10.10.2018

I made the big and particularly difficult decision to give an interview to myself. I don’t believe I did anything original because I’m sure that other writers, journalists, and people with various other occupations have done something similar. Therefore, my goal was not to do something unique or special. I tried, and I think I managed, at least to some extent, to be a little more revealing. And that was my aim.

– I would like to learn something about you. Something minimal, or even something beyond what’s on your resume, that you feel the need to share with us.

I was born in May 1978 in Larissa, and since then this month has always held something special for me. Usually, every year, many unique and unforgettable things happen to me during this month.
Until I was thirteen, I lived in Larissa, in the eastern suburbs of the city, and that was my entire world. Everything I had and everything I did unfolded there. It was the center of my own universe. Except for the summers, which I spent on the beaches of the region. From 1991, we emigrated as a family to Germany, to the city of Frankfurt. An emigration that was destined to change our lives. Today, we don’t feel any regret about that choice. Our horizons have expanded considerably, giving us many opportunities for our future.

– I want you to mention one strength and one weakness of your character.

As a strength, I have a sense of justice. I am fair with everyone and everything. As a weakness, I have perfectionism. However, I would also like to mention my pride, which sometimes acts as a strength and at other times as a weakness, depending on the circumstances.

– When did you start writing, and what event pushed you to publish your first book?

I started writing in middle school, mainly little poems. In high school, I thought I had reached a very high level of writing, nurturing from then on the dream first of being a poet and later a writer. I believed I wrote very well and wanted more than anything else to become a writer.
However, my life was unfolding in such a way that this dream remained inside me as a very sweet unfulfilled desire, until something happened that changed everything. My admission to the hospital and the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis confined me to a more sedentary life and work. At that time, I saw my future as uncertain and had to make radical decisions immediately and change everything. The beast of multiple sclerosis had begun to take control of my life, but just when everything seemed lost, my long-lost dream resurfaced. Lying in the hospital bed, I made the big decision to become a writer—definitively and irrevocably. After all, my condition allowed no further postponements.

As a strength, I have a sense of justice. I am fair with everyone and everything. As a weakness, I have perfectionism. However, I would also like to mention my pride, which sometimes acts as a strength and at other times as a weakness, depending on the circumsta

– This event definitely affects your life. To what extent does it affect your writing, and does it influence it positively or negatively?

Writing is my life, and since it affects my life, it affects writing as well. Due to my health, I cannot work like a healthy writer—that is, to fit my life into some “mold,” starting at nine in the morning with writing and dedicating eight hours to it. This isn’t possible, although I don’t know the exact schedules of other writers. If they really work that way, I am quite far from it. In my case, on a daily basis, everything depends solely on the state of my health.

– Your first book is “How Greek Are You?”. Why did you write it, and what message do you want to send to your readers?

Geographically, Switzerland belongs to Europe, but in essence, it is far removed from everything. This alone was a very important reason for me to study this country. Also, the choice of immigrants to continue living there is an exceptional but very difficult decision. Someone’s choice to live in a wealthy country provided yet another reason for me to write my first book, referring to this country. And I combined all this with the Greek diaspora! What is it like to live as an immigrant in a country where its inhabitants play golf and have solved their financial problems? What is it like to live far from Greece in a country where not many of your compatriots reside?
There is also the wounded morale of Greeks. From a country of ideas, we found ourselves running to catch up with other countries that once did not exist. But that is life! Global history teaches us this. Civilizations flourish, and then decline. And this decline coincides with the rise of other civilizations. Let’s not fool ourselves! Our civilization may not flourish again. We must not live with illusions. Yet we are obliged to rediscover our identity. A significant factor is that we have fallen far behind culturally. This, it seems, has set us back. While all of Europe was experiencing the Renaissance, we were merely surviving. This delayed us! And for that reason, we must be ready! We need a new Renaissance, just like Europe now does.

– What do you believe is the future of Europe, and what is your vision? How achievable do you think it is?

When the project of a United Europe began, I felt proud and confident about the bright future of the Old Continent. Now, I feel, like so many others, that I was deceived. I cannot predict or even imagine its future. My vision was the same as that of many Europeans: a humane Europe. In no way a continent of technocrats, as it has ultimately developed. I do not know whether it is achievable. We shall see!

– What is your opinion on climate change?

It concerns me greatly. Nature is taking revenge, and I believe we have not yet faced the most extreme situations. The planet will endure, as it always has, but the question is what will happen to all living beings, whether animals or plants. I want to believe that there is still time to undertake radical changes and to limit, even ultimately eliminate, pollution in all its forms.

– What role does love play in your life?

Love, emotion, and, in general, all intense feelings are the beginning of creation. They are the driving force. The raw material for writers, as well as for all artists.

– Apart from writing books, we’ve seen you engage in other activities as well. Certainly related to writing, but also in different ways. I’m referring to journalism, theater, and cinema. Tell us a little about these pursuits of yours.

Journalism was never part of my dreams. It came into my life unexpectedly at some point. It started timidly but over time developed into an intense activity that I respect immensely! It is a way of seeking the truth. Of course, it is not literature, but it can help in collecting ideas, images, and situations that a writer needs.
Now, regarding theater and cinema, that is, scriptwriting, it is a great passion of mine, which over time proved insufficient. I did meet remarkable people, such as Mr. Alexandros Kakavas, whom I consider my mentor and whose advice I follow closely, but my first attempts in both theater and screenwriting failed. During the two years I spent on theater and cinema, I may have fallen behind as a writer and delayed myself, but I learned important things that helped me grow considerably. I improved a lot in writing a book from beginning to end, that is, from the conception of a good idea to its completion.

– Which book stands out for you in Greek literature and which in foreign literature?

A book that I really liked may not have appealed to others at all. For this reason, I don’t want to mention any book. The appeal of a good book is entirely subjective!

– In the books you read, were there any that you didn’t finish, left in the middle, or abandoned? And if so, why?

Yes, of course, although I know that in doing so I did a disservice to the author and the story of the book. The reasons are many, but I don’t want to name them. What is certain is that each author addresses a different audience, and we all naturally favor certain types of books over others. For the same reason, an author should never try to write for everyone. A huge mistake. The same applies to reading. It is natural that some of the books we read do not appeal to us. That does not mean they are not worthwhile.

– What should we expect from you in the future?

I have almost finished the book I am writing, which deals with multiple sclerosis. However, I have decided not to submit it for publication yet. My next books will be crime novels, and of course, I will continue to focus on writing plays.

– What are the three words that describe yourself?

Fighter, ethical, kind.