Visit Greece in the Comfort of Your Chair!
Author and Poet Patty Apostolides
Welcomes you to her website! Feel free to check her articles, excerpts, poems, Greek links, Writing links. We give books away periodically, so Bookmark this page to check whenever the opportunity arises.
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UPDATES, ARTICLES, NEWS NOTICE: Please visit my blog for the latest updates: http://www.ipatiascreations.blogspot.com Click below to order autographed copies at special Internet prices: http://www.pattyapostolides.com/order-books.html November 21, 2012 On November 21, I participated in the Next Best Thing Blog Tour on my blog: http://ipatiascreations.blogspot.com so please visit my blog. I have a special treat for you readers. My book "The Greek Maiden and the English Lord" will be available for free online until January 2013. Visit the site to read the book: Click Here I will let you in on a secret: the more readers that are reading my story and commenting on that site, the higher the rank that the book achieves, pushing it closer to the Editor's Desk. Once a book gets to the Editor's Desk, it will be reviewed by Harper Collins, the publisher hosting the authonomy site. Every month, the top five books will be reviewed by Harper Collins. Although my book is already published, just making it to the top gives it wonderful exposure and many other publishers will also see this. I am more interested in promoting my next novel, which is not published, so this would be a good way to have publishers become familiar with my writing. November 3, 2012 Hurricane Sandy came and went here in the MId-Atlantic and now we are bracing for another storm coming in a few days. We were without power for two days during Sandy's wrath, and it was quite cold and windy on those days, which made us seriously think about how to make our house more comfortable without electricity. One of the changes we have made is to get energy efficient curtains. They have a thermal backing. We've installed several of them in the house. Also, caulking the windows and doors helped seal the house from drafts. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the people who have suffered during the Hurricane Sandy storm, those without homes, without food or water, and without electricity and heat. This is a time when love conquers all, and people come together to help and aid those who are victims of the storm. Please be patient as help arrives. Don't let anger win the day, and remember that God loves you! May he protect you and bless you each and every day! October 4, 2012 My novel "The Greek Maiden and the English Lord" placed second in the Club Nora Womens Fiction contest! First chapters of twenty-five novels were read and rated, and the top five were chosen. Click below to read reviews: http://authonomy.com/books/46125/the-greek-maiden-and-the-english-lord/ September 28 2012 Goliath’s Fall Tall and stalwart was the man Rich and powerful, too. He barked orders and commands And trusted only a few. Eyes quite sharp just like a hawk No crumb escaped his sight. Firm he stood, on solid rock, Gazing down from his tall height. Though his wealth was plentiful, He coveted even more. Far and wide he cast his soul, The price he paid for more gold. Deals he made behind closed doors, A war or two proposed. To scare the masses even more; Never thought he’d be deposed. His health began to fail him, Disease ran through his bones. Within a year cancer claimed him, No wealth could make him whole. He rests in permanent slumber While millions toil in pain. His corporate decisions Live on with perpetual gain. When will the masses wake up, And see the light of day? Denounce the corporate make up - Don’t let it have its way. Like Goliath, us it mocks And threatens with a fist. Where is David with his rock - To put an end to this? By Patty Apostolides, 2010 ------------------------------------------------- September 22, 2012 I was interviewed by author Christine Rice for my novel "The Greek Maiden and the English Lord." Please visit her site to read the interview: http://christinerice-author.com/2012/09/22/interview-with-patty-apostolides/ -------------------- August 17, 2012 Booksigning Event: Winchester Greek Orthodox Church in Virginia, August 18-19, 2012. Also, lots of Greek food, music, and fun! Join the author and celebrate Greek culture in Winchester! Visit the festival website for more information: http://www.dormition.va.goarch.org/GreekFestival/ ------------------ August 5, 2012 The summer Olympics is now in session in London, and quite an exciting time, as usual. We love watching the Olympics! How many of you know that the Olympics originated in Greece? It was revived in 1896 and we are now celebrating the 30th Olympics of 2012. Below, I am sharing a poem I wrote a few years ago for the Olympics. Enjoy! The Flame Olympic Torch, the flame of Greece, Of Hope, of Creativity, Do light the path that leads to Peace To Love, and to Eternity. You watched the great Olympians With grace and sinewy eloquence Defeat their fellow citizens; Crowned heads did mark their excellence. Your flame continued its own race; Olympic spirit never dies. You filled men’s minds with Godly grace To strive beyond their mortal binds. You watched the Masters work at night, El Greco, Kazantzakis, too. You lit their fading candlelight, For without light there is