MY INTERVIEW WITH
What’s your name and what genre would you consider your books to be?
I would say the main genre is women’s fiction. Even though the three books are part of a trilogy, the focus and genre of each book is a little different. Evanthia’s Gift is a women’s fiction / contemporary romance / family saga with historical elements. Waiting for Aegina is strictly women’s fiction with some romantic elements. Chasing Petalouthes is a women’s fiction / contemporary romance coming of age story.
Tell me about your book. How did you come up with that (story, angle, idea)?
I began to write the first book was a story when my mother passed away. It was a way for me to deal with my grief and at the same time honor her graceful spirit and her heritage. It ended up being a generational saga and love story.
How did you get interested in writing this particular genre (historical novels, mysteries, sci-fi, children’s books, etc.)?
Women’s fiction and contemporary romance is what I like to read. It makes sense to write what you enjoy. I also enjoy the classics and historical fiction.
What kind of research did you do for this book?
For Evanthia’s Gift I needed to research and verify many of the stories I’ve been told by my mother and other relatives and friends regarding the German occupation in Greece. Even when I tapped into my own memories, I had to check timelines and facts.
Chasing Petalouthes also required a lot of research. I had to learn about wine and champagne making. One of the characters spends time in the Champagne region of France. I took a trip there for the purpose of research. That was quite memorable.
Can you tell me about your Series?
The series follows four generations of Greek and Geek-American women, their friends, family, loves and struggles. There are elements of romance, history, culture and tradition in each book. As a bonus, I’ve added recipes between some of the chapters.
Do you have a favorite book out of this series?
That is a very tough question, as I love each book for different reasons. But I would have to say, the first book, Evanthia’s Gift. This story was very personal. It was born from my grief and tapped into emotions I’ve had throughout my life. It is a fictional story but a good part of it was inspired by real events.
Where did you get the inspiration/idea for your series?
Like I’ve mentioned, the first book, Evanthia’s Gift was partly inspired by my mother, her love for family and her graceful spirit. I had a story in mind and I took that storyline and intertwined it with the story inspired on my mother.
Waiting For Aegina was inspired by my childhood friends and the reunion we had thirty years later. I wanted to write about a group of women who support each other and are loyal to the core. Often, teenage ideals do not translate into adult reality. This is the heart of the story.
Chasing Petalouthes was inspired by the current generation. The story goes back as far as the 1920s in Greece but mainly it is set in present time. In this book, the younger generation takes lessons from the elders in their lives. They struggle to live with current dilemmas while also holding to the traditions of their families.
Was it always meant to become a series?
When I began writing the first book, I didn’t know it would end up being a book. I wrote from my heart and soul. By the time I had finished, it was a 560-page length book. It’s split into two parts. You might say it is two books in one.
I fell in love with the characters and I decided to turn it into a series where each generation was represented.
What’s a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily writing goal?
I do not set a writing goal. Sometimes I can write for hours and hours. Other times I only have the time and inclination to write for an hour.
I do have a day job which cuts into my time to write and promote. I write on my days off, but mainly, late at night when everyone goes to sleep. I have an office off the kitchen where I do most of my writing.
Do you have a new book in the making and if so, what’s the name of your upcoming book?
The last book in the trilogy was released in June. I have notes and ideas for a new series but it’s still in the early stages.
How important are character names to you in your books? Is there a special meaning to any of the names?
Most of the names are Greek names. A few have special meaning. There are two main characters in Evanthia’s Gift – Anastacia and Sophia. They are mother and daughter.
The name, Anastacia comes from the Greek word Anastasi, which is the word for resurrection. The Anastasi service is the midnight Easter service. This was Anastacia’s favorite holiday and is featured in detail in the storyline.
Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom. Sophia is a level-headed (although sometimes naive) girl. She is, in some ways, more mature than the average girl her age.
Where do your ideas come from?
Ideas come from many sources. Family, friends, life experiences. I’m also a people watcher and I get inspiration from observing behaviors.
One reader wanted to share a difficult personal story with me and she thought I could use it in one of my books. I did use her story. I changed the details and made it my own, but what she went through as a young woman abused by a boyfriend was dealt with.
Is there a genre that you’ve been wanting to experiment with?
I recently wrote a short story that was not romance or women’s fiction. It didn’t have a happy ending either. It was dark and dealt with the serious problem of drug addiction.
What do you think of book trailers? Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book?
I do not have a book trailer. It is something I’ve been thinking of for a while. I don’t have the skills to do it myself. If I find someone who can create a trailer with my vision, I would love to have one done.
What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?
