St. George Christmas Bazaar Dec. 2, 2023

 Dear HWGW members and friends,

The St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 7701 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, MD, is having its 4th annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, December 2, 2023, this year (see flyer) - please don't forget to mark your calendars, especially if you have a book or five waiting to be shared with the world.

The reward for this announcement is the opportunity to exhibit, promote, and sell our books at the bazaar! It can't get any better or easier for many of us. Early Christmas cheer!!

Likewise, we may find the perfect gift for Christmas by buying one of our HWGW members' books.

Many thanks to Presvytera Maria Antokas, who informed me about this early enough to share with you so you can make plans to show and sell your book(s). It is recommended that you be present physically to be able to promote your books properly. Presvytera Maria has already reserved a table at the bazaar and is happy to share it with us. Thanks, dear Maria.

Please write to hellenicwritersgroup@gmail.com if you are interested in attending.

Best wishes and regards to all,

Andie Petrides

Director, HWGW

Andie Petrides Will Be the New Director - 2023

Dear HWGW members and friends,

We are going through a transition as our founder and director, Dr. Ipatia (Patty) Apostolides, will be stepping down at the end of 2022. She has spent these past 8 1/2 years directing and teaching the craft of writing to members through the monthly meetings, as well as helping many become published authors. Since 2020, the monthly meetings have moved online, through Zoom, opening up our meetings to national and international participants.

We welcome the new director, Antigone (Andie) Petrides, MIB, who has graciously accepted the offer to become the next director of HWGW starting January 2023. The current president of H.S. Prometheas, Mr. Perry Stabekis,  has also been notified about this change. 

As many of you know, Andie has been an active member of our group for over three years and holds a Master's Degree in International Business. She is multilingual (4 languages), a prominent speaker and leader in her toastmaster organization, and a published writer. We are confident she will move the group forward with her outstanding leadership abilities. 

Presentation by Dr. Michael Cosby

 The Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington D.C. is proud to present 

Dr. Michael Cosby 

Available from Amazon.com

Dr. Cosby interviewed Dafnis Panagides, a mesmerizing storyteller from Cyprus, for this book. According to Cosby: "Dafnis grew up in rural Cyprus, fought against British colonial rule of the island, was a member of the first Cypriot parliament, almost finished his Ph.D. in horticulture, traveled widely, became the father of environmentalism in Cyprus, and was a tireless advocate for the rights of foreign workers." 

Dr. Diane Helentjaris will moderate the Zoom event.

Dec. 17, 2022 at 1pm. 

Check us on Facebook for more information!

The recording of the presentation is live on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0N9Ocwjeys

New Books by HWGW Members - Maria Antokas, Diane Helentjaris, and George Kouroupas

 The Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington, DC is proud to showcase books written by esteemed members of our group. 

Maria Antokas

Sweet Millions is available through: Amazon.com

*******

Diane Helentjaris

The Indenture of Ivy O'Neill available through Amazon.Com

*******

George Kouroupas

Parallel Roads available through Amazon.com

Nov. 19, 2022 - John Bokas Presentation

Hellenic Writers’ Group of Washington DC

Proudly Presents

John Bokas

Poet

Mr. Bokas will speak about his life and poetry, and recite his poems in Greek and English.

Dr. Polyvia Parara, Moderator

NOVEMBER 19, 2022

  1PM (8 PM Greek Time)

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Watch his presentation on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0swep9xo2xg

 

October 22, 2022 Meeting and Kyriaki Drakou Presentation!

 Dear members and friends,

We will have a Zoom meeting and presentation on October 22, 2022!

Our schedule:

12 PM (8 PM Greek time) - HWGW meeting - Share your poems and stories (up to 1400 words). No critique session at this meeting. Critique members are encouraged to contact each other directly via email for critiques.

1 PM (8 PM Greek time) - The Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington DC is honored to host the Greek poet Mrs. Kyriaki Drakou for her presentation in Greek and English. She has published more than ten (10) books of poetry and is an educator and painter! She has accomplished much in her life, and we are delighted to have her come and share her achievements with us. Mrs. Kalliopi Toufidou will be moderating the session. 

Kyriaki Drakou

                             We have included the recording from her Oct. 22, 2022 presentation here:

Thank you!

Patty Apostolides, PhD

Director, HWGW

September 24, 2022 HWGW Zoom Meeting 12-2PM

 Dear members and friends,

We hope you had a wonderful summer! Several members visited Greece this summer, while others have not returned yet from their travels. We are pleased to have new members joining us and look forward to their participation at our meetings.