no hue. Vangelis knew you very well, A prodigy, composed divine, For creativity did dwell, A symphony, notes in his mind. The flame is liberty at best, It frees the soul to claim its light; Or else lies buried with the rest Of humankind who have no sight. by Patty Apostolides "Candlelit Journey: Poetry from the Heart" 2006 ------------------ July 21, 2012 Attention authors, writers, and readers, please visit and like my facebook page! If you have a facebook page I will return the like: http://www.facebook.com/GreekNovels My latest book giveaway will take place when we reach 120 likes! We're just about there at 106...and the 120th person who likes my page will automatically win a copy of Lipsi's Daughter. The other five winners will be randomly chosen from the 120 likes (previous winners will not be included) and get to choose from my 3 books: The Lion and the Nurse, The Greek Maiden and the English Lord, and Lipsi's Daughter. For more information, read the excerpts on this site. --------------------------- July 14, 2012 I'd like to share this poem I wrote years ago, but rediscovered it recently. Welcoming Words So many choices, So many ways Gather your words Just like a bouquet Choose them wisely, Though sometimes we don't Fill them with sweetness, Don't say you won't Do make them stick, Like honey on your tongue And sing them out, Like a favorite song Sweet kind words are The greatest gift of all When someone's lonely, They feel one inch tall So many choices, So many ways To find the right moment, To know what to say Pleasure is fleeting, It goes so fast One kind word Will make it last. ---------------- July 9, 2012 Today we visited the Green Festival in Frederick hosted by Roscoe Bartlett, our congressman. We have been favoring more and more a "green" lifestyle through several avenues, like installing solar panels, buying energy efficient appliances and windows, and adding energy efficient curtains. We also did an energy audit, and learned more about insulation, and LED light bulbs. In addition, we have been doing more gardening, and recently added a couple of rain barrels to our gutters. This festival reinforced what we already knew and it was fun making new connections. We only wish more people were tuned into these types of festivals. It was free and lots of vendors with great ideas. Demonstrations included how to stock up on food and water in preparation for disasters, gardening tips from a Master Gardener, etc. The message we came away with was about becoming more self reliant and needing the GRID less, and forming communities in case a disaster strikes. Hope to see more people attending these free events in the future. July 2, 2012 We are getting close to another giveaway of wonderful books! Visit my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/GreekNovels and "like" my page for an opportunity to win a free book! When we reach the 60th "like" the giveaway will close. Five winners will be randomly chosen from all the likes listed. The 60th person to like the page will automatically be a winner and will receive a copy of Lipsi's Daughter. Previous winners will not be included in the drawing. So stop by my page and "like" it, plus read all the interesting information on writing, and about my books! ----------------------------- June 29, 2012 I have met some interesting people along my journey to becoming an author and poet. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet another Greek Author, Katina Vaselopoulos, online on Twitter, and we've corresponded back and forth through Facebook. Her insights and interpretations of life are fresh and enlightening. Here is an article she recently wrote about her experience visiting the Acropolis Museum in Greece: http://footprintsofthemind1.blogspot.com/2012/06/global-adventures-and-reflections.html ---------------------------- June 27, 2012 JOIN ME ON FACEBOOK: Would you like a chance to win one of my novels? If so, please visit http://www.facebook.com/GreekNovels and "like" the page and the first 30 likes will be entered into the contest. The 30th person will receive a copy of Lipsi's Daughter. Altogether, 5 winners will be randomly chosen to receive one of my books. Good Luck!!! ------------------------- June 25, 2012 I uploaded a short video of a poem set to music on Youtube. The poem is titled "Emotions" and it was written back in 2010, but I used a portion of it for the video. The piano music was a result of playing on the piano and taping my work, and then fitting it to the poem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHI3l9JPjUk ------------------------- June 20, 2012 For those of you interested in translating from English to Greek, the best way to do it online is to go to Google Translate page and type in the word(s) you want translated into Greek. It is not perfect, but it is a good start! http://translate.google.com/#auto|el| -------------------------- June 17, 2012 Happy Father's Day! We celebrate it annually in the United States. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to thank and appreciate our fathers. Unfortunately, I lost my father Christos to cancer six years ago, but his memory is always fresh in my mind and heart. Today, I celebrated this wonderful day with my son and husband. My son took the opportunity and made a treasure hunt for us. It was wonderful. My husband found the treasure - it was a beautiful pen, encased in a beautiful box. I cherish these moments, and am blessed with two wonderful men in my life, my husband and my son. Afterwards, we watched an old movie with dancer Don O'Connor. We love old musical comedies. We love life. Will you join us and make your day memorable? Every day should be memorable. ------------------------------ June 10, 2012 
