Bill Kokkaris tackles migration and belonging in debut novel Paradisos

Greek-Australian writer Bill Kokkaris has drawn connected idiosyncratic acquisition and years of engagement with migrant communities for his debut caller Paradisos, a story shaped by the tensions of the Mediterranean migration situation and questions of belonging.

Set connected a fictional Aegean land during the turbulent summertime of 2015, the caller follows hotelier Emilio Politis, whose determination to rescue a Syrian parent from a capsized vessel triggers division, suspicion and unrest within his community.

Kokkaris said the thought for the publication emerged aft a instrumentality trip to Greece successful 2016, astatine a clip when the state was grappling with some economical hardship and an influx of refugees.

“I witnessed a premix of fear, paranoia, heightened nationalism and creeping Islamophobia,” helium told Neos Kosmos.

“But connected the islands… I besides observed bonzer acts of humanity. The stories of survival were heartbreaking, and the compassion inspiring.”

While the caller centres connected a fictional setting, its themes bespeak broader humanities and modern realities. Through Emilio’s story, Kokkaris examines migration not arsenic a caller phenomenon, but arsenic a recurring quality experience.

“Most of us travel from a lineage shaped by displacement,” helium said. “Racisms, paranoia, economical instability and anxieties astir taste individuality proceed to resurface crossed generations.”

Kokkaris’ ain inheritance arsenic the son of Greek migrants informs overmuch of the narrative. He recalls travelling to Greece arsenic a kid and witnessing his parents’ affectional instrumentality to their homeland — an acquisition that shaped his understanding of individuality and belonging.

“At that age, it was overwhelming to witness your parents’ grief and longing,” helium said. “By the end, I was convinced Greece was where I belonged.”

“When we had to travel backmost to Australia, my member and I were devastated.

“I retrieve hiding under my grandparent’s room table, begging my pappou not to tell my parents where we were, not wanting them to take us distant from what I then considered to beryllium paradise.”

That aboriginal fascination aboriginal developed into ceremonial study and a vocation working alongside migrant and exile communities, including roles successful nationalist wellness and astatine the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, where helium developed outreach programs for recently arrived communities.

His archetypal play, ‘Room Beyond the Window’, was astir a migrant worker astatine the Whyalla Steelworks. It won the playwriting contention astatine Sydney University astatine the time.

Across some his nonrecreational and originative work the theme has remained central.

“Living successful a multicultural society, a shared pridefulness successful our diverseness indispensable beryllium nurtured done education, the workplace, storytelling and nationalist life,” helium said.

In Paradisos, those ideas are explored done a assemblage under strain, where rumours, superstition and fearfulness statesman to take clasp pursuing the rescue. A subsequent execution deepens the crisis, forcing characters to face their values and assumptions.

In 2023 his manuscript for Paradisos was recognised arsenic a finalist successful the Eyelands Book Awards, a infinitesimal Kokkaris described arsenic a turning point.

“It decidedly gave maine the momentum I needed to support going,” helium said. He knew helium had to perpetrate to finishing it.

With Paradisos, Kokkaris hopes readers are “transported to an unknown spot where their biases and assumptions are challenged”.

“Through the characters, I anticipation readers recognise parts of themselves, and understand that, fundamentally, there is goodness successful each of us.”