It seems to me that it is not even in the way I bring her up, but in what is already inherent in nature. Here at our school, we all have different kids, and it's okay to be different. And Yes, she's a humanitarian. She writes well, loves to read, she has a rich imagination, but with the math is not so smooth, and with the organization, it is constantly in the clouds. The last, truth, I can understand, itself such a. In General, Sofia is, of course, a separate conversation, she is very interesting, but not an easy person. Being her mother is a great happiness, but also a great responsibility, and constant work on yourself.
Olga and Julia: Tell us about your work in the library of the international school. What's interesting? Are there any peculiarities?
Maria: I don't know What to tell you. I'm a librarian, not a fireman or an archaeologist. 😉 It is a quiet job, when one day is like another, except for the beginning and end of the school year. I like what I do. It's a wonderful place to be surrounded by books, it's my world, but I confess that if I could not work, I would prefer to write while at home.
And especially, of course, there is, if to compare with library in Russian or even Greek school. First of all, I'm almost never alone: there are always high school students in the library, who are engaged (well, or pretend). We have a large library, especially for our small school, and it pleases. Besides, we all speak English, of course. For me there is another big plus: it is very convenient to work where your children study. Truth I try to put on a minimum to intervene in their a school life.
Olga and Julia: the project "Let there be a fairy tale"lasted More than a year. How did the idea come about? Please tell us about the results. Perhaps a book will be published-a collection of my mother's fairy tales?
Maria: in fact, the project has already ended, I summed it up on December 1. No book, that's for sure. I have, unfortunately, quite there is no on this time. Then, too many authors to negotiate with each (I am very sensitive to copyright, even if it is just an electronic collection), and so on, and so on.
Tatiana Pirozhenko gave me the idea. We were just discussing with the girls-Vasilisa to me such a stir in the blog, and here Tanya suggested and I liked it. As a result, there were six stages, six different themes on which we wrote fairy tales. It was great and I'm glad I decided to do it, but such a large-scale project, I will not venture anymore. Or I will, if I have an assistant: it just takes a lot of time to write articles, negotiate with sponsors, read all the participants, it's difficult when you work full-time.
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Therefore, I sometimes delayed summing up and the beginning of the next stage, and it was very uncomfortable in front of the participants. But how many pleasant words I heard from my dear storytellers, you can not even imagine! And how many mother's fairy tales were born! This, after all, present wealth.
Olga and Julia: during the existence of the blog there was a format of audio fairy tales. What can we expect in the future? Are there any ideas for new fabulous projects?
Maria: I Didn't even wait for the question about audio fairy tales. After all they themselves appeared, without my intervention. I just gave the go-ahead to two talented Actresses when they asked me for permission to voice tales. I. e. I didn't plan it in any way, but it was insanely pleasant to me, and I was glad that I could share fairy tales with readers.
I really don't know about the future. The other day there were some plans for the project off-line, but it's too early to tell. No end of things until a plan though and I'm sure after the holidays something will come up, it always happens. What I can say for sure: I will continue to write, I will try to attack publishers, as far as my natural shyness allows me, I will create together with my girls-Vasilis and I will try not to leave the blog without attention.
Olga and Julia: on Instagram you took part in the writers ' marathon, where your talent shone in a new, adult light. What did the marathon give you? Do you want to continue writing for adults? Did you like, in General, the creation of adult literature or is the fairy tale more native?
Maria: in fact, over the past year I have even taken part in two marathons, in spring and autumn. Truth, nor in one of them not was conditions write for adults, so I wrote different texts: and kids', and adults. And anyway, most of them are still fairy tales in one way or another.
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I realized that I needed to take part in such projects – to hone my writing skills and prove to myself that I can write in different ways, not just in one genre. Very shakes up and boosts self-esteem. Writing for adults I don't plan to. Truth, created recently in blog rubric fairy tales for adults and teenagers, after all stories need not only kids. Let's see.
In fact, I would like to change not the genre, but the form: to go beyond short stories. My dream is to write a large-format work – a fairy tale. And to be honest, the fairy tale is now more popular with publishers than the short stories.
Olga and Julia: very soon the New year. Could you tell us a little bit about how it is celebrated in Greece. Are there any special wishes on this day? Wish them, please, to our readers.
Maria: for the Greeks, the New year is not the most important holiday of the year, as we do. After all, Christmas does not concede its primacy. But if Christmas is a family holiday with a Turkey or chicken at the head of the table, the New year is more a holiday for young people, after midnight they run away from home and go for a walk, and very often gather at someone's house and play cards. Yes, it is in the cards, strange as it may seem.
And on New year's bake Vasilopita (cake of St. Basil, the Greek Santa Claus), we have in the North it is baked from yeast pastry. There's a coin hidden inside the pie. After the New year, the owner divides Vasilopita between all gathered around the table, leaving the pieces for Christ and the virgin, home and work. Whoever gets a piece gets a good year.
And the symbol of the New year in Greece is a pomegranate, it symbolizes prosperity and well-being. In some families, it is customary to break the fruit of a pomegranate on the threshold of the house with the onset of the New year, if the pomegranate immediately breaks and shatters into grains – this is a good sign.
In General, of course, in Greece a lot of interesting customs associated with the celebration of Christmas, New year and Epiphany. I would very much like to tell you about them, but I understand that I simply will not fit into the format of the interview. Therefore, finally, I note that for me an important attribute of the celebration of Christmas and New year are carols.
On the eve of the holiday, children go home with triangles and caroling, wishing a good year and collect some money for their wishes. Gifts are traditionally, as we have, St. Basil brings on New year under the Christmas tree, but in some families under the influence of Western traditions Greek Santa Claus comes at Christmas.
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Wishes, which are pronounced by the Greeks in the new year night is not much different from our own. Usually I wish you a year filled with health and happiness (Kali hronia me igia ke Khara!). That's what I wish you! And also, that in the coming year you have in your life had as many fabulous moments as grains in a pomegranate!