Our next Zoom meeting will take place Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 12 PM. This will accommodate members living in Europe's time zone.  If you would like the link to the Zoom meeting, please email me at hellenicwritersgroup (at) gmail.com

Schedule

12PM - Share your poems (Greek or English) and essays/stories (English) up to 1400 words. 

1PM - Critique Session of manuscripts submitted by members (up to 20 pages).

This month, we will not have speaker presentations, but in October, we will have Kyriaki Drakou, Greek poet and author presenting, with Calliopi Toufidou moderating. All presentations will be recorded.

If you are of Greek descent, or married to a Greek, or a philhellene and are interested in writing and joining our group, email me so I can add you to our mailing list: hellenicwritersgroup (at) gmail.com

Looking forward to meeting you!

All the best,

Patty Apostolides, PhD

Director, HWGW

Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/684080788418631

Next meeting June 18 from 1-4pm via Zoom + Diane Helentjaris's new book

 Our next writers' group meeting will take place June 18 from 1-4pm vis Zoom. If you're interested in attending, or becoming a member, please contact the director Patty Apostolides at hellenicwritersgroup (at) gmail.com

Membership is free and open to Greek and Greek American writers.

Typically, our schedule has been the following:

1pm - Share our poetry and essays (I will send a writing prompt before)

2pm - Craft of writing lesson followed by a writing exercise

3pm - Critique of manuscripts that were submitted to Patty a week prior (up to 15 pages, sometimes we accept 20 pages) - Critique members submit their works and also read and review each other's works - from the Iowa workshop method

We are in the process of collecting short stories for our short story collection (if you're interested in submitting, let Patty know), and that will be the main focus for this last meeting of the season. Then we plan to have critique sessions July and August for our short stories (through Zoom).  Only open to active members of HWGW.

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Latest Book Release from our member:

Dr. Diane Helentjaris's book The Indenture of Ivy O'Neill  is now available!

Synopsis:

Ivy O'Neill's idyllic childhood ends in disaster in 1690 when red-coated soldiers cross the Celtic Sea to invade Ireland. While the O'Neill family struggles to survive on the Irish coast, George Stokely is building a life in the British Colony of Maryland. All he needs to make his Chesapeake tobacco farm thrive is more help. The Indenture of Ivy O'Neill is an immersive story of courage, the meaning of family, and the transformative power of immigration. 

Click link below to get a copy of the book:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1922329312/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_RMXC0H1YZ5BENPY4C30A?fbclid=IwAR0wkHhbf-MDJxr7xdP5nRauMamMtEB7ZcsHq_GfgBCn6HtHzIRQ2R2e2Os

Update

 The Hellenic Writers Group has been meeting monthly via Zoom since the Covid pandemic hit. We share our poems and essays during these meetings, talk about the craft of writing, as well as do a writing exercise. If there are any submissions, we critique them. Meetings typically take place on a Saturday from 1-4pm with breaks in between. 

We will not be having any more speakers until the Fall 2022. This will allow time for the members to work on their short stories for the short story collection.

If you would like to become a member you need to either be a member of H.S. Prometheas, a nonprofit cultural organization based in the Washington, DC area, or you must be Greek or Greek American. We have allowed philhellenes to join our group as friends. 

Membership in HWGW is free. If you are interested in joining our email list or becoming a member, email us at: hellenicwritersgroup(at)gmail.com

Conversation with Greek Poet Xanth Hondrou-Hill Feb. 12, 2022

 The Hellenic Writers Group of Washington DC is pleased to host the next event of 2022.

Join us Feb. 12, 2022 at 1pm (8pm Greek time) for a conversation with the Greek award-winning Poet Xanthi Hondrou-Hill. She will also recite some of her poems. Ipatia Apostolides, MFA, Director of HWGW will be the moderator.  No registration required. All Zoom presentations are recorded.

Click Zoom Link to attend the event: https://rebrand.ly/hwgw2022

See information below:

Cypriot Author Thales Panagides Zoom Presentation, Jan. 8, 2022 at 1pm

 

Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington DC proudly hosts Cypriot Author and Entrepreneur Thales Panagides on a Zoom presentation, January 8, 2022 at 1pm (8pm Cypriot time). Dr. Diane Helentjaris is moderator. Ipatia Apostolides, Event Host. Anthony Apostolides II, Technical Manager.

