Vibrant Imaginative People

August 2025, Issue No.42

Your VIP Newsletter from Soulla's Writing Room

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Dear VIP

The summer feels like it’s only just arrived and yet is already slipping away. My fishing trip with Alan feels so long ago and I’ve noticed how the days are getting shorter which only makes me want to spend as much time out in nature as I can; walking, reading, noticing the changing colours around me and the welcome freshness in the air.

London has been a wonderfully colourful experience this summer with shopping, exhibition visits, art gallery browsing, afternoon teas at home with my family and baking with Eleni.

I am still very much in slow, lazy-day mode though this afternoon I am meeting up with Vanessa Woolley (have you read her latest book, Secrets at Sunset?) We are planning a lazy catch up at Foyles on Charing Cross Road... books, tea and cake!

Tomorrow I have to pick up my pace when my work diary officially opens again and I put my editing hat back on. I'm actually looking forward to diving into this next client manuscript.

How’s your summer been? What have you been spending your days doing? Are you ready for the transitioning seasons?

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Where Art & Nature Meet

A couple of weeks ago Alan and I disappeared to Lloyd Park for an afternoon of walking, talking, reconnecting and finding ourselves in the peace and quiet of this beautiful park in Wandsworth.

We also visited the William Morris Gallery for the first time and I absolutely loved it there. Not only did it afford us some escape from the intense heat of the scorching sun but also a fascinating look at the world of William Morris, his career and his beautiful prints and artwork.

We wandered around and took in all the history and absorbed the wonderful art—the colours, the designs, the inspiration—but also sat a while and immersed ourselves for a while in a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle as well as a virtual entrepreneurship challenge to see how much money we could make in 5 years being William Morris at the start of his career. I can’t remember how we did, but we certainly didn’t make as much money as he did and neither did we find his fame and fortune! But we had a lovely time and it was good doing something together which took us away from home.

Do you have a favourite museum or favourite artist? I’d love to know more about what you love about them.

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Journey To Our Own Summer Together

It’s been seven years since my second book, The Summer Will Come, originally self-published, came into the world and so it felt poignant that I met up with a wonderful woman who was visiting London from South Africa this month. Thoula and I connected across the miles and through our Instagram posts about Cyprus and its history in the days when I was finalising the research for my book.

For those of you still to read it, I hope you pick up a copy and in the words of one of my book reviews:

"This book, though a work of fiction, chronicle events that actually occurred in Cyprus in the 50’s. By writing this beautiful story, Soulla Christodoulou has given the reader an insight into what actually happened at that time. A country and its people who strove for independence, but at the same time fought within themselves for a solution, some wanting Union with Greece, while others just freedom. It is something you would have had to experience, to truly understand the politics involved... beautifully written on a subject that has many lessons yet to be learned... A must read."

The historical backdrop of the story was important to me as it brought Cyprus’ history into the foreground as well as adding depth to my story; a story based on my grandparents’ and parents’ true story of immigration and leaving Cyprus to start a new life in London.

Thoula’s family are connected to Evagoras Pallikarides, the last hero caught up in the fight to free Cyprus from British rule, and through our connection she shared some personal and insightful information about that period of time.

Over the years we have become firm friends and though we have met only once before we instantly fell into warm and comfortable hugs and conversations when we were together.

I will always be grateful to her and her dear father, the brother of Evagoras, for trusting me with their most treasured memories and notes; across the miles I received journal extracts, maps of Evagoras’ hideaway in the mountains, precious memories about his life and the words of his poetry.

I unfolded a chapter of his life which I never could have found in any of the history books. He wrote over 500 poems and the title of my book has been taken from a line in his most famous poem.

Have you ever met a virtual friend in real life? How did it feel? I guess our smiles in this photo gives you my answer!

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A Memoir to be Celebrated

One of the authors I represent is soon releasing her debut! I couldn’t be more thrilled to be on this journey with her. We used to work together at the same secondary school in north London; she as an English teacher and me teaching Business Studies. We used to sit together and chat across the big table in the staff room at lunchtimes sometimes and we often shared the same sense of humour; giggling in meetings, sharing a “look” across the room and on occasion, stressing about the challenges of the classes on our timetables.

Fast forward a few years, both of us no longer in teaching, and Natasha reached out for some writing advice… out of those coffee-shop conversations and later writing mentoring and review sessions her book materialised into a formidable and glowing story of courage, self-belief and overcoming adversity.

Beyond the Barbell: Confessions of a Female Fitness Competitor is almost out in the world and is a must-read book for anyone who is struggling with low self-esteem, doubting their current path, believes they can do better or be better, be someone they have always dreamed to be. It is inspirational. It is about drive and ambition, about losing yourself and finding yourself. It is a self-help book and more.

You really can’t miss out on reading this... and you can pre order your copy now and keep up-to-date with Natasha on Instagram: @natashakostalas

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There's a lot going on and I am so grateful to you for being on this journey with me, whether virtually or for real, your love and support matters to me. Keep holding my hand as I hold yours... there's so much more to come!

So until next time, do life the best way you can... read, write, kiss, laugh and be happy.

Lots of love, Soulla xxx

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