Hellenic Writers Group Monthly Meeting Oct 16, 2016

The Hellenic Writers Group of Washington DC held their monthly meeting at the Hellenic Center .

The schedule

1:00 PM - Poetry Group - Discussed the life and poems of Greek poet Kiki Dimoula. She has been awarded the Greek State Prize twice (1971, 1988), as well as the Kostas and Eleni Ouranis Prize (1994) and the Αριστείο Γραμμάτων of the Academy of Athens (2001). In 2009, Ms. Dimoula was awarded the European prize for literature for 2009. She is also a member of the Academy of Athens.

Ms. Dimoula reciting her poetry in Greek:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWfBAmvIYhg&list=PLFB5600B7C45AF383

Ms. Dimoula's poetry in English, translated by Olga Broumas:

http://www.thedrunkenboat.com/kikidimoula.html

2:00PM - Writers' Group Meeting - Discussed  the Chicago Writers' Conference and shared notes from the different presentations attended by Patty Apostolides, including publishing advice, editing, agents,  etc. Lots of useful information! Also, discussed ideas for up coming booksigning events. 

3:00PM - Writers' Critique Group - Submitted works by members  were commented upon by the critique group members.

Dr. Nicholas Kokonis Talk and Booksigning April 9, 2016

The Hellenic Writers' group is pleased to announce that Dr. Nicholas Kokonis, clinical psychologist, poet and author, will be giving a talk about his novels (Arcadia, My Arcadia; Out of Arcadia; and Ellada Mou Patrida Mou) on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 7701 Bradley Blvd., Bethesda, MD, 20817.  This is a free event and open to the public.

Patty Apostolides, Director of the Hellenic Writers' Group, will MC the event. Dr. Polyvia Parara will speak in both Greek and English about Ellada Mou Patrida Mou, the Greek translation of Arcadia, My Arcadia.

Her speech will be followed by Dr. Kokonis ' presentation, reception, and booksigning. Part of the proceeds from the book sales will benefit the Hellenic Center, 6506 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817.

Dr. Kokonis has published three novels dealing with Greek immigrants. His books are listed below and available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Nicholas+Kokonis&search-alias=books&field-author=Nicholas+Kokonis&sort=relevancerankn.com:

 More information about this free event can be found here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dr-nicholas-kokonis-presentation-and-booksigning-tickets-23649228479

Monthly Meeting Feb. 6 2016

The Hellenic Writers' Group will be having its monthly meeting on Feb. 6, 2016 at the Hellenic Center in Bethesda, MD. The weather has been good, so we can plan these meetings with surety.

The meeting will begin at 10AM with the Poetry Group. Bring your poems to share with others. We will discuss different poetry techniques as well as poems by well-known poets.

This will be followed at 11AM by the Writers Class session. Bring your works to share with others. We will discuss the craft of writing as well as do a writing exercise.

Refreshments will be available.

See you there!

January 2, 2016 Hellenic Writers' Group Meeting

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Writers' Group of Washington DC will start off the New Year 2016 with a group meeting at 

the Hellenic Center.

Schedule:

10-11 am - Poetry Group

11-12pm - Writers' Workshop

12-1pm -  Writers' Group Meeting 

A few members wrote poetry for Christmas, and we would like to share below:

-------------

Christmas

 

May the brightness of Christmas

Shine in your eyes

To change the way you see life

And give light to

The ever increasing darkness.

 

May the goodness of Christmas

Fill your hearts with joy,

To cherish everything and everyone

Under the sun and the moon,

Tall or small, rich or poor.

 

May the spirit of Christmas

Send you the ultimate peace

That embraces stillness

And wraps you in a blanket

Of snow-white love.

 

May the beauty of Christmas

Stir the love inside

Each and everyone of you

So that you may witness

The miracle of Christ's birth.

May the love of Christmas

Join hands with you

And bind the hearts

Of family and friends

Not only on Christmas day,

But on every day.

 

by Patty Apostolides, 2015

 

-------------------------

 

Χριστούγεννα   2015

 

Μέρα γιορτής, μεγάλη

Της Χριστιανοσύνης

Μέρα χαράς, αγάπης και ειρήνης

Φίλοι κι’εχθροί ανταμώνουνε

Και λεν ν’αγαπηθούνε

Κι’ολου του κόσμου τα παιδιά

Τρέχουνε να χαρούνε

Αν είναι τούτη τη φορά

Τις αμαρτίες ν’αφήσουν

Κι’ολα τα μίση πούχανε

Ήθελε να ξεχάσουν

Χριστούγεννα να είχαμε

Αλήθεια κάθε μέρα

Μα υποκρισία και ψευτιά

Πόλεμοι, διστυχία,

Πείνα, αρρώστιες και πνιγμοί

Δεν έχουν προθεσμία

Η δε χλιδή δε νιάζεται

Η φρίκη δεν ζυγιέται

Μα στον φτωχό τον ανθρωπο

Ενας Χριστός γεννιέται

Τούστειλε σήμερα βροχή

Για να ξεπλύνει τις πληγές

Τις αμαρτίες όλων

Και το αστέρι φάνηκε

Μετά την καταιγίδα

Κι’εφερε το μήνυμα:

AΓΑΠΗ και ΕΛΠΙΔΑ!    

