Loretta Proctor's Blog, page 2
May 11, 2013
Soon be in Salonika
Looking forward, though not without a frisson of terror,to my talk at the American College in Thessaloniki which takes place on May 22nd. It's wierd how a large audience always alarms when I could talk for hours to a few friends. It's like some actors, I never quite get used to it though I did once give a talk in the beautiful Vancouver library to over a hundred people. Yeh, well I was younger then!
However, I know it will be a tremendous and rewarding experience to be in Greece. I love Thessaloniki so much. I look forward to taking coffee and cake at the top of a high rise restaurant in Aristotelous Square with it's glorious view over the horseshoe shaped bay, maybe watching the sunset over the sea.
However, I know it will be a tremendous and rewarding experience to be in Greece. I love Thessaloniki so much. I look forward to taking coffee and cake at the top of a high rise restaurant in Aristotelous Square with it's glorious view over the horseshoe shaped bay, maybe watching the sunset over the sea.
February 27, 2013
Next year will be a WW1 centenary Time to remember?
I'm getting quite worked up for next year's centeneary of WW1, a terrible conflict that began in July 1914 and drew all corners of the world into a clash of the Titans.
The Long Shadow was my first book and so it probably carries the most feeling input of all my work - though style and know how may have improved since then!
I have always felt strongly about the Eastern campaign which took place around the Northern Greek city of Salonika (modern day Thessaloniki) and wanted to bring it to people's attention. this arena of the war went mainly disregarded as most books tend to describe the horrors of the Western Front. But despite the lack of constant military engagement, the campaign in the Greece had other enemies. Malaria, freezing winter winds, terrible summer heat, boredom; when conflict did occur,there was almost total annihilation of the Allied troops engaged in battle due to the superior posiiton of the Bulgarian army high on a ridge called Devil's Eye.
Woven into all this is the story of Dorothy, a Red Cross nurse, and Costas, a Greek officer, who meet and fall in love. The second part of the book follows their son Andrew's story as he makes an epic journey to Greece as a young man to find his roots. Being Anglo Greek myself, I put my own heart and soul into this search for identity.
I am truly thrilled to have been asked to give a talk on The Long Shadow to the American College in Thessaloniki in May. The college is doing a project on the multicultural nature of the city at the time of WW1, which was indeed an amazing mix of races and religions then. It will be a fantastic experience to go there and meet the students.
For those interested in this story The Long Shadow ebook is for sale at $0.99 for one week. A printed copy is beign re-issued soon by Matador as the ist edition is now out of print.
Why not take a look? The Long Shadow
The Long Shadow was my first book and so it probably carries the most feeling input of all my work - though style and know how may have improved since then!
I have always felt strongly about the Eastern campaign which took place around the Northern Greek city of Salonika (modern day Thessaloniki) and wanted to bring it to people's attention. this arena of the war went mainly disregarded as most books tend to describe the horrors of the Western Front. But despite the lack of constant military engagement, the campaign in the Greece had other enemies. Malaria, freezing winter winds, terrible summer heat, boredom; when conflict did occur,there was almost total annihilation of the Allied troops engaged in battle due to the superior posiiton of the Bulgarian army high on a ridge called Devil's Eye.
Woven into all this is the story of Dorothy, a Red Cross nurse, and Costas, a Greek officer, who meet and fall in love. The second part of the book follows their son Andrew's story as he makes an epic journey to Greece as a young man to find his roots. Being Anglo Greek myself, I put my own heart and soul into this search for identity.
I am truly thrilled to have been asked to give a talk on The Long Shadow to the American College in Thessaloniki in May. The college is doing a project on the multicultural nature of the city at the time of WW1, which was indeed an amazing mix of races and religions then. It will be a fantastic experience to go there and meet the students.
For those interested in this story The Long Shadow ebook is for sale at $0.99 for one week. A printed copy is beign re-issued soon by Matador as the ist edition is now out of print.
Why not take a look? The Long Shadow
November 3, 2012
Grab a copy now!
This weekend is a chance to grab your copy of The Long Shadow while it's free on Kindle.
It's an epic tale of WW1 in Greece and how people then survived starvation, occupation, a terrible fire that swept Thessaloniki, malaria, flu...and they think they have problems now?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008M7JPBS
It's an epic tale of WW1 in Greece and how people then survived starvation, occupation, a terrible fire that swept Thessaloniki, malaria, flu...and they think they have problems now?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008M7JPBS
October 28, 2012
A trip to Hades or the Elysian fields?
A recent trip to Greece to research my sequel to The Long Shadow was partly work, partly pleasure. I always have a strange love-hate relationship with my mother's homeland. She had the same as well. It's because of the emotional investment in a country that is a part of one's genes. Greek experiences have always been deeply emotional and sometimes a little crazy. It certainly stirs and wakens the more sluggish, contented, country loving English side of my nature.
I found that, as always, media reports of a country on the brink of civil war are exagerrated. Northern countries don't understand that the Greeks have always been on the brink of civil war, always torn between left and right and find that a central viewpoint is not that easy to maintain. But despite this they retain their Homeric generosity, kindness and affability and life goes on as ever. The bars and eateries are full, the tourists roam freely and I felt safer at night in Athens than in my quiet little home town in England.
I found that, as always, media reports of a country on the brink of civil war are exagerrated. Northern countries don't understand that the Greeks have always been on the brink of civil war, always torn between left and right and find that a central viewpoint is not that easy to maintain. But despite this they retain their Homeric generosity, kindness and affability and life goes on as ever. The bars and eateries are full, the tourists roam freely and I felt safer at night in Athens than in my quiet little home town in England.
August 29, 2012
New freebie offer for Long Shadow
Greece is the topic but not the modern worries: a story set in WW1 Salonika and the tragic romance of a Red cross Nurse and a Greek officer. Will her son reconcile his dual nature?
The Long Shadow goes free on Amazon 1st and 2nd September.
Why not grab a copy?
The Long Shadow
The Long Shadow goes free on Amazon 1st and 2nd September.
Why not grab a copy?
The Long Shadow
July 31, 2012
Done well!
With huge thanks to any of you who tweeted, shared the Amazon giveaway of The Long Shadow ebook. Almost 9,000 downloads. Hope some get to read the book as well! The Long Shadow
July 25, 2012
Free books!!! The Long Shadow
For anyone who fancies a stirring tale in WW1 Greece; romance, dancing, Greek food and music against an authentic war time background. The Long Shadow on Amazon Kindle.The Long Shadow will be free to download from 27th to the 29th July.
June 22, 2012
Charlotte Bronte lovers
Take a look at my blog this week where my guest blogger is Kimberly Eve. She writes a most interesting and informative piece on Charlotte Bronte and her love for Constantin Heger. Quotes from Charlotte's letters and many new photographs.
http://booksandotherthings.blogspot.c...
http://booksandotherthings.blogspot.c...
June 16, 2012
Thanks to you all!
Many thanks to all those who entered my giveaway for Middle Watch. The five winners' books are on their way. They're being posted from the UK so give them a little while to get to you! I do hope you enjoy your read.
June 11, 2012
Last week, folks!
Loretta's giveaway of Middle Watch ends on Saturday June 16th so get your name down, you lovers of lighthouses, stormy seas and romance.
Readers are what we authors want!
Readers are what we authors want!
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