Vibrant Imaginative People

May 2024, Issue No. 27

Your VIP Newsletter from Soulla's Writing Room

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Hello my VIP.

I am writing this on a grey and misty morning and hoping that when it reaches you on the last Thursday of May the sun will be shining and all will be right with the world. What do you think? Too farfetched or realistically hopeful?

Last month I mentioned the writing sanctuary I was taking part in with early morning writing stints, rituals and prompts which ignited my imagination and my creativity. The month of May was and June and beyond are looking exciting with lots of busy-ness and new contacts which are feeding my soul with inspiration, ideas, and happiness.

Earlier this month, just after our Greek Orthodox Easter Celebrations, I had the ecstatic experience of securing the signing of a six-book deal for one of the authors I represent and I am so pleased for her. If you are into Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte then this author's books are a must add to your authors to look out for.

I am also working with two new authors, co-authors of a Rom-Com trilogy series, and both ladies are energetic, excited to be working with me and full of the enthusiasm of new beginnings which are all such wonderfully infectious feelings. I can’t wait to get stuck in and see where those early chapters lead to… what are you getting stuck into this coming month?

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So What Else Has Made May Vibrant?

I would say the biggest thing has been my trip to Cyprus where I experienced the magic of my beautiful homeland on two levels; the first with my eldest son and his girlfriend whose vibe and high-brow living captivated me in a way I never realised I would enjoy.

And then, in contrast, spending time with my mamma and baba, which was slow and totally relaxed and in keeping with the slow pace of living in a hot country. We played cards and scrabble on the veranda, took early morning walks along the beach promenade, taking in the beautiful blue of the sea. We ate simple meals of watermelon slices with halloumi, black-eyed beans drenched in olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon, picked from the trees in the garden, and preserved our energy.

We did very little apart from visiting family for delicious homecooked meals and two afternoon trips to wander around Vouni and Omodos, two mountain villages surrounded by vineyards, where we chatted with the locals and visited two beautiful churches.

I also gifted a copy of The Village House to the owner of a beautiful restaurant we ate in in Omodos, the setting for the story which I was inspired to write after first visiting in 2019, again with my parents and Alan.

It was a welcome break and I loved spending uninterrupted time with my parents, and it brought home how precious the time we have together is and how grateful I am to be able to do what I do with people I love and who love me too. Who do you enjoy spending time with? Have you planned any trips together? I'd love to hear about your holiday plans!

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Imagination Unfolded Slowly But The Magic of Miramare is Almost Here

The Magic of Miramare is with my publishers and I am getting excited about the release of this book. It’s set in Kefalonia, a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, and it has taken me a long time to finish it and get it to a place where it is ready to be shared with you all.

I first had the idea for writing the book back in 2016! I did lots of research, I wrote a couple of chapters, I played around with the plot and the characters… and then nothing. I tried again in 2017… and didn’t get very far. I knew what I wanted to write but just couldn’t get the words down. Then in 2022, I picked it up again and the words seemed to flow from me. The characters evolved and took me gently from from page to page, guiding me through the story and finally, two years later, it is ready.

In celebration, I am sharing an excerpt with you and only you until I have the okay from my publishers to share on my social media platforms.

Here it goes…

After breakfast, the group broke up from around the hub of tables, now scattered with empty bowls and platters, scrunched up napkins and lip-smeared glasses.

‘I think we’re staying round the pool today. First day and all that… plenty of time for exploring,’ said Luke. Melody, like a nodding dog, bobbed her head in agreement.

‘I think we’ll do the same,’ said Dean, reaching for Eliana’s suitcase while looking for a word of confirmation from Eliana, but she wasn’t listening as she zipped closed her clutch bag and wedged it under her arm.

‘I might see you later then,’ said Stella. ‘I’m going to take a stroll. Check out Fiskardo, the harbour’s meant to be pretty.

‘The landscape… the deserted clay-beaten beach, the wondrous mountains, the apiary of bee hives, the peaceful lone trails… so much to see and do here,’ said Luke, surprising Stella with his poetic descriptions, until she noticed he was looking down at an app on his phone.

‘Ooh, yes to all of it but that will take more planning time… and energy,’ said Stella.

‘There’s an amazing system of caves to explore – both underwater and on foot,’ said Dean. ‘There’s a leaflet in reception. Ask our host. I’m sure he’ll set you off in the right direction.’

