![\"Evanthia's](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.everywritersresource.com\/selfpublished\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/evanthiasgift.jpg?resize=248%2C383\" "\\"Evanthia's")
Author<\/h2>\nEffie Kammenou<\/p>\n
Effie Kammenou is a first generation Greek-American who lives on Long Island with her husband and two daughters. When she\u2019s not writing, or posting recipes on her food blog, cheffieskitchen.wordpress.com, you can find her cooking for her family and friends.<\/p>\n
Her debut novel, EVANTHIA\u2019S GIFT, is a women\u2019s fiction multigenerational love story and family saga, influenced by her Greek heritage, and the many real life accounts that have been passed down. She continues to pick her father\u2019s brain for stories of his family\u2019s life in Lesvos, Greece, and their journey to America. Her recent interview with him was published in a nationally circulated magazine.<\/p>\n
As an avid cook and baker, a skill she learned from watching her Athenian mother, she incorporated traditional Greek family recipes throughout the book.<\/p>\n
For Kammenou, writing Evanthia’s Gift has been a rewarding and cathartic experience. After losing her mother to pancreatic cancer over three years ago, she began weaving a story seeped in Greek heritage to honor her mother’s memory.<\/p>\n
She holds a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Theater Arts from Hofstra University.<\/p>\n
From Greece to New York. From the 1950\u2019s to the 1990\u2019s. Two generations of passionate women overcome life\u2019s struggles to chase their dreams.<\/p>\n
In the year 1956, Anastacia Fotopoulos finds herself pregnant and betrayed, fleeing from a bad marriage. With the love and support of her dear friends Stavros and Soula Papadakis, Ana is able to face the challenges of single motherhood. Left with emotional wounds, she resists her growing affection for Alexandros Giannakos, an old acquaintance. But his persistence and unconditional love for Ana and her child is eventually rewarded and his love is returned. In a misguided, but well-intentioned effort to protect the ones they love, both Ana and Alex keep secrets – ones that could threaten the delicate balance of their family.<\/p>\n
The story continues in the 1970\u2019s as Dean and Demi Papadakis, and Sophia Giannakos attempt to negotiate between two cultures. Now Greek-American teenagers, Sophia and Dean,<\/p>\n
who have shared a special connection since childhood, become lovers. Sophia is shattered when Dean rebels against the pressure his father places on him to uphold his Greek heritage and hides his feelings for her. When he pulls away from his family, culture and ultimately his love for her, Sophia is left with no choice but to find a life different from the one she\u2019d hoped for.<\/p>\n
EVANTHIA\u2019S GIFT is a multigenerational love story spanning fifty years and crossing two continents, chronicling the lives that unify two families.<\/p>\n
A love story spanning decades – deepened by tradition, heritage, loss, struggle, perseverance and loyalty.<\/p>\n
Anastacia – Elegant, respected and loving, despite the obstacles in her path.<\/p>\n
Alexandros – Compassionate, sensitive and determined to have the life and the woman he desires, even as memories of tragedy haunt him.<\/p>\n
Sophia – Talented, levelheaded and confidant in her ideals. Fate intervenes in this young woman’s life in unexpected ways.<\/p>\n
Dean – Rebellious and stubborn, Dean chases the life he thinks he wants, only to discover he wasn’t true to himself.<\/p>\n
November 1955<\/p>\n
The air was unusually chilled for early November in NYC, but despite the dropping temperature, sweat trickled down the back of Anastacia\u2019s neck. Unable to wish away the nausea that was taking hold of her and too ill to sit through her last class, she\u2019d left the NYU campus, hopping on an uptown subway to return home for the day. She\u2019d been lightheaded and queasy the past few days, but nothing as violent as what she was currently feeling. Waiting at the crosswalk, the aroma of garlic and cheese permeating from a nearby caf\u00e9 antagonized the volcano that was about to erupt in her belly, and she prayed she would get home without incident.<\/p>\n
At last, Anastacia ducked into her apartment building, closing her eyes, and offering a silent thank you to the heavens for the safety and comfort of her home. Once inside her foyer, she removed her coat, hung it in the closet and glimpsed herself in the mirror hanging over the Bombay Chest. Pale skin and sunken eyes replaced her usual olive complexion and healthy glow.<\/p>\n
