Giveaway: When the Cypress Whispers

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

I recently had the chance to read a book set on a lovely faraway island, When the Cypress Whispers. It's a great story about one woman's connection to her family and past, and the conflict between her here-and-now life. The ending is appropriate, but somewhat unexpected, although as a whole it's a book that really draws the reader in. I'd like to post portions of a Q&A with the author, Yvette Manessis Corporon.

Q. What was the inspiration for WHEN THE CYPRESS WHISPERS?

WHEN THE CYPRESS WHISPERS is a story inspired by my own family and the magical Greek island we still call home. Like Daphne, I spent childhood summers in Greece surrounded my colorful and crazy (in the best possible way) extended family. For over twenty years as a television producer in New York , I’ve interviewed countless celebrities and newsmakers.  I’ve asked everyone from Oscar winners to Grammy winners and politicians, what it feels like to achieve their dreams.  After years of asking other people what it felt like, I realized that I wanted to feel it too – and that it was time to start chasing my own dream. WHEN THE CYPRESS WHISPERS is that dream.

Everyone says that the number one rule of writing is to write what you know, so I did.  I wrote about what I know and love best, Erikousa and her people.  The entire process was like a giant puzzle that I struggled to somehow find a way to bring together.  I had so many things that I wanted to write about; my family, our traditions, favorite myths, our island home and issues and idiosyncrasies of being a first generation Greek American …it was a challenge to myself to see if I could fit all these themes in a story that not only worked, but that anyone would find even remotely interesting.

Q.: The novel is filled with incredibly strong women characters that lead the action, creating a kind of idyllic, matriarchal society.   Is this typical of ancient Greek society?  Did you want to make a point about love?  About womanhood?  About motherhood?

I think strong women characters are typical of any society – ancient, or modern. I have no doubt that we are indeed the stronger sex. I don’t mean that as a slight to the men out there, but only as a testament to the power of women – from classical times to today.Just look at the ancient myths – they are filled with the most incredible female characters like Hera, Aphrodite and Athena.   But fierce ancient Goddesses are only part of the story. The women in my book are all modeled after the women in my life; my mother, yia-yias, aunts, cousins and friends. I am continually amazed at the sacrifices and strength shown by my ancestors and relatives and by the brilliance and loyalty of my girlfriends. These women mean everything to me.  They are my sisterhood, my lifeline, my strength and my source of inspiration.

I am also a firm believer that there is nothing more beautiful and powerful than a mother’s love for her children. Personally, I know there is nothing I could not or would not do to protect my children…nothing.  Hell may have no fury like a woman scorned, but even Hades himself knows better than to get in the way of a mother protecting her child.

Q.: What can the modern woman learn from the Yia-yias of the world, the Abuelas, Nonnas, Bubbies, or Grandmas?

I remember looking at my own grandmother and seeing a simple, barely literate woman dressed in black who made fish head soup instead of mac and cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  I never stopped to think about what life was like for her, how she managed to raise her children when she was separated from her husband, or if she ever feared for her life when she befriended a Jewish girl who was hiding from the Nazis.  I never took the time to stop and really think about these questions, the extraordinary life she lead, how scared and lonely she must have been or the lessons I could learn from her - until I became a mother myself.  Only then did I really stop to think about the sacrifices she had made, the risks she had taken and the tremendous courage she had shown. But by then it was too late to ask Yia-yia to share more of her story with me.

I hope this book is a reminder for all of us, that sometimes the most extraordinary women can come from the most ordinary places and humble beginnings.  And that no matter how busy we are, we owe it to ourselves, and to them, to stop, to ask and to listen.

If you're interested in reading the book for yourself, leave a comment with the most important lesson you learned from your grandmother. Deadline is May 9th.