thepurplepencp

 Don't cry because it's over don't cry because of its sour flavour allow a believer  to be your leader Count the rainbows that walk in the glow horizon count the changes that are engaged on stage Let my soul smile through my heart and let my heart find its sweetheart Don't let me fall apart let me be your counterpart. Your natural style cannot be hostile. Your friend and you, should reconcile because there is one more smile. "One more smile..."

 If there is a book you want to read don't let yourself bleed. Pick the book up and grab your loving cup. Sit on your couch don't leave your house let silence sit immense upon your soul and enjoy your casserole. You know you are a bookworm you don't need to reconfirm release a smile on your face without feeling disgrace. Release your smile in the meanwhile make it worthwhile because there is "One more smile..."

 Hello everybody,  think it's time to interview Georgia's sister, Fani. I hope you enjoy her interview as much as you liked Georgia's.  Me: 'Hello there, Fani! I'm so glad to have you here. Fani: 'It's my pleasure.' There is a faint smile and a little frown on her face which makes me ask myself whether she is glad to be here with me or she's lying. Me: "Are you ready then?" Fani: 'Yes". Me: 'First things first. Tell me about Georgia and Eleni. Did you get on well as sisters or were you always fighting like most siblings do?' Fani: 'In general we had a good time together, we got on well and whenever Eleni couldn't do a chore or something our father would assign her to do, we would help her secretly. We didn't want our father to scold her, though he never really cared about her'.  Me: 'Why is that?' Fani: 'You don't know?!'  If you could only see the irony in her eyes... Me: 'Of course ...

  Today I have decided to interview Georgia from my debut novel, 'One more smile...' Are you ready to indulge into her life? Here we go... Me: ' Hello Georgia, how are you?' Georgia:' I'm fine. Thank you.' Me: 'Well, shall we start the interview? I'm sure the people out there and those who have just heard about you are interested in learning about your character.' Georgia: 'That's fine. Let's get started then'. Me: 'Alright then. Tell me about your childhood. Was it a happy one? Did you have friends? Close friends?' Georgia: 'Hey! One question at a time!' (laughter) Well... though my parents and I lived in extreme poverty I must say that I had a fairly nice childhood. Me and my sisters were brought up in a very strict household though my step-mother never treated us badly. It was my father who was the strict one in the family. Whenever me and my sisters, Fani and Eleni that is, were naughty, our step-mother Vas...

 Hi everyone,  How are you doing?  As you all know, apart from being an author, I'm an English teacher as well.  The thing is that, with all this COVID 19 thing going on I have to wear a mask when I go to my students' house. As I have had my brain surgery, I need to be extra careful not to contract COVID 19 or catch a cold or another virus.  It's frustrating I must say, as it is difficult to pronounce the words to the little ones who are learning the basics of English. Sometimes I have to move further to the back of the room, pull my mask down and pronounce the word and have them repeat after me. It's difficult for them too, as they need to learn the phonetics through me but the good thing about this is that they are willing to learn English with me. They were very happy to see me when the quarantine was over. They came up to me, hugged me, kissed me... What else can a teacher ask for? Their students' love.  Well, I hope this pandemic is eliminated as soon ...

 Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Inhale calmness. Exhale stress. Make a cuppa. Sink into a chair. Allow yourself to pick up a book. Allow yourself to smile. Disappear into your smile. Keep this 'One more smile...' into your heart.  Yours, Chrisoula 

  You were the one and only person the person who gave me life you were the one and only person who gave me your precious advice. How can I ever forget you? Forget your sweet smile? I will have to make do with your absence for a very long while. Who are you Death? Who are you? A monster or a beauty? You are a monster, that is for true who will always be on duty. Oh Father! What a pity! Cancer had you suffer ignoring your face pretty allowing your condition to get rougher and rougher Have a great journey a journey towards paradise may your worries become jewells pearly may they change into your sunshine. Goodbye Father! Rest in Peace! I will never forget you!

 Reading is dreaming with open eyes. Reading is listening to your characters' cries. Reading is staring at the skies, but writing a novel brings a tear to your eyes.  A tear that eventually will become a smile.  Yours, Chrisoula 

 I don't know about you (I mean you, who have a facebook page to promote your novels) but personally I'm really pissed off. How can people be so mean and cruel? Is it because I have become a writer, apart from being a teacher of English?  Is it because they feel inferior to me? And if yes, in what way? Being an author takes up a lot of your spare time, time which sometimes I don't have because of my family and teaching commitments. That's the reason why I finished writing 'One more smile...' after 6 years! Writing a novel needs dedication and love. You need to love every single character you are writing about.  But who are those people out there who dare like my page by sending an emoji which is laughing its head off?  Mind you, they are Australian guys with Greek origin. I never expected these people  to treat me like that. They should support me, don't you think? People who have lived in the same country should support one another. I'm not referring to...

