April 2021 Newsletter      sophiakoudiougiles.com

Spring is here. It starts with Fools' Day, moves me through the annual week long AWP21 (Association of Writing Programs) Conference, and carries us to a hopefully carefree summer. This year, conferences have been available virtually, which makes them accessible to an international audience, and it has been a thrill to meet and greet friends from afar. AWP 21 is the largest North American conference, offering 250 workshops with expert panelists, an enormous book fair attended by major publishers, editors and staff from literary magazines, and educational programs. One of my favorite workshops was on writing memoir. Here are a few thoughts it inspired for expats and immigrants: 

I hold on to my own natal land via language; when I visit ‘home’ I realize that I have kept my birth people’s heritage, my family’s gestures, topics, and even word choices. In writing memoir, I recover my own backstory, filling voids I had left behind. I hold on to my accent, proud to have the seal of authenticity for my duality when I am in my adoptive land. 

Writer to Writer is a special AWP mentorship no-cost match that helps new and aspiring writers get launched with the help of an experienced mentor. I was lucky enough to be a participant in 2015. If you would like more information, let me know; I am glad to answer questions.

Two panels I enjoyed were on "Invincibles: Women Writers Publishing After 50", and "Carrying Polen from Exile to Exile - International Journals and Translation".  Next year the Conference rendezvous is in Philadelphia, likely virtual and in person. I look forward to it every year.  

Although vaccinated we are still keeping up with masks, distance, and small gatherings, a key I believe will help the planet see better days. Some normalcy and dreams about resuming travel are back. 

Recent Updates

In Publications, you will find two recently published pieces since the last Newsletter. 

• The Writer's Journey through the Seasons (The Writing Life)
• Newcomer (Stories)

I love sharing these with you and appreciate the journals that host my work. Your comments are always welcome.

In the News you will find the book cover of my forthcoming memoir, Sophia’s Return: Uncovering My Mother’s Past. At this stage the manuscript is in the hands of a proofreader that has combed it, making sure there are no errors in its pages. Currently, the book is available for preorder on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and through your local bookstores.

Επιστροφή Στη Θεσσαλονίκη continues to be available. You can still order here for US delivery or at any bookstore in Greece for local delivery.

Featured Guest

This month's Featured Guest is my author/translator and talented Greek neighbor across the Canadian border, Emmanuel Aligizakis (Manolis). He has written extensively in Greek and English and has translated several well-known poets and writers. This presentation is of his recently launched translation of a side-by-side edition (Greek and English) of Bill Wolak's poetry. The collection is entitled The Seepage of Dreams/Ροή Ονείρων. "From the title of the book alone, one can begin to get an inkling of just how inextricably linked eros and death are in the poet's thinking. Seepage suggests loss, fading, dwindling, and diminution, while dreaming is usually connected with some aspect of desire," writes Chryssa Nicolaki in the Forward. 

Collaborations such as this offer readers access to significant literary works we would otherwise miss. For me, the cross-cultural lens affirms the universality of common human experiences.  Aligizakis skillfully brings out the lyrical and sensual color of this charismatic poet and the shifting point of view. His translation richly delivers the emotional tone of Wolak's work. In the insular pandemic days, the translator is acting as a much needed link across cultures richly, interpreting and delivering the emotional tone of Wolak's poetry.

In closing, we welcome spring with a few lines from a wonderful Greek poet, Elytis:  

Ο Ήλιος ο Ηλιάτορας

ο πετροπαιχνιδιάτορας

λίγο το στόμα του άνοιξε

κι ευθύς εμύρισε άνοιξη.

-Οδυσσέας Ελύτης.

In the Sun and in the Rain aspires to bring you writing from many corners of the world, and introduce creative friends, who in the dark days of coronavirus, gift us with their work. 

Feel free to share the Newsletter with your reading and writing community and friends who can also subscribe. Live long and prosper!

Best,

Sophia