                    

Kalliopi Toufidi Christmas 2015

 

Holiday, the biggest of Christianity

A day of joy, of love and peace

Friends and enemies  meet

And say would love

All children of the world

Run for joy

If this is the time

For sins to be left

And all hatred would be forgotten

Christmas would really be every day

But hypocrisy and deceit,

Wars, misery, hunger,

Deseases and drownings

Don’t have time limit

Opulence doesn’t care

Horror not scales

But for poor man

Christ is born

He sent him today the rain

To wash away the wounds and sins of all

And the star appeared after the storm

It brought the message:

LOVE AND HOPE

 

 

                           Kalliopi Toufidi Christmas 2015

 

Editor Herta Feely talk on November 14, 2015

The Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington DC was fortunate to have editor Herta Feely give a lecture on writing and editing on November 14, 2015 at the Hellenic Center, 6506 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817.

Mrs. Patty Apostolides, director of the writers' group, introduced Mrs. Feely, who is the founder and owner of Chrysalis Editing.

Mrs. Feely is also an author and ghostwriter, and has helped many authors' works. An enthusiastic speaker, Mrs. Feely shared with the group excerpts from one of her novels to pinpoint certain aspects of writing. She also covered the editing process, and this was followed by a question and answer period and booksigning. Overall, it was a pleasant and informative event for all who attended.

Oct. 31, 2015 Writers' Group Meeting/Workshop/Poetry Meeting

We are having a writers' group meeting on Oct. 31, 2015 at the Hellenic Center, 6506 Bells Mill Rd. in Bethesda, MD, at 10AM.

This will be followed by the writers' workshop and poetry group meeting.

See you there!
Patty

Talk and Booksigning by Dr. Paras

On October 17, 2015, the Hellenic Writers' Group hosted a talk and booksigning by Dr. Peter Paras on his new book The Question of Oneness: The Unification of the Christian Faith. We had a good attendance at the Hellenic Center and the event was deemed successful.

More information on Dr. Paras's book can be found here:  

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1498440673 

Dr. Peter Paras Book Talk - October 17, 2015

We would like to invite you to attend the following event:

 

The Hellenic Writer's Group of Washington DC Presents

 

MEET THE AUTHOR

Dr. Peter Paras

Saturday, October 17, 2015

11AM - 1PM

Hellenic Center - 6506 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda MD 20817

Dr. Peter Paras will discuss his new book

The Question of Oneness: Unification of the Christian Faith

followed by booksigning and refreshments.

Writers' Workshop moved to Oct. 3

The writers' workshop has been moved to October 3, and will be at the Hellenic Center, 10-12pm.
Please note the changes.
Thank you!

Hellenic Writers' Group Meetings in September

We hope you have had a good summer and are refreshed and relaxed! We had a chance to visit family in Florida this summer (Tarpon Springs and Clearwater Beach) and enjoyed the sun and the beaches.

Our writers' group is starting up again in September, 2015. Here are the following dates:

1) Hellenic Writers' Group meeting - Saturday, September 19, 2015 at the Hellenic Center off of Democracy Blvd. It starts at 10:00AM and finishes around 12:00 PM.
      - We will share our writing

      - Discuss/plan  the upcoming "Meet the Author" for October.

      - Cover some writing techniques.

       - Writing exercise

       - Go over future events.

2) Poetry Group meeting - Saturday, September 19, 2015 at the Hellenic Center right after the Writers' Group meeting. (12pm - 1pm)

        - Share our poetry

         - Go over poetry techniques

         - Discuss future "Poetry slam" event for November.

3) Hellenic Writers' Workshop meeting - Saturday, September 26, 2015 at the Hellenic Center off of Democracy Blvd. It starts at 10:00 AM and finishes around 12:00PM.

           - This workshop is limited to those who have written works that are longer than 20 pages (includes short stories, novels, memoirs, nonfiction) and would like to have them critiqued. It requires commitment of time, as we all will send in our works at least a week before the meeting to give everyone a chance to read and comment. The session meets at least once a month, if not more, from September - December. Then it will resume in March and go until June. This will allow everyone time to write and also bypass the inclement weather during Jan-Feb. If you are interested in joining this group, please email Patty at: patty@pattyapostolides.com

As always, there will be refreshments at these meetings, and plenty of smiles!

If you have a friend that you would like to bring along who might be interested in joining the group, please feel free to do so. We are bilingual and speak both English and Greek.

Looking forward to seeing you all again!

Patty