‘Yeah, definitely, thanks Dean,’ said Stella and then, I have to find out where the music is coming from, she thought.

She bid them farewell, and they all gave her a smile.

Stella caught up with Prodromos on her way to her room to freshen up. ‘All is well?’ asked Prodromos.

‘They seem nice,’ said Stella.

‘They are nice people.’

‘And breakfast was delicious. Thank you.’

‘I think you’re going to get on well together,’ Prodromos said, his head bobbing up and down with confirmation.

‘I hope so. I’m looking for inspiration. That’s what I need the most.’

Prodromos, looked out towards a bird sitting on a lowly branch and said, ‘If you cannot find inspiration in Kefalonia then you won’t find it anywhere.’

‘I can already see it might be true. I’m going to grab what I need before heading off on what I hope will be an adventurous day to fill me with all the inspiration I’m counting on.’

Prodromos acceded knowingly and they continued to walk in the same direction. They passed a big mirror, like the one near the breakfast area; set flush into the plastered, whitewashed wall. Stella paused. It had a dull gold frame, chipped in places, and faded where the gild had worn away from years of polishing and cleaning. The mirror was smoky; patches of light spots and ripples mottled her reflection. She caught her face in it… mirrors and music she thought. And love. And freckles, she laughed. She felt someone behind her. She turned but no-one was there.

    ‘I bet this could tell so many stories,’ said Stella.

    'Indeed. Love and romance,’ said Prodromos. Their eyes met in the mirror.

    ‘Not sure I can comment. Not anymore. Or maybe I never could.’

    'Miss Stella?’

    'Nothing. Ignore me. Love and romance are what I’m looking for. My publisher is waiting.’

    'Ah, yes. You are a writer, a magician who turns memories and words into stories.’

    ‘Something like that,’ laughed Stella, blushing.

    'The Greek poet, Eftychia Panayiotou, stayed here two years ago. Such a wonderful young woman. She talked of creating a desirable life out of simplicity: love, friendship, knowledge, art,’ said Prodromos.

     ‘I believe we mustn’t accept what life brings to us each day as our reality. It’s more about what you want your life to look like and then going out to make that life picture a reality,’ said Stella dreamily.

     'Of course, but with all those things, no?’

     ‘Truly inspirational. That is what I hope to evoke in my writing, the words I choose, the stories I share.’

     'Look her up. I think you will like her poems,’ said Prodromos.

     ‘I will and I’m hoping your homeland will inspire me.’

I hope this whets your appetites… what do you think?

And keeping with the Greek theme which seems to have crept into your newsletter this month I wanted to share the books of Peter Barber.

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People, Greece and The Parthenon Series

Peter is a Brit married to a Greek and they split their time between Greece and London. His humorous and heartfelt travel memoirs reveal the real Greece – not just sun and sea, but the wonderful people, rich history, and culture. If you can’t get to Greece, you can certainly live Greece through his books. From his introduction to Greek life to his cultural flubs, to the many challenges he and Alex, his wife, faced in building their homes, he shares the humour in all of it. And with his fiery, joking wife by his side, there's never a dull moment.

A Parthenon on Our Roof: Adventures of an Anglo-Greek Marriage, Ant Press, 2022, is the first book in “The Parthenon Series”. Barber reveals his cultural and language blunders, to dealing with Greek bureaucracy—including the story of why they built a Parthenon on their roof and his subsequent arrest for it—with humour and love for his adopted homeland. The book is an Amazon bestseller and has hundreds of five-star reader reviews.

One reader review said the book reminded him of “The Durrells” which is enough for me to say, yes, I want to read this!

They set out together to explore Greece and, on the island of Evia, Alex fell in love with a property in Pefki. She had always dreamed of having a home on a Greek island. Even though they had just finished their own home project, they thought it a way to recapture the simplicity of village life. So, they bought the land. What could go wrong? Well, there were some hiccups along the way—and another Parthenon. But Barber found the humour in these situations, too, and so another book was born.

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Until Next Month...

I really hope you find the time to connect with some of the authors and books mentioned here... I know how much reading makes me happy and when I'm not working on my on writing I fill my time with the words of others where, sometimes, a seed is planted and I start thinking about my next book.

Wishing you all a restful month and if you're busy working don't forget to take some time out with your loved ones... life is precious.

With lots of love, Soulla

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