hearing about my latest project and my search for information regarding the Greco-Turkish war of 1919-1922 and the Greeks of Egypt, among other topics, a friend of mine, author, Bessie Livano...

I returned to Canada a few days ago, so I’m still in a state of transition (jet lag, disorientation), but wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone who made my trip to Greece possible.

Yes, I would agree Mr. Martel. I have loved every book club meeting I’ve been invited to attend.