Dear Friends and Family,
After nine long years, we are now just days away from my book being released into the world! My debut memoir in English, Sophia’s Return: Uncovering My Mother’s Past, by She Writes Press will launch in September 2021. It all started with exploring family genealogy during annual visits to Greece. As an only child of divorced parents, I settled in the USA, and I had gone decades without understanding the circumstances of my parents’ parting. But the old question never left me: Why was my custody turned over to my father instead of my mother?
The story is my journey of discovery, the years that tested my endurance and transformed lingering pain into answers that time and distance had buried. I wrote this memoir during my retirement years, as I was researching family genealogy. Recording each step along my way acted as a compass for my pilgrimage and eventually gifted me with this book, a sense of relief, clarity, and greater understanding of the past. I hope the story will encourage my readers to invest in pursuing their truth, unveiling family secrets and finding peace.
“Sophia Kouidou is a masterful storyteller. Sophia’s Return takes us into a compelling tale of reclaiming the past that speaks profoundly to our need to make sense of our lives’ central mysteries. Nuanced, rich, and evocative, Sophia’s Return will keep you up reading late into the night.”
--Theo Pauline Nestor, author of “Writing Is My Drink”
It takes Sophia, my main character in Sophia’s Return, a long time to realize that there are many ways to look for answers and she is not alone in seeking them. There are so many people who have been there for me. How I would have loved to celebrate this time with you face-to-face! I was looking forward to a book tour so I could hug so many of you in person. Even so, there are ways you can be a part of my book’s release!
How You Can Help?
Buy the Book! You can find Sophia’s Return, on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Elliott Bay Book Company and Bookshop.org. If you would like an autographed copy, please make your request here. You can also request your local library purchase it—most libraries have an easy online form.
Request an Autographed Copy! I would be delighted to autograph your book. Please click here to order an autographed copy.
Request from Your local Library! For example, you can click here to suggest my book as a title to be carried at the Seattle Public Library. Select your pickup location, enter the book title Sophia’s Return: Uncovering My Mother’s Past, add for “adult readers”, and author Sophia Kouidou-Giles. The publication release date is 9/7/21.
Post a Review! I really hope you will rate my book ( ***** stars matter) or leave a glowing review on Amazon (after 9/8/21), and any time on Goodreads or Barnes & Nobles. All sorts of wonderful things happen once an author hits a certain number of reviews, especially if they come through early readers.
Come to One of My Virtual Events! I plan to do a few free online events in the next few weeks, and it would mean so much to see your name or face in the virtual crowd. All of them will be happening on either Zoom or Facebook Live. You can find information about these on my website: https://sophiakouidougiles.com
Send Me a Picture of You with My Book! I so wanted to see you face-to-face in a real bookstore this summer. Instead, I hope you’ll take a picture of yourself holding your copy of Sophia’s Return: Uncovering My Mother’s Past and email it to me at sophiakg@aol.com. You can also post it to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Tag me in it and I’ll be sure to add it to my photo album so I can keep it and the memory of your support for all time.
Subscribe to My Bi-monthly Newsletter when you click here and sign up for a copy that brings you updates and introduces to you some excellent authors from around the world.
Bonus Discussion Questions for Your Book Club! Looking for a new book for your book club? Email me and I will send you a worksheet you can use to facilitate the discussion. Also, if your book club features special guests, let’s talk.
To all of you who have already pre-ordered the book, THANK YOU—this book is from my heart and it should arrive on your doorstep around September 7, 2021. And if you are thinking about ordering it, THANK YOU! Today is just the right time.
I am so grateful for your support during this special chapter in my life and for helping this experience feel less lonely. As I say to my son and grandchildren, I hope you can always find answers to what is important to know about the past and know that you are not alone.
Ευχαριστώ!
