Something about me:

My name is Diamantoula. It literally means a small diamond in Greek; but it seems like it is a sort of a tedious name to call someone, -let alone to spell it, even to me. At work in Brussels, where I toiled in English and in French for almost thirty years, and under bosses of different nationalities, and, later on, in most parts of my private life, people called me ‘Diana’, and they still do so. I leave it open to you, the reader, and anyone else who is interested, to call me either: I listen to both.
Retirement can be tiresome with boredom and a sense of emptiness. Some may find comfort engaging with their grandchildren or being useful in their children’s home. Others, like me, would prefer to watch the world around them, take long walks observing and admiring nature, and read a lot and all sort of books; with too much free time on hand, it becomes a sort of a routine to pour-down on paper any of my feelings and reflections on my life’s seasonal activities. So, I have discovered fiction.
I have started writing a diary, still do, but not as often as I’d like to now, and soon I knew that I would rather write a book or books. Having realised, however, that my skills, lying in reporting, memos, proposals and whatever had been required in my former job, – all written in a bureaucratic style, were inadequate for the breath and the width needed in writing novels; I have followed an Academic module in ‘Creative Writing’ with the Open University in the U.K., to further develop my writing skills.
In my fiction, I do aim at reflecting on realities I have read or experienced; in particular those that seemingly emphasise the complex workings of human’s minds and souls as they are echoing in my stories. As English is not my mother-tongue, one of the challenges I face is the ‘editing’ process, and in particular the so called ‘professional tidying’ of the language.
My first novel, SHARING HER APPLES, is all done and edited by an Irish ex-colleague. It is the piece of fiction that reminds of the vulnerability lacing women’s souls and minds in times of misfortune; it reminds also of the penalties that love, and betrayal have upon themselves and their family members when the sense of revenge overwhelms reason.
I have also written a short story, -published here in my blog, (attached in page three) for all who would like to read it and get to know the style of my writing.
Since my debut novel, ‘SHARING HER APPLE, and its Greek version, ‘ΜΟΙΡΑΖΕΤΑΙ ΤΑ ΜΗΛΑ ΤΗΣ’ self-published with FYLATOS PUBLISHING, my 2nd novel ‘A GRAIN OF SOIL’ , is now in circulation world-wide through AMAZON, the Publishers’ web and the main international retailers. And I continue as writing becomes a habit.
I live in Thessaloniki, Greece, a city with brilliant sunsets, where the shifting of seasonal scenery and the days’colours stimulate both my romantic and cynical sides. I feel I’m lucky to have a brilliant and fluid, view of the sea and the sky in all of their glory: both, under a peaceful sun, and when the winds and clouds get upset causing billions of shades of grey and multicolour brightness: a thunderous stir to my imagination!
This is, perhaps, the cause of the waves of my fervent wishes to share thoughts and fictions with others.