Maria Stefanidis explores love, war and identity in new novel

Cypriot Australian writer and writer Maria Stefanidis is preparing to merchandise her third caller ‘Larisa and the Speaker of Truth’.

An epic-historical/contemporary tale based connected a poignant and hopeless puerility emotion matter with a timeline that spans from the past metropolis of Salamina, Greece successful 1955, to the inner-Sydney suburb of Dulwich Hill successful 2015.

It is there we find 61-year-old Larisa surviving adjacent doorway to a prying amputee successful the handbasket of mixed nations. Her occupation working for the Sharma Cleaning Company has go different ongoing irritation implicit the past 15 years.

The catalyst for the caller was the Cretan leader Manolis Bikakis, dubbed the Greek Rambo.

“Manolis’ courageous absorption successful defending the law and self-governing rights of my birthplace Cyprus successful the 1974 war offered maine with a substance to make my ain fictional quality successful commando Dimitri Geogiou,” Stefanidis told Neos Kosmos.

The story is interwoven with mendacious relationships, optimism and reticent adoration that culminates into an inexplicable and surprising ending.

“I needed a existent leader for my novel. I work that Manolis’ actions successful the defence of Cyprus were overlooked,” she said.

“He was ne'er fixed a ceremonial memorial work for his gallantry. For governmental reasons, the Greek authorities ne'er honoured him. It wasn’t until some 41 years later, aft his death, helium was awarded with a Medal of Gallantry.

“I think Manolis’ story should beryllium told either factually oregon fictionally. I’m not a governmental fanatic but simply a philanthropist who supports justness where it is needed.”

‘Larisa and the Speaker of Truth screen art.

Most of Stefanidis’ probe was based connected eye- witness accounts earlier the European Human Rights Committee.

“It is intolerable to write an extended fictional caller based connected truth unsocial due to the fact that facts get successful the way of fiction,” she added.

“I understand there has been a batch of contention and scepticism surrounding Manolis’ actions. I conjecture everybody has a close to their ain mentation of what happened.

“Nonetheless, readers will adore my fictional version of the leader who portrays a strong and assertive soldier with an unsuspecting generous heart.”

Stefanidis’ Cypriot practice has carved the way for her humanities fabrication literature.

“As an migrant I person remained strongly acquainted with my Cypriot heritage. I anticipation to convey successful my caller the resilience and determination 1 has for their country,” she said.

Maria describes her style arsenic a blend of Romantic and Magical Realism. “Collectively the world is often depicted arsenic ‘a small much enriched,’ oregon much melodramatic than it existent is”.

Apart from the caller novel, she besides managed to write a children’s book, ‘The Cardboard Shoe Girl’, which is simply a story of anticipation and a caller name.

It is simply a “magical and captivating story” that she is excited for children to read.

Stefanidis hopes to motorboat some her caller books successful the coming weeks. Books will beryllium available connected the Amazon platform, Bilingual publication Shop successful Kogarah, Libraries and Dymocks.

She besides intends to clasp writer talks connected originative writing and her lit travel astatine schools and libraries successful Sydney.

“People often accidental to maine ‘I’d similar to write! But where bash I start!’,” she said.

“Nobody tin teach you to write. One indispensable write with the ink that drops from the heart.”

‘Larisa and the Speaker of Truth’ will beryllium available astatine the Bilingual Book Shop successful Kogarah, Sydney, various Dymocks bookstores and connected Amazon arsenic a paperback, hardcopy oregon eBook.

A publication motorboat and signing will besides beryllium advised astatine a aboriginal date.