Synopsis – Magic of Miramare
Three women meet on holiday in Kefalonia. Each is secretly filled with turmoil.
Stella must decide on whether her twenty-year affair with Anton has reached the end.
Melody must find a way to go back to the love she knows she has with Luke.
Eliana must overcome her own complicated relationship with love to find harmony with Dean.
Against the backdrop of the beautiful Miramare resort, the women quickly build a friendship and share their stories and deepest secrets, subconsciously guided by the magic of the Ionian Island.
With azure seas and clear blue skies, the women, and their partners, must find a way to nurture themselves before they can salvage their own relationships while navigating their attitudes to love. But can they find their way to a kinder, better place within themselves.
The Greeks have so many words for love, that they are guided and find a way through their own turmoil, to find the real happiness, love, and magic that exists within us all.
Follow strong, authentic female characters who have drive, sass, and attitude in this poetic narrative with a stunningly slow simmer. It’s a story that will capture your heart. Disappear into a world of love. Into The Magic of Miramare.
Author Bio
Born in London to Greek Cypriot parents, Soulla Christodoulou was the first in her family to go to university and later retrained to become a teacher. She has been writing since 2015 and has many more books in her.
Her novels, Broken Pieces of Tomorrow, The Summer Will Come, The Village House and A Palette of Magpies are available on Amazon alongside Alexander and Maria which was nominated for the RSL Ondaatje Prize 2021.
The Summer Will Come, a book club read in the Year of Learning Festival 2019, London Borough of Barnet Libraries, has been translated into Greek and is currently being queried with Greek and Greek Cypriot publishers.
Soulla is working on her next novel, The Pastry Girl of Malta and writing her first non-fiction book on the craft and magic of writing. She is consulting on a movie project inspired by one of her books and is learning a lot about the world of filmmaking. She is happiest writing and reading in her pretty garden Writing Room while drinking tea infused with cinnamon sticks and cloves.
Social Media Links –
Website: https://soulla-author.com/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soullasays/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1093752511304186/?ref=share_group_link&utm_source=sendfox&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cocktails-in-greece-kindnessmatters-and-a-new-soullas-books-facebook-group
Author Guest Post
A Journey of Inspiration: My Family Holiday in Kefalonia.
As I sit down to reflect on the journey that has brought me to the release of my sixth novel, my thoughts take me back to a family holiday in the stunning island of Kefalonia, and the same wave of inspiration washes over me in the same way it did when I first started to write the book in 2017.
This trip back in August 2014 was more than just a getaway; it was a transformative experience that deeply influenced my writing and taught me so much about myself.
From the moment we landed, the beauty of Kefalonia enveloped me. Crystal-clear waters, lush green landscapes, the smell of lemons and pine, and charming coastal villages painted a picture that felt almost surreal. As I wandered through the quaint harbour-side streets of Fiskardo, I found myself lost in thought, marvelling at the interplay of history and nature. It was a stark contrast to my everyday life, and I could feel the creative juices flowing in ways they hadn’t before.
One of the most striking moments of our trip was during our visit to Myrtos Beach. Standing on the edge of the cliff, breathing in the salty air, I was struck by an overwhelming sense of peace. The vastness of the sea reminded me of the depth of emotions we experience in life. It sparked something within me—a realisation that the struggles and joys I write about in my book, The Magic of Miramare, echo the adventures and challenges we face.
The Magic of Miramare is not just a story to me; it’s woven with the threads of my own experiences, dreams, and memories. Writing it has allowed me to explore themes of connection, love, and the unknown—themes that I began to understand on a deeper level during my time in Kefalonia. The island’s rich mythology and the enchanting turquoise waters mirrored the magical elements in my book, reinforcing the idea that inspiration often comes from unexpected places. Stella, in the book, is a writer too and she finds the same inspiration while on holiday there.
I engaged with locals, learned about their customs, and tasted the exquisite flavours of the region, each interaction adding a vibrant layer to my understanding of human connection. This experience reminded me that stories are birthed through the relationships we cultivate, much like the bonds represented in The Magic of Miramare. Just as my characters navigate their own quests for connection and self-discovery, I found myself doing the same.
Furthermore, the time spent with my family amidst such beauty created an unspoken magic that reignited my passion for storytelling. We laughed, we cried, shared stories, and dreamt of adventures, all while absorbing the captivating spirit of Kefalonia. Those moments sharpened my focus and clarified my voice as a writer. It’s fascinating how travelling to a place so rich in culture can unravel pieces of ourselves that we didn’t even know were hidden.
The serene sunrises over the Ionian Sea became my backdrop for contemplation. I began to jot down my thoughts and feelings, sketching out ideas that had previously been confined to the periphery of my mind. I realised that writing is not just about crafting a narrative; it’s also about understanding yourself and your place in the world.
As I returned home, I carried a piece of Kefalonia with me—an everlasting reminder of how our travels shape us and fuel our creativity. The vibrancy of the island, the warmth of its people, and the connection it fostered in my family served as a wellspring of inspiration for my writing. I’m forever grateful for that transformative summer holiday, and I’m excited to share these experiences with you as you read The Magic of Miramare. In doing so, I hope to share not only a story but also the deeper truths about love, connection, and the magic that exists in our everyday lives.
Kefalonia, in all its beauty, will remain a cherished chapter in my journey as a writer. And who knows? In reading the book, I hope that you too can discover the same magic that I found.
Thank you dearest Stacey-Ann for hosting me and my book.
