My love affair with Greece

How I found Greece, or did Greece find me?

A decade ago, a very dear friend, Nick Burnell, invited us to join him and his family on their annual Greek holiday. Having heard about it over the years from them, we eventually wrenched ourselves away from Italy and France and took the plunge. It was love at first sight. I can't put my finger on why, but I immediately felt a heightened sense of connection to the country, the landscape, food and culture. Whether it's my childhood obsession with the myths and legends of Ancient Greece or not, there is something tangible in the air that resonates with me.

So many people think of the islands when it comes to Greece, but the mainland is as rich in spectacular scenery and white sandy beaches, plus there are the mountain micro climates providing a welcome respite from the scorching summer heat.

In 2013, the year after my mother died, I found an incredible peace and healing, perhaps a spiritual alignment by being there, having the space to process what life looked like without her. Greece gave me what I needed when I needed it, even before I knew what I was looking for. That very difficult time has certainly inspired my debut novel, 'One Last Letter from Greece'. The protagonist, Sophie, travels to mainland Greece, to Methoni in the southern Peloponnese to uncover a family secret. She finds much more than she was expecting......