Loretta Proctor's Blog

Wonderful Trip to Greece for book launch!

Back from a fabulous trip to Thessaloniki in Northern Greece. My book The Long Shadow has now been published in Greek by www.oceanida.com who made a wonderful translation and beautiful book.Now called O Iskios tou Polemou...the Shadow of War.

It was so exciting to have the launch at the prestigious bookstore Ianos in Aristotelous Square and a presentation was made by the historian Maria Kyriakidou, and readings by two academic teachers Anna Koustinoudi and Aigli Brouskou. All wonderful ladies who made me feel so welcome and honoured. Lovely too to meet Nikos Megapanos, my handsome publisher, who took my husband and myself on a tour of Thessaloniki! Great food, great company and hopefully lots of great sales.
We also did a short radio interview on Radio Athens and a trip to a high school in Kilkis to talk to some gorgeous kids aged 15-17 whose questions were so wise and interesting. (Spoke Greek for two hours and was whacked out!!)

Looking forward to going back next year! Such fun!!

One Last Day for Middle Watch Giveaway

Go for it if you want to win a free copy of Middle Watch! Tomorrow, Saturday, is the last day to enter.

If you love lighthouses, if you love the se, if you like a 1950's British style romance...try this one!

Two Offers you can't Miss!

Dying Phoenix Giveaway!

I will be giving away four copies of Dying Phoenix, my latest novel and a sequel to The Long Shadow.

It starts on April 4th and ends on April 11th...why not give it a go! Open to US, UK, Greece, Canada and other countries.

The story takes place during the difficult period when Greece was taken over by a right wing military dictatorship.

The Long Shadow in Greek!

I'm so delighted to announce that Oceanida.gr will publish The Long Shadow in Greece later this year. As it's set mainly in Greece and covers the little known Salonika campaign I feel that to be my greatest wish fulfilled. My Greek mother would have been so proud and happy...hope she can see what's happening wherever she is now!

All being well, a book signing in Thessaloniki is on the cards. A visit to my favourite city in Greece and a meet up with wonderful friends and relations. Can't wait. Hope some fans will be there too!

A Countdown opportunity!

It's time to use some of your Xmas vouchers on Amazon? Why not grab Dying Phoenix now on Amazon Kindle Countdown till Jan 6th?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dying-Phoenix...

Dying Phoenix is here!

The book is now available in print form and in Kindle. The cover by Bradley Wind is terrific.
Thanks to all those who helped proof read, edit, read an advance copy. You've all helped me so much. And, of course, many thanks to all the wonderful Greek people I met last October who gave me their stories and their feelings about a truly difficult period of modern Greek history. I hope I've done you justice.
Dying Phoenix

Dying Phoenix on the way

The print and Kindle editions of Dying Phoenix will soon be here. If you enjoyed The Long Shadow, then you'll want to know what happens next in this sequel which moves the story on to 1966-67 when the Colonels took over Greece in a military coup. It was a terrifying time for any one who opposed their extreme right wing regime.

Middle Watch going free!

For those who are interested in Middle Watch, there's a free weekend on Amazon Kindle 19th- 21st July, so why not go for it then!

Please blog or tweet as well, if you have time. It's a romantic story set amongst the lighthouses and coasts of England. Plenty of stormy seas and passions. :-)

http://www.amazon.com/Middle-Watch-eb...

Amazing time in Thessalonki

Giving the keynote adress for the workshop at ACT Thessalonki was such a tremendous experience. I wasn't nervous after all. And the creative writing workshop was fun too. The college is just gorgeous...I wish I could be a student in such a college and setting, at the foot of the Hortiach Hills, looking out over pine woods, sweeping mountains, the sea glittering blue in the distance. The campus is laid out with gardens, lovely buildings modern and old. The staff and students cheerful, happy, engaged.
I loved every minute and had a little flat in an attic to stay in so that I could sit out on the balcony at night; quiet, peaceful, enjoying the cool night air after a really hot sunny day.
Back in the UK now and guess what? It's raining.