Click on Youtube link to watch the recorded event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSe1BrQzxRg

Cypriot Author and Poet Christos Tsiailis Zoom Presentation Dec. 11, at 1pm

 

The Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington DC is pleased to announce the Zoom presentation by Cypriot Author and Poet Christos Tsiailis on December 11, at 1pm Eastern Standard Time (8 pm Cyprus and Greece). Dr. Polyvia Parara, from the Classics Department, University of Maryland, is the moderator. Dr. Michael Tomazos is a special guest. Ipatia Apostolides, director of HWGW, is the event host. Anthony Apostolides II is the technical manager.

                                                            

The author comes from Athienou and Nicosia, Cyprus. He holds a degree in English language and literature from the University of Cyprus and serves the theatre as an assistant director while currently completing his postgraduate in theatrical studies at the Open University of Cyprus. 

His poems, short stories, literary articles, and reviews have been translated and published in literary magazines, newspapers, and anthologies in many countries. He has received numerous distinctions in Panhellenic and international literary contests in poems, short stories, and theatrical works. He appears as a judge in various literary contests in Greece and Cyprus and translates foreign literature to Greek. He takes part in literary festivals in different countries.

Dr. Polyvia Parara, professor of Greek at Maryland University will moderate the event and analyze some of his works. This will be followed by a presentation by the author. Guest of honour will be Dr. Michael Toumazou, professor of Greek and Roman Art and architecture at Davidson Liberal Arts College, who will talk about the author’s involvement in archaeological excavations in the town of Athienou during his teenage years and the influence this experience had on his literary work. Also, special guests are Dr. Clay Coffer, Anne Wilson, and Mayor Kareklas of Athienou, Cyprus.

A Question-and-Answer period follows the presentation. The event was recorded.

Watch this presentation on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqc4uGjNAEQ

                            Christos Tsiailis's books are available on Amazon.com

Amalia Balch Presentation

 

Amalia Balch, author of Lost Child of Greece, has been invited to speak to the Hellenic Writers' Group on Nov. 6, 2021 at 1pm.  

Andie Petrides will be moderator.

AMALIA BALCH

A true story of an orphan's journey in search of her Greek roots.

Here is the Youtube link for her presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5MaY8FQP9E

Meeting and Stella Lagakos Book Talk June 12, 2021

 

The Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington DC will be having our last meeting of the season this coming

 Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 12 noon followed by Stella Lagakos's book talk at 1pm. Dr. Polyvia Parara 

will moderate the book talk event. Just click on the link below when you're ready to attend. 

No registration is required.

Schedule:

12 - 12:55 - Share our poems (Greek or English) and essays (English). The topic for our essays (up to 1000 

words) is your choice. If you want your manuscript critiqued (6-15 pages), email it to me and I will send it t

o the critique members. They will send you their review directly.

12:55 - 1pm - Short Break

1pm - Book Talk by Stella Lagakos. Dr. Polyvia Parara of the University of Maryland Modern Greek Studies Program 

will moderate the event.  See the link to the recording below.

Since this will be our last meeting/event before our summer break, it would be good to attend and 

participate in the meeting as well as support our authors. If you cannot make it, we wish you a safe 

and enjoyable summer!

Click to see the video presentation of Stella Lagakos's talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsneJh96_ac

Lynne and Valerie Constantine book talk May 29, 202

Greek American sisters Lynne and Valerie Constantine will give a Zoom book talk May 29 at 2pm. They will speak in English about their bestselling thrillers that have been translated into 28 languages! Their books are also being developed into films!

Lynne

Lynne is a former marketing executive with a Master’s degree in Business from Johns Hopkins University. She has explored coral reefs all over the world, sunken wrecks in the South Pacific, and fallen in love with angelfish in the Caribbean. When Lynne’s not writing, you can find her curled up with her Labrador and Golden Retrievers reading a good book or walking the beach thinking up devious plans for her characters.

Lynne is a board member of International Thriller Writers.

Valerie

Valerie has always loved books and spent many nights reading by the light of her bedside lamp until 3 a.m. She lives with her husband and their brilliant Cavalier King Charles babies, Zorba and DaVinci.

Early in her career she served as a White House Assistant in the President’s Scheduling and Advance Office planning presidential trips and travel and has visited over forty foreign countries. She has a degree in English Literature. When she’s not writing, you won’t find her, as she and her husband will be traveling to some faraway destination

Visit their website for more information:

 https://livconstantine.com

Click the Youtube link to watch their video presentation: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKXGZSgqI94

GLIMPSES OF OUR WORLD Poetry Recital

Our poetry recital GLIMPSES OF OUR WORLD (April 3, 2021) is now live on Youtube! 

