Hellenic Writers Group at St. George Festival - Photos - May 2017

The Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington DC attended the St. George Greek Orthodox Church Festival on May 5-7, 2017. Members that sold their books there were: Dr. Peter Paras, Calliopi Toufidou, Maria Antokas, Patty Apostolides, and Dr. Aphrodite Matsakis. Members that came to support our efforts were: Steven Galanis, Dr. Polyvia Parara, Dr. Nicholas Patronas, Lefteris Karmiris, and Dr. E. Stassinopoulos. We met many people, and rekindled old friendships, and overall, everyone had a wonderful experience! OPA!!

Next to our booth was the Grand Hall. Below, you can see how packed it was during the Greek Dancing. The buffet line was to the right and the pastries and coffee were in the back. The Greek band was playing on the left. So everything was concentrated in one place, but the enthusiasm and joy was evident.

Participating in St. George Festival in Bethesda May 5-7, 2017

The Hellenic Writers' group will have a booth at the St. George festival this year, like we did last year. 

The festival will take place May 5-7, 2017. It's a free event and a great opportunity for our authors to showcase and sell their books! 

Please stop by and say hello to us this weekend and support our efforts!

https://stgeorge.org

PS Books make great presents for Mother's Day, too!

Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington DC Meeting Feb. 26 2017

This is just a reminder that we will be having our monthly meeting on Sunday, 

Feb. 26 from 1-4PM at the Hellenic Center, 6505 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD.

Schedule:

1PM - Poetry Group meets - bring your poems to read out loud. Will discuss Greek poet Nikos Kavvadias and his poetry. Greek and English.

2PM - I will continue the course "How to publish your work on Amazon.com - Part II" - In this session, we will focus on preparing your manuscript for online submission. Formatting, editing, and much more will be discussed. Bring your laptops and questions.

3PM - Writing workshop - Critique members will comment on works (up to 20 pp) submitted by other members. 

Refreshments will be provided.

If you know of anyone who would be interested in our group, invite them to attend our meetings or have them contact me.

See you on Sunday!

Patty Apostolides, MFA

Award-winning journalist and author, John DeDakis Talks Dec. 18, 2016

The Hellenic Writers' Group of Washington DC was fortunate to have Emmy award-winning journalist and author John DeDakis speak to the Hellenic Writers Group of Washington DC, Dec. 18, 2016, at the Hellenic Center in Bethesda, MD.

AUTHOR BIO:

Journalist, Novelist and Writing Coach John DeDakis is a former Senior Copy Editor on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." DeDakis (pronounced deh-DAY-kiss) is the author of four mystery-suspense novels. Bullet in the Chamber, the fourth novel in the Lark Chadwick series, deals, in part, with the death of John's 22-year-old son Stephen in 2011.

During John's award-winning 45-year career in journalism (25 years at CNN), he has been a White House Correspondent and interviewed such luminaries as Alfred Hitchcock, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan. 

John's father, Nicholas George DeDakis, was a district governor of AHEPA in the Chicago area about 1930.

John DeDakis is a writing coach, manuscript editor, writing workshop leader, and has taught journalism at the University of Maryland – College Park, and American University in Washington, D.C.   He also regularly leads writing workshops at The Writer's Center in Bethesda and at the Politics & Prose bookstore in Washington. 

        John's website: www.johndedakis.com

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More about his interesting talk can be found here:

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

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DeDakis's books can be found on Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=john+dedakis

Have a Happy New Year 2017!!

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:

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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

 

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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.