 Happy New Year everyone! I hope you are safe and sound! Before the advent of 2021 I was thinking what resolutions I would make for the New Year.  So the first one I decided on is to lose weight. This is my top resolution which I hope to achieve once I stop drinking alcohol. And mind you, I drink a lot of it! Regarding food, luckily I have a healthy diet and stay in shape by walking at least 2 kilometres every morning. I used to go swimming at the pool nearing my house but due to the lockdown in Greece, all pools are closed. How unfortunate! Second comes my self-confidence which unluckily I don't have. I have decided to make my life more comfortable by focusing on my achievements and seeing whatever failure as an opportunity to improve myself in all fields.  Third, I want to try and reduce my stress. It is said that stress is one of the biggest killers out there, and it can have a very destructive effect on all fields. So it's time for me to become stress-free.  Last...

 The year 2020 has been an unpredictable ride through the pandemic, protests and many more difficulties that had made living life quite hard for people across the globe. But as we near the end of this year, we should all accept the fact that with every passing year, one should leave behind the bad memories and mistakes.  So now, as we embrace the upcoming year, 2021, let us all be positive and cheery with shining spirits and aspirations for the future. We should vow  not to let the negative times affect us in looking forward to the future and working hard to achieve our dreams and ambitions.  So, let us all embrace the new year with much needed hopes and happiness.  Happy New Year to all of you!!! Yours,  Chrisoula 

 How quickly time goes by! It's amazing!  Here in Greece, depending on each prefecture, Christmas Day is celebrated in different ways. But today I'm going to tell you what people do on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Things that are common throughout the country. On Christmas Eve, young children and teenagers wake up very early in the morning holding their triangles and ring the bells of every house in their neighbourhood and within the district. It's one of their favourite days during the year to earn pocket money. I must tell you though that the little kids are luckier than the older ones as the landlords and landladies prefer to listen to the Christmas carols sung by the them who are petite and cute as they sing the carols at the top of their voices. As a 'thank you' to the children, the owners of the houses hand out coins or even banknotes which are shared among the children if they 2 or 3 together. Nobody should be left out.  There are people though who don...

 My review of The Perfect Holiday by Cathy Kelly  Lovely book but too short! Why don't you write 3 more books/novels of those people? One for each one... Anyway, keep up the good work. And don't forget that there is 'One more smile...' waiting for you at the corner to make your day.

 Hi everyone, I hope you are all ok.  DECEMBER!  The last month of the year. The last month of 2020. A challenging year we have gone through due to the coronavirus.  This year has been a tough one. So many diseases, so many health and mental problems that people have been going through. It's very difficult to cope with these problems, whether they are minor or major ones, but as people, we need to find the strength and joy to become happy again. I mean literally happy. But if you can't, then leave a little smile break your lips open; to help keep your mental health intact which is much more important. I know it's difficult but where there's a will, there's a way! So don't give up! DECEMBER!  Have you all been good girls and boys during this year?  As far as I'm concerned, I have been a good girl but I don't know if Santa will climb down the chimney and leave my present under the Christmas tree like he did when I was a little girl, in Sydney. I think I...

 Hi all!  Christmas is on its way but this year I don't really feel the Christmas spirit.  It's definitely because of the Coronavirus pandemic.  However,  my daughter and her friend decorated the Christmas tree and the rest house and both are waiting for Santa's presents.  Will he make it this year? Or is he - like billions of people - suffering from the pandemic?  Give me a hint of how you feel this 'festive'  season.  How are you going to celebrate Christmas Day?  Are you going to have lunch or dinner together with friends and family or not? Are you going to give presents to your beloved ones or not? Are you expecting any presents?  I know it should be a surprise but I already know what my present will be for my name day which always falls on Christmas day.  A camera! It may sound stupid but since I am going to get a new PC I need a camera.  So there it is...  It'll be here within this week but will be given to me o...

 Good afternoon everyone,  How are you this cloudy Greek Sunday afternoon? Personally, I'm fine, even though I hate this weather.  I just wanted to tell you that I'd be grateful to interview novice and experienced poets/authors on my blog. Don't you think it's a great way for people to get to know you? And what about boosting your sales? Give it a try and contact me. We can both get our books out there and build a fan club. Doesn't it sound interesting?  I would be really happy to hear from you. Soon, that is.  Bye for now,  Chrisoula Panagoulia 

 As a Christian Orthodox woman I have been raised with the notion that whoever becomes a parent should name their child after their parents' names, ie. I was named after my grandma Chrisoula and my brother is called Michalis after our grandpa's name. Both from our father's side. The same goes with the mother's side. This notion has been going on for hundreds of years but gradually it is beginning to fade. Luckily! Why should I name my child after my parents' names while there are so many other names to choose from? Christian ones, of course. But there is the other side of course.  Many young parents name their children after our ancient ancestors, like Iraklis (Hercules), Iraklitos, Kalimahos, Kalisti and so on and so forth.  If I were to have another child I would definitely name it after one of our Christian Orthodox Saints we have. And mind you, they are so many!!! So, what is your opinion on this issue?  I would love to hear from you.  Best Regards, Chrisoul...

 Welcome to my new blog. Here, we will be talking about my debut novel 'One more smile...' and about other issues regarding reading and writing novels,etc.