Poets from our Hellenic writers' group recite their poems in English and Greek from the poetry book, as well as Dr. Parara's informative and enlightening introduction. I hope you enjoy!

The reciting poets:

Ipatia Apostolides

Lynn Pattis Francis

Steven Galanis

Marina Hall

Dr. Diane Helentjaris

Stella Lagakos

Amphitrite Constantelos-Manuel (Dr. Nicholas Patronas recites for her)

Aphrodite Pallas

Dr. Peter Paras (Andie Petrides recites in his memory)

Dr. Nicholas Patronas

Andie Petrides

Calliopi Toufidou

Click on link below to watch poetry recital:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5O6tW1RU9s

DIASPORA poetry book by Dr. Diane Helentjaris

 We are excited to relate to you that our member Dr. Diane Helentjaris has published a poetry chapbook titled "Diaspora." It is available both in paperback and ebook formats on Amazon.com. Please take a moment and check out her poems. 

This is what her Amazon page says about her book:

"Poems of forging an American life. In 1910 Anastasius, in defiance of his father, immigrates from Greece to the United States. Diaspora speaks powerfully of the aftermath. Poverty, wars, miscommunications, new roles for women emerge. The family struggles to bridge the challenges of time and distance in the age before modern technology knit the world together. The word "diaspora" comes from the Greek term for "to scatter." Today new immigrants scatter across the globe. Diane Helentjaris, in her debut chapbook, shares the story of one of the many immigrants who went before them. Poetry lovers - teens and adults - with an interest in family, justice, immigration, women's history, and modern Greece will enjoy this strongly themed collection."

Here is the link to her books on Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YS61WD5/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1615844971&sr=8-1

March 20, 2021 Zoom Meeting

 

Our next Zoom meeting will take place Saturday, March 20 from 1-3pm. Dr. Diane Helentjaris will be moderating this meeting. I have too many other commitments this month that conflict with our group's meeting. I apologize for any inconvenience. I will be back in April!! 

Tentative Schedule:
1pm - Share your poem or 2page essay/story based on the following writing prompt: Write a maximum of two pages. Describe and discuss your favorite place.  We had so much fun last time listening to your travel stories. I am sure you will have fun with this one, too!
1:55pm - 2:05pm - Break
2:05 pm - 3pm - Critique Session. Please send your submissions (up to 15 pages) by March 14 to Diane Helntjaris.
Although I will not be present at the meeting, I will review and critique submissions (Diane will send them out). After you read and review, please bring to the meeting and also email your critique directly to the author. All submissions are confidential and should not be shared outside of the group. Thank you!!

Here is the link for the Mar. 20 Zoom meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85138049720

Save the date:

April 3 at 1pm - Poetry Recital. We will have our Zoom poetry recital by several poets 

reciting poems from the poetry book anthology GLIMPSES OF OUR WORLD. Please 

reserve the date! Andie Petrides will recite Dr. Paras's poem, in his memory. More to 

come soon.

NOTE: I have set up a Youtube channel for our writer's group and made a logo (with the help of Anthony Apostolides).  Over the course of the next few weeks, we will transfer all our videos to this new site from his event management site.               https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA1s3czZbRa_n676XV7Sv4w/videos   Feel free to go to the Youtube channel and subscribe.  Warm regards,   Patty Apostolides, Director HWGW

Valetine's Day Poetry Reading

 

The Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington DC 

hosts a Valentine's Day Celebration via Zoom 

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Feb. 14, 2021 

1pm

Sotiria Kyrmanidou, Greek author and poet

 presents her works and recite poems (Greek and English).

(Calliopi Toufidou, Moderator)

Click the link to watch the video

https://youtu.be/Aqbsz-HwWFw

Ms. Kyrmanidou has published 6 poetry collections and many fairy tales and educational content such as disability, mental health, traffic education and the most recent, referring to the Covid19 pandemic.  She has won more than 45 awards, been honoured for her social and writing texts and poems; reviews of her work have been published in newspapers and magazines, while she is very often invited to radio and TV stations.

She studied Social Work in Athens at the School of Social Work. She worked almost ten years  for people with disabilities at the Iron Castle KEP and then in special schools In Serres, Greece.

Special thanks to Calliopi Toufidou, Moderator, and Anthony Apostolides II, Event Manager