The Test of Time
Poem written in Allpoetry.com that received a gold award:
The Test of Time Perceive the wonders of the world, A wisp of history unfurled They stood the test of centuries, Revealed the truth, man’s destiny. Observe the ancient Parthenon, An architectural phenomenon, Built by the sweat of proud Hellenes During the infancy of Democracy. Pyramids that reach toward Heaven In their tombs the Pharoahs lay hidden. Egypt claims them, dear homeland, Stark, lonely sentinels in the sand. Take a look at the Taj Mahal, Visit China’s winding Great Wall They stand as testimony to mankind Immortal proof of the test of time. by Patty Apostolides ------------------------------------------------------------ June 8, 2012 Patty has started a new Facebook page for her fans. The theme is centered around Greek novelists, Greek American authors and authors who write about Greece or Greek themes. She plans to write book reviews when the time allows. Also, there will be contests and giveaways in the near future, etc. Since this is new, it will take time to develop, and if there is enough interest (by going on the page and "liking" it then more will follow). Another focus of the page will be to connect readers with authors, but that's further down the road. Here is the site, so feel free to visit it and "like" it. I am looking to get 30 votes. Can we do it? Yes we can! https://www.facebook.com/GreekNovels ----------------------------------------------------------- June 4, 2012 Love and Marriage News! Patty's article about Love and Marriage was quoted May 25, 2012 in a grio.com article that describes First Lady Michelle Obama's loving relationship with President Obama. Read the article here: http://thegrio.com/2012/05/25/michelle-obama-we-have-a-ritual-where-he-tucks-me-in-first-lady-says-of-president/ Here is the article they quoted from: In the beginning of a relationship, love seems to have a life of its own. Without much effort, you feel like you are on top of the world. You catch yourself smiling and laughing often, and feeling warm inside whenever you are with your loved one. Everything and everyone suddenly appears better through the rose-colored glasses of love. This euphoric feeling does not last forever, however. After the first year of marriage, the day to day activities of being married, working in a job, raising a family, buying and maintaining a home, etc., all take their toll, and romance takes a back seat. Love has to be worked on, just like a gardener with his garden. Although he has planted the seeds, and expects the sun and rain to do most of the work, he still has to pull the weeds out of the garden, to fertilize it, and water it if there isn’t enough rain. That is the same with a healthy, loving relationship. When love becomes a high priority in a marriage, it is taken care of and nurtured daily. The resulting love rewards you by growing into a more mature, mellow, committed feeling, and when tested, rises up to meet the challenge. How does one keep love alive in a marriage? ... Read More --------------------------------------------------------------------------- May 27, 2012 Historical Novels I am currently conducting research for my latest novel, which will be a historical novel, similar to The Greek Maiden and the English Lord. Over time, I have noticed that historical novels are quite involved as compared to modern novels. The author has to be aware of not only the history and culture of the times, but the lack of technology. Imagine the characters not having telephones or televisions, ipods or computers. Imagine no electricity, cars, or airplanes. In my case, I chose Victorian England, because I like that period in history. Victorian England encompasses the time frame of the 1830s and into early 1900s, when Queen Victoria reigned. It is also the time when the British Empire was at its peak, expanding its governance to include many countries of the world. Authors do not only use history as the foundation of historical novels, but because they are fiction, get to explore the recesses of their mind to imagine and create characters and events and tie that in to the story. This allows endless possibilities for authors because they can choose: a niche in time where a particular event takes place, or describe the life of a certain famous person, or embellish the story around a war. Whatever they decide to do, this adventure into historical novel writing becomes a unique experience for each individual author. Several factors need to be considered in writing historical novels, like what did the men and women wear during that time period? Women during Victorian times did not wear shorts, but layers of clothing, and men did not go outside without a hat. What did they eat and drink and when did they take their tea? How did they travel, etc. Because technology was beginning to have a foothold in Victorian England, and many changes were taking place, it is important to study the period and the inventions of those times. One will have to choose whether