Aside from raising two accomplished and independent young women, it is definitely writing this series. When I began, I had no idea I would complete the first book, much less three! I was nervous, as all authors are I’m sure, that the book would not be well received. How pleasantly surprised I was when the reviews came in and I started to get a nice following of readers who were asking when the next book would be out.
What’s the best thing about being an author?
The creativity. My background is in performance theater arts. I got side tracked by the need to earn a living and later raising my children. I longed to get back to indulging my creative side. I love storytelling and developing characters.
What writing advice do you have for aspiring authors?
My advice is to approach writing and publishing as if you were being traditionally published. What I mean by that is to do it the right way. Perfect your work by using, critique partners, beta readers and professional editors. Also, make sure you get a professional cover designer and inside formatter. Finally, be committed to promoting your work.
If you didn’t like writing books, or weren’t any good at it, what would you like to do for a living?
Before I started writing the novel, I thought of trying to get my feet wet acting. It’s been a long time and I would have taken classes to brush up and improve those skills and talents. Once I began writing, I found it so fulfilling that I never looked back, only forward.
Do you read reviews of your book(s)? Do you respond to them, good or bad? How do you deal with the bad?
I read every single review. I love to hear what readers are thinking. I appreciate everyone who takes the time to review and I show my appreciation by reading each one.
I was told that it is an unwritten rule to never respond to reviews, especially the bad ones. No one book is going to appeal to every single person. That’s okay. Even internationally acclaimed authors get bad reviews. I do, however, respond to every reader who contacts me personally.
It’s funny, but even bad reviews can have a positive effect. Fortunately, I only have 2 one star reviews. Hard to believe, but it’s true. One woman wrote, ‘it’s a shame because the writing was pretty good, but between the cursing, vulgarity and sex, a warning label should have come with the description.’
The truth is there is not much cursing and is only used when certain characters are speaking. It’s not a vulgar book at all. I’ve read vulgar books and this one couldn’t be more opposite. The sex scenes, and there are only a few, are respectfully done between characters who love each other very much.
The result of this one star review was a spike in sales!
What are you working on now?
I write a food blog and I’ve been posting more often than normal. I am just beginning a new trilogy. This one will also be about a Greek-American family. This family will have a completely different dynamic than the one in The Gift Saga. The story will focus on three sisters.
Where did your love of books come from?
My mother loved the classics and she introduced me to them. East of Eden, Les Miserables, Lady Chatterly’s Lover were among the ones she gave me to read.
Do you have any favorite authors or favorite books?
East of Eden and Pride and Prejudice are my favorite classic novels. I especially love Jane Austen’s works. My favorite contemporary author is Sylvain Reynard, who is well known for his Gabriel’s Inferno series. I also enjoy Adrianna Trigiani, Chanel Cleeton, Deborah Harkeness and Colleen Hoover, just to name a few.
Of all the characters you have created, which is your favourite and why?
I love the male characters in my books. Alexandros, the love interest for Anastacia, is the gentleman every woman deserves. He had a tragic past, having lost his parents during World War II. They fought in the resistance and were brutally murdered by the Nazis. Yet, Alex isn’t bitter. He perseveres and is wise, loving and the best of men. He was my favorite throughout books one and two. But I loved the other important leading men as well – particularly Dean and Michael. But then I wrote the character of Zak in book three. He was only to be a passing character, featured in a couple of chapters. He ended up being a main character who also lost someone very important in his life. He deals with his loss and guilt with a bit of rebellion. He changes his appearance constantly, and sometimes his look borders on bizarre. But he will steal your heart with his gentle artist’s soul and his sweet nature.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
It definitely energizes me. I can start writing at nine in the evening, then look up at the clock and see it’s 2 AM. I’m usually so wired and full of ideas that I’m tempted not to sleep at all.
Where can your fans find you and follow?
I love hearing from fans. I have a Facebook author page, a food blog, and a Goodreads author page. I’m on twitter and Instagram. I have a newsletter signup and an email address dedicated to fans who would like to contact me. Below are my links:
Amazon author page- https://www.amazon.com/Effie-Kammenou/e/B013NZRWLI/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1488327067&sr=8-1
Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/effie-kammenou
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/EffieKammenou/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/EffieKammenou
instagram – https://www.instagram.com/effiekammenou_author/
Goodreads page-https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14204724.Effie_Kammenou
Food blog – https://cheffieskitchen.wordpress.com
Newsletter signup page – http://eepurl.com/bIoJl1
Fan contact e-mail – effiekammenou@gmail.com
Thank you for taking your time to do this interview ❤️
Thank you for your interest in interviewing me!
My Books-My World 