Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m proud to be Anglo Greek and this multifaceted background is the real inspiration of my stories. My first published book, The Long Shadow, explores this theme but even my books set in London and other parts of the UK seem to reflect a sense of a split, a dual nature. My birthplace was Cairo, Egypt and coming over to this country as a small child was a culture shock. But I have always loved the UK with its fields, woods, hills, and gentle natural beauty despite the rainy days. That’s what keeps it so green! I always want to return after a sojourn abroad. It’s home to me. But equally, I love Greece with its sunny warmth, its generous and colourful characters, the music, dance, poetry and uniqueness of this glorious race. So my books reflect this too; a mystical love of nature, a love of amazing people and their passions and joys. All in all I have written about seven novels of which three are published and another one is on its way soon.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Dying Phoenix. It’s the sequel to The Long Shadow, my first novel. People kept asking for a sequel and for me to write about the Colonels who took Greece over in a military coup in 1967. I happened to be there at the time so that made it equally interesting to write about. I knew nothing at the time of the real horrors of that regime. All seemed so normal on the surface. Now I know what went on, I want to show the world what happened and how strong and resilient the Greeks are. They’ve had a lot of stick lately due to economic problems but they’ve been in tough places before and will rise out of it.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
What like standing on my head and eating bananas? No. I’m a bore. I just sit at the computer and start writing, no plans, nothing. It just flows out. I do like to write in my little den and nowhere else and I must have a tidy desk, muddle distracts me. I have lots of inspiring books and pictures around when I’m working on a project. I can never write out doors like some folks do. Or on a train. no way. Has to be in my den at my computer and then I go into my ‘writing trance’. Maybe there’s something zen like about this!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Kazantzakis, the great Greek writer of Zorba and other stories, is an obvious choice. But I love all the Brontes, Daphne du Maurier, Pearl Buck, Margaret Mitchell and those writers who tell the story of passionate, feeling women. Emile Zola is brilliant, in his depictions of the times he lived in France but also so sad. Therese Raquin is a psychological masterpiece which I read when I was 15. Nicholas Evans and The Horse Whisperer …wow, his descriptive passages, his emotional work is a great find of late and I love him. Patricia Highsmith, Ruth Rendell and Donna Tartte are also inspiring. Generally, I favour writing which has excellent descriptions, deep feelings and passions and a psychological insight into what really makes people tick.
What are you working on now?
My current work is called Dying Phoenix and is a sequel to The Long Shadow. The proofs are now being done and hopefully it will be printed and out by Christmas. I shall also have an ebook ready by then
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s quite hard work. E.booster is a very useful site for promoting ebooks. I am also lucky to belong to Historical Fiction Authors Co-operative ebooks, a great group of people who actively help each other with tips. It’s not easy to get in, you need to be recommended and, of course, to write hist/fic. They can be contacted on http://hfebooks.com
I also use Facebook, Twitter and so on. But my best method is to give talks, launches, books signings, and use word of mouth as much as I can. I also give away a good many free books to charity, shops, friends and even libraries so as to get known and it seems to be paying off. I was asked earlier this year to come over to Greece and give a talk on The Long Shadow at the American University which was a great honour. I am hoping they may find me a Greek publisher now. Keeping all fingers crossed!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice is get writing and lose yourself in it. If you are in this just for money, forget it. Yes, money can be made, especially with Ebooks in the US but it’s too disappointing if it doesn’t work and sales begin to slump…it’s constant hard work to keep up in the ratings. Just enjoy the writing, that’s the marvellous part. Bringing your inner voice to be heard, understanding yourself through what you choose to write about. Even a dozen fans are better than none. Writing is an art not meant to be a relentless pursuit.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To write at least ten books before publishing anything. With luck the tenth may be worthwhile.
What are you reading now?
‘Deadline’ by Barbara Nadel. She writes clever, twisted, amazing crime stories set in Turkey. My mother was born there and so this place resonates with me. She’s a great friend and a brilliant writer.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to get a special blog just dealing with Greek interests and ideas on the go. Then a couple of launches, one in London, one locally, various talks to get Dying Phoenix on the go. Then a bit of a break for some travel to see my son who will be in China teaching bright young things next year. I have another Greek story written but this is edging towards the paranormal so quite different from all I’ve done so far. I’m not rushing it out.
What is your favorite book of all time?
An impossible question, of course. But The Broad Highway by Jeffery Farnol it must be. I found this historical novel in our local library at 11 years old and read all his works ever since and then collected them in my later years. He was a very popular English writer of the twenties and onwards and this is a period that I like to read and write about too. However, the novels are set from mediaeval times to the twenties, mainly Georgian. He is old fashioned now, I know, but this was his first book and for me, his best novel. It’s so very English, a story about a young man’s life journey, nature plays a big part, there is passion, tenderness, love, fighting, philosophy and everything that I love in life.
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