New Releases

MNEMOSYNI’S MUSINGS…

Maria A. Karamitsos

You’ve heard of Mnemosyni, the Greek goddess of memory. Mythology buffs will know that she’s also the goddess of storytelling—and mother of the Muses! So, it’s only fitting to name a literary column in her honor. Here, you’ll learn about authors, poets, books, and all things “Greek” literary.
By: Maria A. Karamitsos

New Releases

Looking for your next read? Here are some fantastic new releases by Greek and PhilHellene authors to add to your list.

FICTION

My Sister’s Daughter and Silent Echo: Two Thrillers by Liv Constantine

Podium Publishing (November 11, 2025)

From the New York Times–bestselling author of Reese’s Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish comes two page-turning domestic thriller novellas.

In My Sister’s Daughter, Ashley Bowers hopes her recently orphaned thirteen-year-old niece, Serena, will blend seamlessly into her own family once they’ve all had time to mourn. But as days become weeks, a series of troubling occurrences turn the once-peaceful Bowers home into a maelstrom of accusation, denial, and fear. Is Serena simply acting out after the tragic loss of both her parents? Or is something far more dangerous happening under Ashley’s own roof?

A year after the death of her four-year-old son, Silent Echo’s Charlotte Fleming is sleepwalking through life. Then she sees something that jolts her awake: Sebastion, alive and well in a stranger’s social media post. As Charlotte obsessively searches for further indication that her son’s accident was not what it seemed, she begins to suspect not only didn’t he die—he was taken. And unearthing the perpetrator could shatter her world all over again.

Son of Hydra: A Historical Novel of Love, Exile, Redemption, and Australia’s First Greek Convict by Shelley Dark

Shelley Dark Publications (November 17, 2025)

Son of Hydra is the untold story of Hydriot pirate Ghikas Voulgaris, who became one of Australia’s first Greek convicts. The son of a shipowner, he had everything — power, privilege, a future. But one reckless decision cost him his name, his freedom, and everything he thought defined a man. Inspired by a true story, this sweeping tale of love and loss blends Greek and Australian history into a powerful work of fiction that explores pride, punishment, and what is truly the measure of a man.

Finding My Olympia by Nancy Econome

Kafeneon Productions (October 6, 2025)

In Woodland, California, 1955, Yianna Diamantopoulos leads a sheltered life in her Uncle Stavros’ bakery. Their world is shattered when her older sister Olympia vanishes without a trace. Local authorities are quick to dismiss the concerns of immigrant families, leaving Yianna with a painful realization: she’s on her own. She and Stavros confront the shadows of Olympia’s disappearance and uncover deeper truths about themselves. Yianna’s unwavering tenacity and Stavros’ street-smart instincts race against time, proving that even in the face of hostile indifference, unbreakable family bonds can be the most powerful force of all.

Kalivas! Or, Another Tempest by Nick Mamatas

CLASH Books (September 23, 2025

Kalivas! Or, Another Tempest is a science-fiction revision of Shakespeare’s The Tempest which reframes the drama as an anticolonial fantasia through futuristic gizmos, a broken continent, and a one-act play invoking the theater of the absurd. Told by the Bard’s least civilized and most human creation, it’s a micro-epic for the modern era.

Still Waters: A Greek Detective Short Story by Anne Zouroudi

Independently published (November 21, 2025)

Still Waters is a short story for readers who have enjoyed Zouroudi’s full-length ‘Mysteries of the Greek Detective’, series set in the timeless landscapes of Greece. In the heat of a Greek island summer, some quench their thirsts with cool, clear water. Others prefer something stronger, but disgraced government minister Gikas Fragolis has taken his love of the bottle too far. His habitual drunkenness has cost him his job and lost him many friends – but is it at the root of an enemy’s wish to see him dead? In this first short story featuring the enigmatic Greek detective Hermes Diaktoros, he uncovers good intentions gone bad, and plumbs the murky depths of human nature.

MIXED GENRE

Zorba’s Taverna: The Trouble with Goats and Mayors

Peter Barber Books (November 25, 2025)

Book 2 in the ‘Zorba’s Taverna’ series welcomes readers back to Telios, the Greek village where bureaucracy meets baklava and the goats have more political sense than the mayors. When a new wave of regulations threatens to close Zorba’s beloved seaside taverna once again, Peter and his formidable wife Alex rally the villagers to defend their tables, their traditions, and their right to argue loudly over dinner. Part memoir, part comic fiction, Zorba’s Taverna: The Trouble with Goats & Mayors is a warm and witty celebration of island life, friendship, food, and the beautiful absurdity of trying to organize anything in Greece. If it didn’t happen exactly this way… it absolutely should have.

POETRY

Driving the Beast: Poems by Christopher Bakken

LSU Press (December 10, 2025)

Driving the Beast is a book about movement. Christopher Bakken’s poems shift between Greece and the American Midwest, tracking the restless nature of selfhood, while seeking glimpses of the sacred in landscapes scarred by history and political turmoil. The book’s back-and-forth mirroring invites readers to confront their own reflections in moments of catastrophe and wonder, and to view them alongside those of immigrants and refugees.

Wilted Flowers: A dark poetry collection by Despoina Kemeridou

Independently published (November 19, 2025)

Part of the ‘Echoes in the Dark’ series, Wilted Flowers is a dark poetry collection drenched in darkness and sorrow. This illustrated collection of poems explores loss, grief, and that little glimpse of hope that stays alive until the very end.

Lots of great books to add to your list. Happy reading! See you next time for more of Mnemosyni’s Musings.

Maria A. Karamitsos is a journalist, author, and poet. She’s the founder & former publisher/editor of WindyCity Greek magazine and former associate editor & senior writer for The Greek Star newspaper. Maria also contributes to Greek City Times and TripFiction. Her work has been published in The Magic of Us-A Moms Who Write Poetry Anthology, The Pen Poetry Magazine, Voices of Hellenism Literary Journal, Highland Park Poetry, Recipes & Roots, GreekCircle magazine, The National Herald, GreekReporter, Harlots Sauce Radio, Women.Who.Write, KPHTH magazine, and more. Maria has contributed to two books: Greektown Chicago: Its History, Its Recipes and The Chicago Area Ethnic Handbook. She’s currently editing her 1st novel. mariakaramitsos.com