I just need to sleep off whatever this is.<\/p>\n
Her husband, Jimmy, was not expected home from work for several hours, and she hoped to be feeling better by then.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, the sound of voices startled her. She walked through the living room, following the noise. She almost forgot the motion sickness that forced her home earlier than usual as the guttural sound of rhythmic moans grew louder, interrupted only by a woman\u2019s shrill laughter. Anastacia forced her legs to follow the cacophony and found herself at the doorway of her bedroom. She stood there frozen. Seeing, but not believing. Tears sprang to her eyes and dripped down her cheeks, and she began to shake uncontrollably. Anastacia attempted to speak, but bile rose to her throat, rendering her incapable of uttering a word. Then, a cry that seemed to escape from her very soul, revealed her presence.<\/p>\n
In that second, they knew she\u2019d witnessed their betrayal. Anastacia was taken aback by the look of pure satisfaction that flashed across the naked woman\u2019s face. A face that held not even a hint of guilt or remorse.<\/p>\n
Her husband\u2019s face told a different story. Shock, fear, maybe regret. For getting caught. It couldn\u2019t have been more than a few seconds, but so many thoughts bombarded her mind that it was as though she were moving in slow motion. But then, the impact of it all slammed into her, and she ran.<\/p>\n
Jimmy jumped up, wrapping himself in a bed sheet.<\/p>\n
\u201cAna! Wait!\u201d He pushed the woman off him. \u201cGet off me! Move! Get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barely making it to the bathroom, Anastacia leaned over the toilet, expelling the contents of her stomach.<\/p>\n
\u201cAna,\u201d Jimmy pleaded, coming up beside her.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet away from me.\u201d She wiped her mouth with a towel, straightened up and gathered all her strength to push past him.<\/p>\n
Jimmy blocked the doorway.<\/p>\n
\u201cAna mou, I\u2019m sorry. Please. Let me explain. Sagapo. I love-\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t touch me or ever say that to me. You\u2019re disgusting. You both are.\u201d She ducked under his arm, but he grabbed her wrist.<\/p>\n
His touch seared her to the bone and she pulled away. She was shamed, shaken\u2014broken, but there was no way she was going to let him see it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said don\u2019t touch me. Never come near me again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not what it looks like. She\u2026 it was all her. I never meant to\u2026 Ana, please.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looked like it was both of you. Now let me pass,\u201d she spat. He lifted his hands in surrender and stepped aside as she pushed her way past him through the narrow bathroom doorway.<\/p>\n
In the hallway, the woman stood, watching, gloating. Although she and Anastacia both had dark brown hair and similar Mediterranean features, she lacked the poise and grace that Anastacia exuded.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet out of my home,\u201d Ana ordered her. \u201cI never want to see you again.\u201d Anastacia stormed out her front door, slamming it behind her. Doubling over, she thought she might heave again, but she drew in a deep breath and continued down the hall to Soula\u2019s apartment. She frantically knocked on the door. When she opened it, Soula took one look at her best friend and she hugged her.<\/p>\n
\u201cAna mou, what is it?”<\/p>\n
Between gasps and cries, Anastacia relayed the entire humiliating scene, as well as Jimmy\u2019s despicable attempt to explain the unforgivable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do I do now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go upstairs and talk to your uncle,\u201d Soula said. \u201cHe will know how to handle this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can I tell him? What will my parents say? How could I be so stupid? What will Uncle Tasso think?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf you? Nothing different than before. Of them? They will get what they deserve. Come. We will go together. I will tell your uncle if you cannot.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n