logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
40m 34s

Behind the Pages: The Journey of Anna-Ma...

Farah Shammas
About this episode

Anna-Maria Athanasiou, a Greek Cypriot author from Leeds, began her writing journey in secret, jotting down her first stories on napkins. Her debut novel, Waiting for Summer, grew from these humble beginnings into a 900-page best-seller, eventually becoming the first book in a two-part series. Encouraged by her family, especially her supportive brother, Anna-Maria embraced her identity as a writer and published her book, which quickly earned a spot on Amazon’s contemporary romance best-sellers list. Known for her relatable characters and heartfelt romance, Anna-Maria has since become an inspiration to aspiring authors, with her eighth and ninth novels currently underway.

Anna Maria Athanasiou:
Instagram
Facebook
Amazon

Host Farah Shammas :
Instagram
Facebook
Linkedin
TikTok

St Raphael

Up next
Nov 11
Inside the Guest Experience: Lessons from St Raphael Resort
Send us a textWhat truly makes an unforgettable guest experience? In this inspiring conversation, Vassos Kilanis, General Manager of St. Raphael Resort, shares real stories, memorable moments, and the values that shape exceptional hospitality.Mr. Vassos also opens up about the CO ... Show More
11m 38s
Oct 29
What Truly Makes a 5-Star Hotel?
Send us a textIn our recent discussion with Vassos Kilanis General Manager at St Raphael Resort, we explored what really defines a five-star hotel experience in today’s world. Is it still about marble lobbies, gold-plated details, and extravagant décor? Or is true luxury somethin ... Show More
10m 23s
Oct 29
Innovation Meets Hospitality with Panis Pieris
Send us a textIn this inspiring episode, we sit down with Panis Pieri to explore how innovation, technology, and creativity are reshaping the future of hospitality and tourism. From discussing whether Cyprus can truly become a startup hub for tech and tourism, to exploring the ro ... Show More
39m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Women in love with romance
<p>Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two writers of romantic fiction about their passion for creating stories that end happily ever after.</p><p>Kiru Taye wanted to read stories about Africans falling in love. When she couldn’t find those books, she decided to write the stories hers ... Show More
26m 28s
Jul 2025
Ep. 201: Lidija Hilje (Author of Slanting Towards the Sea) + Book Recommendations
<p><strong>In Episode 201, author Lidija Hilje talks with Sarah about her debut novel, <a href= "https://amzn.to/4jaQ3LD"><u>Slanting Towards the Sea</u></a>. Spanning two decades and one transformative summer in Croatia, <a href="https://amzn.to/4jaQ3LD">Slanting Towards the Sea ... Show More
52m 58s
Apr 2025
Emily Henry's latest novel 'Great Big Beautiful Life' explores love beyond romance
Known for books like Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, Emily Henry is the patron saint of millennial romance. But for her latest novel, the author says she wanted to challenge herself in a new way. Great Big Beautiful Life is a story within a story about two journalists ... Show More
9m 18s
Jan 2025
Book Deal Veteran: The Long Game—Secrets To Thriving Before And AFTER The Book Deal
<p>Courtney Maum is an accomplished author, writing coach, and publishing industry insider who’s been through it all—devastating rejections, canceled book deals, and the highs and lows of a 15-year career. She’s the author of Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Fi ... Show More
1h 8m
Jun 2025
Episode 56: Abstinence & Horny Nuns with Melissa Febos
Melissa Febos joins Laura and Adrian to discuss her new book, The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex. Together, the trio dives deep into histories of horny nuns and Melissa’s experience of self discovery and feminist transformation during her period of abstine ... Show More
56m 55s
Jul 2024
Romance Novels (Replay)
<p>How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett gets swept away.</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://delaneydiamond.com/">Delaney Diamond</a>, romance nove ... Show More
18m 38s
Sep 2024
Book Club: 'The Hypocrite,' by Jo Hamya
<p>Jo Hamya’s novel <strong>“The Hypocrite”</strong> follows a famous English novelist as he watches a new play by his daughter, Sophia, in London. The lights go down in the theater, and immediately the novelist realizes: The play is about him, the vacation he took with Sophia a ... Show More
41m 55s
Dec 2024
Sheila Heti on Jenny Holzer, Berthe Morisot, Margaux Williamson, and more
Welcome to the FINALE of Season 12! I am so excited to say that my guest on the GWA Podcast is the acclaimed writer, Sheila Heti. Born in 1976 in Toronto, where she lives today, Heti is the author of eleven books, from novels to novellas, short stories and children’s books. Most ... Show More
33m 37s
Aug 2024
21st Century Books Special Edition: Jennifer Egan on 'A Visit from the Goon Squad'
<p>As part of its recent <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/best-books-21st-century.html" target="_blank">100 Best Books of the 21st Century</a> project, The New York Times Book Review is interviewing some of the authors whose books appeared on the list. This ... Show More
41m 8s
Apr 2025
On Mavis Gallant
Mavis Gallant is best known for her short stories, 116 of which were first published in the New Yorker. Extraordinarily varied and prolific, she arranged her life around the solitary pleasure of writing while battling extreme self-doubt. Tessa Hadley joins Joanne O’Leary to discu ... Show More
38m 5s