they want the story to be around the time of the railroad expansion, or when the utilization of gas lamps was common practice, or even when the Crystal Palace had been built. Also, consistency is important. Remember the peculiarities of that time. What length were the dresses, and what were the predominant colors? The low cut, frilly dress was out of style while the high cut, somber dress was in. Religion was strong in those days and many people went to church. This is what makes writing these stories so interesting, because as one does the research, typically their interest piques in the period and that drives them forward even more. At least it does me. In addition, the author needs to consider these questions when writing a historical novel: "Will this information about the time period drive my story forward? Am I adding this into the story for personal reasons, or will it truly help the mood, setting, or even the plot?" Another area that I am interested in is my Greek heritage. I typically involve some aspect of Greece or the Greek people in my stories. I was born in Greece, and love Greece and its ancient history. Greece is not perfect, as seen in recent times, but which country is? Although not perfect, Greece has a rich culture with endless possibilities for themes and plots. In my latest novel, I wish to tie together Britain, the antiquities theme, King Otho's court, and a village in Greece. In order to do that, I've had to search through historical books, websites, and even Google books to learn more about these different places, languages, and customs of the people during that time. I found out that a lot of historians relied on Homer's works for historical events in ancient Greece. I also found that the Greek government has thousands upon thousands of antiquities that have been excavated or found since the 1800s and that they are still sorting it all out. So rich is Greece's ancient history. Google books is a wonderful source of information for researching the nineteenth century and beyond. Many books written in the nineteenth century have been scanned by Google and are ready to download as free e-books or to peruse online. Just type in the key words and follow the search. You'd be surprised what you find when you try different key words. Follow the link below to check this out. http://books.google.com/bkshp?hl=en&tab=wp When doing research for a historical novel, don't settle for just the library and online sources, also contact authorities on the subject. They would be more than happy to offer advice and information. When I receive information or advice from an authority, I typically let them know that I will acknowledge them in my upcoming book. Other good sources of information are museums. If you can't go to a museum, you can literally visit them online. Many museums have a plethora of pictures to browse. Finally, good old book sales have netted me wonderful books on history that I happily add to my own growing library. Sometimes they are not exactly what one is looking for or in the right time frame, but one day they might just be the right source for another historical novel. For me, the greatest part of writing a historical novel is rewriting history and bringing it to life in this modern world. May your journey into this rich, wonderful past of humanity bring you as much joy and excitement as it has done me. Patty Apostolides ---------------------------------------------------------------------- May 18 , 2012 Finding the Time to Write We all have a story inside of us, and the difference between authors and would-be authors is the fact that authors take the risk and write anyway, knowing there is potential rejection down the road. In life, we find that to be the case for anything we attempt. Every time we experience an event, like a wedding, graduation, traveling, sports, playing music, or even volunteering, there's always something we take out of it. We might meet new people, new friends, or even watch people conversing about topics we never knew about. Life is full of opportunities to write about. Writing is not for the fainthearted or even the extroverted. If you're a socialite and want to write, you will have to put aside some time for writing. It doesn't happen on its own. Also, if you're into the internet social scene, that will have to be put aside. Here is an article I wrote awhile back explaining this: FINDING THE TIME TO WRITE Finding the time to write a novel is one of the major issues confronting writers, particularly those who haven’t been published yet. How does one justify to themselves, or to their loved ones, that they need time to write if they have demands on their time, like a job, or a house to be cleaned, a family to be fed, or shopping to do? They make the time. To make time, one would have to sit down and plan it. If this is not done, then writing will become a haphazard event, dictated by a whim, or a passing urge, rather than a scheduled time. This often results in the book never really being finished. You do want to finish that book, don’t you? Below, I have my own suggestions as to how to make time. 1) Think about your daily schedule, just like when you do a budget, only instead of money, you’ll be budgeting time. ...Read More ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to bookmark this page!
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